Just a few years ago, the plot of land at the intersection of southeastern Durham’s Sherron Road and U.S. 70 was heavily wooded, and motorists on their way to work in Raleigh or Research Triangle Park barely gave it a passing glance. Today, the area is home to the Brightleaf at the Park community, featuring premier Brightleaf real estate.
Brightleaf is perfectly situated between Raleigh and Durham, with easy access to all the amenities of both cities. Only a short drive away, you’ll find major universities, cultural opportunities, a vast array of shopping and dining, internationally recognized medical centers, and plenty of nature and fitness opportunities.
The Durham area consistently receives national acclaim for its restaurants, shopping, sporting events and historically significant sites. But the city is best-known for two major attractions: Duke University and its world-renowned medical center, and the Research Triangle Park.
The neighborhood’s residents are well-educated, with 22 percent having attained their bachelor’s or associate’s degree, while six percent have earned graduate degrees. Nearly half have finished high school. The numbers of college grads are lower than in some parts of Raleigh and Durham due to the still-rural nature of parts of the 27703 ZIP code.
Residents of the Raleigh, Durham and nearby Chapel Hill areas are highly diverse and include people from around the world. In the 27703 ZIP code of Brightleaf, slightly more than half of residents are African-American, and 41 percent are white. Six percent of residents identify themselves as other races, and 2 percent self-describe as mixed races. One percent identify as Asian or Pacific Islander. The area’s residents are 51 percent female and 49 percent male.
Careers in the area reflect the heavy focus on both education and health care, with nearly a quarter of residents working in those industries. Manufacturing occupies another 13 percent of residents, while 12 percent work in retail and wholesale. Another 11 percent of residents identify themselves as professionals, and nine percent work in construction.
Six percent of residents work in the arts and entertainment industry, while another six percent are employed in finance and real estate. Five percent work in transportation and warehousing, and 4 percent work in each of the categories of information and public administration. Another five percent work in other industries.
The new Brightleaf community offers a variety of styles, floor plans and home site options, with a high level of customization available. The neighborhood itself is attractive and welcoming, with public sculptures that were selected from among student submissions by a jury of art lovers.
Brightleaf at the Park features several different neighborhoods, with more planned for development in the future. The Vistas, for instance, feature two- and three-story townhouses with open, roomy floor plans, unique architectural touches, and numerous windows.
In the Meadows, located near Spring Valley Elementary School, you’ll find single-family homes in a variety of plans, ranging from the three-bedroom Kelsi at 1,912 square feet to the four-bedroom Fitzgerald at 2,924 square feet.
The Knoll neighborhood, the closest to the elementary school, includes single-family homes in a natural setting. Homes here are large, from the four-bedroom Quentin at 2,633 square feet to the 3,322-square-feet Ashville IV, with its four to six bedrooms and as many as 4.5 baths. This spacious plan features a second-floor owner’s suite, a separate bedroom wing, two staircases and an optional guest suite on the first floor.
Singles, couples and families with children all love Brightleaf at the Park; six percent of residents are under six years old, and another 17% are between the ages of seven and 18 years old. Another nine percent are in the 19 to 24 range, while 28 percent are 25 to 39 years old. Individuals who are 40 to 64 make up 26 percent of the population, and those over 65 constitute only eight percent.
Married couples without children make up 24 percent of the residents of ZIP 27703, while married couples with children constitute 22 percent. One-person households make up another 23 percent of residents, and non-family households make up five percent. Female householders with children make up 14 percent of residents, female householders without children are seven percent and male householders with and without children each makes up three percent of the population.
Both the Brightleaf at the Park neighborhood and the greater Raleigh-Durham area feature a head-spinning array of family-friendly activities and attractions. Within the neighborhood, you’ll find:
In the Raleigh-Durham area, attractions for families include:
Brightleaf residents are diverse in their income levels and in their household sizes. Nearly half of residents in the Brightleaf ZIP code earn between $30,000 and $74,999 annually, while another 35 percent earn less than $30,000. Seventeen percent earn between $75,000 and $149,999, and the remaining two percent earn in excess of $150,000 annually.
Two- and three-person households make up 54 percent of the population, while households that include one person and four to five people each make up 21 percent of the population distribution. Only three percent of households include six or more people.
For every income range and household size, entertainment options are available. Brightleaf is just a few miles from the massive Brier Creek Commons shopping center, which features dozens of stores along with a wide array of restaurants, a large movie theater, pubs and other nightspots.
In addition, you’ll find world-class, unique dining and entertainment options in various areas of Raleigh-Durham, including Glenwood South — known for its hopping nightlife — downtown Raleigh, downtown Durham and the area around Durham’s Southpoint Mall. Durham’s American Tobacco Campus is home to the Durham Bulls minor-league baseball team and the Durham Performing Arts Center, which features a variety of well-known productions.
When you choose to live in Durham’s Brightleaf neighborhood, you’ll have access to amenities and attractions you could only dream about elsewhere. Home to the Research Triangle Park along with major universities, internationally recognized medical care, shopping and dining, nightlife, arts, culture and more, your biggest problem will be finding the time to see it all!
