Rezoning vacant land in Durham NC to allow residential usage

[Chad Gray]

Posting here to see if there are any developers in the Raleigh / Durham area who may be able to help out with a couple questions.

I am under contract to purchase a vacant piece of land in downtown Durham which is currently zoned OI (Office and Institutional). It was my understanding that this zoning could be used for residential purposes if it fits the surrounding area, however I was told this may not be the case.

There was once a house on the property but it was torn down a while ago. The street that the property is on is all single family residential homes with the same OI zoning.

I was hoping to close within a month or so with the intent of eventually building either a SFH or a duplex.

Does anyone have any insight if OI zoning does indeed exclude small residential uses? If it does, what would be the likelihood I could get approval for a rezoning request to residential considering the street the property is on is essentially all historical residential.

I appreciate any help / input.

[Jonathan Taylor Smith]

I would go directly to the Zoning Department and LDO at 101 City Hall Plaza in Durham or call numbers online at: https://ldo4.durhamnc.gov/durhamweb/ - so that you can hear right from those who will need to approve the development. Get your intended land use approved in writing for the lot before closing on it.