Welcome to Duke Forest
Perhaps one of the most interesting luxury neighborhoods in the Triangle is the historic Duke Forest community. The neighborhood was originally developed in the 1930s just south of the Duke campus by the university to house its faculty and staff. The area gets its name from the dense forest around it:
Duke Forest. The forest itself spans an area of over 7,000 acres, stretching across the area northwest of the campus.
With such an interesting history, there are several interesting aspects of the neighborhood. Many of the homes are still owned by their original occupants, formerly faculty and staff at Duke. The neighborhood is still popular among the more affluent Duke faculty and staff as well. Developed over several decades, the neighborhood features an eccentric mix of design styles from a mix of the top builders and designers in the area. From mid-century modern to Tudor, homes range from modest design to breath-taking featuring a mixture of traditional and modern styling.
Due to the age of this luxury community, it’s quite different from other luxury communities in the Triangle for several reasons. Many of these homes were built to be interesting and comfortable rather than grandiose mansions typical in a luxury community. There are few homes on the very top of the high-end market, most hitting the mid-range on the luxury spectrum. Homes in Duke Forest are entirely unpredictable in regards to what you may find. Due to its long history, some of the homes may require some upgrades for ultra-modern amenities. Because there is little to no new construction in the neighborhood, Duke Forest homes sell fast.
Homes in this neighborhood tend to range from $250,000 to $1,000,00+. Lot size ranges from a quarter of an acre to an acre. Potential buyers should be warned that there are no condominiums or townhomes in this community.
Community Amenities
Due to the nature of the construction of this community, the typical amenities in a pre-planned luxury neighborhood won’t be found in Duke Forest. Duke Forest offers access to walking and hiking trails, bike paths, and plenty of outdoor activities. There is very little vehicular or pedestrian traffic, so these options are much safer than in a congested area. The neighborhood also includes a small city park, a basketball court, and a Frisbee golf course.
Duke Forest has located roughly ten minutes away from Duke University, a strategic position in the Triangle for short commutes and easy access to anything residents may need.
Quick Facts
Location: Durham
Size: __acres
# Residences: __ single family homes
Age: 1945 – 1985
Price Range: $250k – $1.3M
Elementary School: Forest View / Lakewood
Middle School: Githens
High School: Jordan
Walk Score*: 15 / 100
Transit Score*: 28 / 100
Bicycle Score*: 47 / 100
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