A new mixed-use development in Durham, North Carolina, is looking to both the past and future. Developed by Ram Realty Advisors, Wye Junction transforms the former Erwin Oil facility and the City Garage in the Warehouse District, an industrial area that was a key energy source for Durham, into a 310-unit community with locally rooted retail tenants.
Wye comes from a historic railway junction term, representing a turning point where people and perspectives change direction. As part of the site’s transformation, the development team blended adaptive reuse, historic preservation, and sustainability.
“From the outset, the goal was to create a community that reflects both Durham’s history and its future. Sustainability at Wye Junction is less about a single feature and more about a holistic approach, prioritizing adaptive reuse, walkability, and long-term resource efficiency,” says Chris Birr, vice president of development at Ram Realty Advisors. “By building on what already existed and integrating forward-thinking systems, such as rainwater reuse, the project reflects a broader shift toward more responsible, place-based development.”
Wye Junction features one- to three-bedroom floor plans across two residential buildings connected by a multilevel open-air bridge as well as 19,000 square feet of retail housed in the restored City Garage, combining modern construction with original architecture.
The development, located on a designated brownfield site, is National Green Building Standard Silver certified. It features Durham’s first rooftop rainwater reuse system, which filters and treats the water for nonpotable use such as flushing toilets, reducing water demand and reliance on municipal systems. It also includes EV-ready parking and Energy Star-certified apartments.
According to Birr, one of the biggest takeaways on Wye Junction has been the value as well as the complexity of integrating historical structures into a modern development.
In addition to the adaptive reuse of the City Garage, the team preserved the 1926 Fire Drill Tower as a defining feature on the site and salvaged materials, such as railroad tracks, granite pavers, historic machinery, and a 30-foot-tall oil tank, as part of a new 40,000-square-foot park that will serve as a gateway for the future Durham Rail Trail.
“Preserving and reimagining elements like the City Garage and Fire Drill Tower required close collaboration across design, construction, and preservation partners, but ultimately created a more meaningful and differentiated end result,” Birr says. “It reinforced that when done thoughtfully, adaptive reuse can elevate both the character and long-term value of a project.”
He notes that preserving these structures allowed the team to reduce material waste, retain embodied carbon, and maintain a strong sense of place within the Warehouse District.
“Equally important, the adaptive-reuse strategy created an opportunity to activate the site with locally driven retail early in the project lifecycle,” he adds.
Leasing is underway at the development, which was completed in late 2025 and is managed by Bozzuto. Foundry Commercial manages the retail components in the City Garage. Additional elements, including the park and public art installations, will continue to come online this year.
The development features a wealth of amenities, including a saltwater pool with a sun shelf, an upper-level sky lounge with views of the Historical Durham Athletic Park, a state-of-the art fitness center, coworking spaces, a hospitality bar with drinks and snacks, luxury pet amenities, and services such as mail, plant, and cat care for up to three days.
In addition, residents have access to the retail on-site, which Birr notes has been critical in bringing energy and foot traffic to the neighborhood as the residential portion leases. Tenants include Bull City Running Co., Atomic Clock Brewing Co., and Timber Pizza Co., with additional concepts opening in 2026.
Additional partners on the development include Thomas Construction Group as the general contractor and Cline Design as the architect.