The Durham City/County Planning Department under Frank Duke’s leadership asked DAD to facilitate three design workshops and meetings to develop support for a form-based zoning overlay in the Ninth Street area. The new zoning would establish land development regulations which would increase the density in appropriate locations as a way of supporting the future transit stop planned at the end of Ninth Street.

After extensive negotiations with stakeholders and nearby residents, the City adopted a plan to achieve the goals developed and, then, created a design district with guidelines for future development.