Spectrum Starts Durham Luxury Project
Plans for the community incorporate designs from the area's historic architecture.
The Spectrum Cos. has started construction on Vara Trinity Park, its latest multifamily project in North Carolina’s Research Triangle market. The 267-unit project is being built in Trinity Park, one of Durham, N.C.’s most historic and architecturally rich neighborhoods.
Located at 1618 North Duke St., Vara Trinity Park will comprise three four- and five-story buildings offering a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Amenities will include a library-style coworking space and a two-story social room, according to Kelly Manley, senior director of development at The Spectrum Cos.
Situated within Trinity Park, a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the community will incorporate Craftsman-style detailing throughout the exterior and interior spaces. Craftsman architecture, known for its low-pitched roofs, exposed beams and uses of natural construction materials, was popular from the 1890s to the 1930s.
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BB+M Architecture, a Charlotte-based firm, is overseeing the design for the development. Other project partners include McAdams, a full-service planning, design and engineering company from Charlotte that will handle civil engineering and landscape design, and Summit Contracting Group of Jacksonville, Fla., the general contractor.
Focus on Southeast communities
Based in Charlotte, N.C., Spectrum owns, develops, leases and manages multifamily, mixed-use and office properties in the Southeast. The firm has developed 7,600 units, and is active in the Carolinas, Tennessee and Florida. It’s completed more than 60 residential and commercial projects since its founding in 1982.
In February 2025, the company teamed up with real estate investment firm Heitman to develop Spectrum Indian Trail, a 320-unit upscale apartment community in the Charlotte suburb of Indian Trail, N.C. The community, which is still under construction, will have five elevator-served buildings and a clubhouse. A pedestrian bridge will connect residents directly to the Sun Valley Commons Entertainment District, offering access to restaurants, shops and entertainment venues.
Last June, Spectrum and partner AvalonBay Communities Inc. completed Avalon Lake Norman, a 345-unit waterfront community on Lake Norman in Mooresville, N.C.
Growth in the Triangle region
Summit officials note there is strong demand in Durham for new apartments because of the area’s sustained population growth, diverse employment base and continued expansion across the Research Triangle region. Employment grew 1.7 percent year-over-year through September, well above the 0.8 percent U.S. rate, according to the most recent Raleigh-Durham multifamily report from Yardi Matrix. Unemployment was 3.8 percent in Durham and 3.6 percent in the Raleigh-Cary market, below the North Carolina rate at 3.9 percent and the national rate at 4.5 percent. The metro added 19,600 net jobs in the 12 months ending in September.
While demand is healthy, the report notes new supply is still being absorbed. Data from Marcus & Millichap shows that more than 25,000 units were delivered during 2023-2024. However, with fewer deliveries planned for this year, Marcus & Millicap’s first-quarter 2026 report states the market is finding more balance and rents are beginning to increase in some submarkets including East Durham, where there is greater demand for mid- and high-tier rentals.
