Crescent Communities Expands Presence in the Triangle with NOVEL UHill, a Multifamily Community Driven by Curiosity
DURHAM, North Carolina (Jan. 14, 2025): Crescent Communities, a nationally recognized, market-leading real estate investor, developer, and operator of mixed-use communities, recently announced the land closing at its newest multifamily community, NOVEL UHill. Set to include 400 units with the first homes delivering in late 2026, NOVEL UHill is designed to spark curiosity and ignite discovery through engaging resident programming and amenities that encourage exploration and play.
Located in Durham’s dynamic University Hill neighborhood with unbeatable proximity to the area’s foremost research, healthcare, and academic institutions, the six-and-a-half-acre site will contain a five-story midrise building with studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences, along with 19 freestanding two- and three-bedroom townhomes. Blending modern and unexpected design elements, the community will feature original materials sourced from Durham and warm aesthetics for a chic and distinctly local experience. NOVEL UHill will also incorporate art installations throughout, tying into the neighborhood’s nationally recognized UHill Walls program – a dense, walkable art experience featuring over 40,000 square feet of murals across 15 acres.
“University Hill – and the Triangle as a whole – is one of the world’s foremost hubs of innovation, education, and creativity, making it the perfect setting to embrace curiosity as a way of life,” said Michael Tubridy, Crescent Communities’ Managing Director for North Carolina. “At NOVEL UHill, we’ve embraced this belief through our design, community programming, and spaces that invite residents to explore, connect, and grow in meaningful and exciting ways. Whether it’s discovering a new passion in the makerspace, finding inspiration in the curated art installations, or engaging with neighbors over coffee, NOVEL UHill will foster a spirit of discovery and a sense of belonging that makes every day an opportunity to learn and grow.”
NOVEL UHill will cater to a variety of resident needs with on-demand amenities that spark exploration and encourage playful interaction, including:
- Indoor-outdoor 1,450-square-foot Sky Lounge with wine and beer taps, a fireplace, and sweeping views of the neighborhood
- Community clubroom including a makerspace for hands-on activities and creative engagement
- 1,750-square-foot resort-style pool with chaise lounges, a grilling station, and surrounding greenery
- Futuristic fitness studio featuring private yoga rooms
- Bike lounge equipped with rentals and “fix-it” stations for cyclists
- Coworking lounge designed for modern work-from-home professionals
- Two large outdoor courtyards with play equipment, shaded seating, fire pits, grilling stations, an outdoor TV, a putting green, art installations, and table tennis
- Amenitized fenced-in dog park
- Land of a Thousand Hills coffee shop
Educational and enriching resident programming will also be central to the NOVEL UHill experience, featuring regular club meetings, workshops, speaker series, field trips, and pop-up events.
Crescent Communities Construction will serve as the development’s general contractor, making NOVEL UHill the 18th multifamily community built by the organization’s in-house construction company. Other partners include Kimley Horn & Associates (civil engineering and landscape architecture) and KTGY (architect). Investment partners include Kyuden Urban Development America, LLC, the US subsidiary of Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc., and NEC Capital Solutions America, Inc., the US subsidiary of NEC Capital Solutions Limited, with debt financing provided by Santander Bank.
Crescent Communities has previously developed several premium for-rent properties in the Triangle region, including its two most recent additions, NOVEL Morrisville and NOVEL Cary. Its legacy multifamily communities include Berkshire Main Street, formerly Crescent Main Street, and Berkshire Ninth Street, formerly Crescent Ninth Street.
Nationwide, Crescent Communities continues to experience significant growth with $7.2 billion of residential and commercial investments and developments in various stages of construction, operations, and planning. That pipeline includes 15,300 multi- and single-family build-to-rent units; 58,000 square feet of complementary retail space; and 7.5 million square feet of office, industrial, and life-sciences facilities. With a focus on environmental sustainability and wellness, Crescent Communities is a leading recipient of LEED, NGBS (National Green Building Standard), Fitwel, and WELL certifications.
Renderings of NOVEL UHill are linked here.
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About Crescent Communities:
Crescent Communities is a nationally recognized, market-leading real estate investor, developer, and operator of mixed-use "communities." We create high-quality, differentiated multifamily and commercial communities in many of the fastest growing markets in the United States. Since 1963, our development portfolio has included more than 86 multifamily communities and 25 million square feet of commercial space. Crescent Communities has offices in Charlotte, DC, Atlanta, Orlando, Nashville, Dallas, Denver, and Phoenix. Our multifamily communities are branded NOVEL, RENDER, and HARMON by Crescent Communities, our industrial developments are branded AXIAL by Crescent Communities, and our life science developments are branded THE YIELD by Crescent Communities.
