News Flash

Awards Recognize Best Contributions to Durham’s Appearance; Submit Online Until March 3

Do you know of a Durham property that’s outstanding for its design, preservation, curb appeal, or stewardship of the natural and built environment? Nominate it now for the 2020 Golden Leaf Awards. 

The Durham City-County Appearance Commission and Keep Durham Beautiful are currently seeking property nominations to recognize new developments, buildings, and landscaping in Durham County that provide positive attributes to the community’s built environment. 

Awards will be offered in the following categories:

• Adaptive ReUse (old building, new design) – innovative new designs applied to existing properties either residential or commercial, especially Durham’s historic resources.
• Keep Durham Beautiful – given to a volunteer or group of volunteers for projects, programs, or events that impact a Durham community or neighborhood and address Keep Durham Beautiful’s mission to support volunteer efforts to beautify the natural environment, prevent or reduce litter and/or advance efforts to reduce waste through reducing, re-using, or recycling.
• Garden and Landscape – landscaping, personal border gardens, or community entrance projects over one-year-old which have consistently maintained high standards of appearance and upkeep contributing to resource conservation, the preservation of Durham’s natural resources and trees, and demonstrating respect for existing features of the land.
• Large Development – new construction, conversions, or improvements to either a multifamily residential property, mixed-use property, or commercial property over 12,000 square feet.
• Small Development – new construction, conversions, or improvements to either a multifamily residential property, mixed-use property, or commercial property below 12,000 square feet.
• Hearth and Home – innovative design for new construction, renovation, or restoration of a single-family house or residential building containing four units or fewer.

Nominations can now be submitted at https://durhamappearance.com/entry-form and are due by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3. Any projects completed within the last five years that have not already received a Golden Leaf Award are eligible. Awards will be presented at a ceremony on Thursday, April 23. A location and time for this ceremony will announced soon.

For more information, visit https://durhamappearance.com or contact Senior Planner Kayla Seibel with the Durham City-County Planning Department at [email protected] or (919) 560-4137, ext. 28271. 

About the Durham City-County Appearance Commission

The Durham City-County Appearance Commission is made up of 15 members, seven appointed by the City Council and eight appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. Its mission is to cultivate visual appeal and recognize the benefits of good design, which enhance quality of life for the residents of Durham City and County. 

About Keep Durham Beautiful

Keep Durham Beautiful is a nonprofit, volunteer organization working in partnership with the City of Durham General Services Department and Durham County to encourage residents, businesses, and community organizations to protect the environment and enhance the appearance of Durham through cleanup events, beautification projects, waste reduction, and educational activities. To learn more follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.