Jordan Meadows
Staff Writer
Southeast Raleigh’s Old Towne subdivision is at the center of mounting tensions between residents, city officials, and developers, as frustration over a contentious street construction project continues to grow.
What began three years ago with property flagging and dynamite blasts for a new road—Primrose Bank—has evolved into a flashpoint for complaints of property damage, community neglect, and possible civil rights violations.
The construction, which aims to connect Holiday Drive with Bowmont Grove Street, has drawn ire from homeowners who claim the City of Raleigh failed to notify or consult the community before beginning the work. At least four households have lodged formal complaints, citing structural damage, environmental impact, and a complete lack of transparency from city leadership.
A letter dated May 2022 from GeoSonics-Vibra-Tech, obtained by The Carolinian, informed residents about the “blasting phase” of development and mentioned pre-blast inspections to mitigate structural risks. But neighborhood advocate Reverend Isiah Green says the company has not been issued the proper permits and is allegedly working under the direction of the Halle Building Group and the Toll Brothers—claims that have sparked confusion about who is trulyresponsible for the project.
While Halle Building Group confirmed they developed the Old Towne subdivision, they denied involvement in the current road construction.
Residents closest to the construction site are especially concerned. The Stanford family, whose home sits just 60 feet from the proposed new road, says the project poses a threat to their personal safety and property rights.
“There does not appear to be plans to create substantial barriers between the street and our home,” the family wrote, voicing fears about potential vandalism, loitering, and increased traffic in a previously quiet area.
Mack Evans, a long-time homeowner in the area, filed a formal request with U.S. Representative Deborah Ross, calling the dynamite blasting without consent a “civil rights violation.” Evans also alleges voter suppression by the city government, though specific details remain unclear. Thus far, residents say no substantive replies have been received.
The blasting’s impact reaches beyond Holiday Drive. Gail Durham, who lives along Barwell Road, reported damage to her private well and septic system following previous explosions: “Our well water systems became muddy and unusable for days,” she wrote in a letter to the city, “and a plumber had to pull and replace the water pump. These are not inexpensive fixes.”
In recent weeks, Rev. Green sent a follow-up complaint to Rep. Ross, reaffirming the April concerns and requesting federal oversight. He invoked the 14th and 15th Amendments, arguing that the community’s civil and property rights are being ignored. Green contends that financial compensation and restoration of damages are the only fair resolutions.
The roots of Green’s activism date back more than a decade. In 2012, he joined a coalition of Black pastors and community leaders—including Albert S. Williams, Cleveland E. Cunningham, and the late Earl Harrison—in lobbying the Obama administration for justice on issues of eugenics, civil rights, and mass incarceration. Green says Ross attended that meeting and is therefore fully aware of the stakes facing Black communities in North Carolina.
“We have Democrats who don’t respond,” said Green. “They’re supposed to be representing us—Black communities in North Carolina. Ross needs to come out of the closet and help us get the justice we deserve.”
