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INFORMATION ON PARKWOOD COMMUNITY SHOPPING CENTER At the May 18 meeting, questions were raised about the status of a internally- oriented commercial center in the Parkwood community in southern Durham County. From conversations with Durham planners and a Parkwood resident, the following information was received about the Parkwood shopping center. • Parkwood was part of the Triangle Township Small Area Plan, developed in 1993. In this plan, the existing commercial center in Parkwood is recognized, and is projected to continue as a commercial center in the future land use plan for the area. No specifics about this center are mentioned. • The Parkwood center was a vibrant commercial center for the 700 residents of Parkwood in the early 1970's, primarily because there were no other services in the area. At that time, the closest drug store was three miles away and there were no shopping centers within five miles. o Land uses in the center during the 1970's included a grocery store, drug store, service station (later a convenience store), small shops, a branch library, an attorney and dentist's office, and other office uses. o By the early 19801s, service and commercial uses were moving out to the NC 54 and NC 55 area where growth in population and the construction of larger shopping centers was occurring. The grocery store left during this time frame, the service station became a convenience store, and some offices moved out to new office buildings on the main roads. o Current occupancy in the center is around 50 %, with some of the service uses being of a temporary nature. The branch library has continued to thrive, and is heavily -used. However, significant commercial activities of the type present in the 1970's are no longer present in the Parkwood center. pds/61595