CITYBUILDER OCTOBER EVENTS

This Fall there are many opportunities to engage, learn, connect, and vote! With so many ways to show up for housing—be sure to mark your calendar and join in where you can.

Sep 30, 2025

TLDR: Mark your calendars! Tuesday October 14th CITYBUILDER will be hosting Durham Election Candidate Forum focused on Housing at Motorco from 7-9PM.

With local elections afoot, housing and development issues are front and center, and your participation matters. In case you missed it, our Candidate Report Cards on Housing in Durham are out. And stay tuned - our report cards for other races in the Triangle are coming soon. You can see all of the latest CITYBUILDER Election 2025 coverage here.

We’ve also been continuing our coverage of housing and urbanism across the triangle, with articles on biking and density, the unintended effects of NIMBYism, and how baseball contributes to great places.

October in the Triangle brings elections, advocacy, and plenty of ways to come together as neighbors. Don’t miss the CITYBUILDER Events Calendar for updates and more to events throughout the month. Whether it’s showing up at the polls, joining us at Motorco for a candidate forum, or simply walking car-free streets with friends and family, we hope you’ll find something this month that inspires you to engage.

Thanks to everyone who came out to an event in September, we hope to see you again in October. Thank you again for building this community with us!

We hope to see you soon,
Charlotte Chapman | Executive Administrator | CITYBUILDER

OCTOBER EVENTS WITH CITYBUILDER

MOVE-A-BULL CITY: OPEN STREETS DURHAM

Sunday, October 5, 2025 • 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Throughout Downtown Durham • See event page for details

Open Streets returns to Durham! Enjoy car-free streets, lots of walking, biking, art, and connection in the community. An excellent chance to get outside and engage with your neighbors.

CITYBUILDER is sponsoring this year’s event. Please come by our table and say hi!

DURHAM ELECTION CANDIDATE FORUM

Tuesday, October 14, 2025 • 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Motorco Music Hall • 723 Rigsbee Ave, Durham

We are thrilled to be hosting this housing-focused election forum! Come out to hear what candidates have to say about all things housing in Durham, and have a chance to ask your questions as well. We will have free childcare on site, as well as snacks. Beverages are for purchase.

Thank you to Motorco for helping to sponsor this event!

URBANISM FOR KIDS!

Saturday, October 18, 2025 • 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Gipson Play Plaza • 715 Biggs Dr, Raleigh

Join us for the second CITYBUILDER family event! Kids had a great time in Durham in August, with coloring, painting, and drawing activities, plus snacks! We hope to see you there.

CAROLINA POLICY TALK: HOW TO TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBORS ABOUT VOTING FOR HOUSING

Tuesday, October 21, 2025 • 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Virtual (More info & RSVP Here)

Join us as we continue our coverage and conversation about this year’s municipal elections throughout the Triangle. We know we want to vote for housing, but how do we talk to our family, friends, and neighbors about the importance of casting a pro-housing vote? Join CITYBUILDER for a virtual lunch & learn more about how to talk about voting for housing.

More info and RSVP.

BIKE TO THE POLLS

Saturday, October 25, 2025 • Meet at 9:00 AM, roll out at 9:15 AM
Meet at Major the Bull in CCB Plaza • 211 W Parrish St, Durham

Join fellow CITYBUILDERS to bike to the polls! We’ll be taking the 2.5 mile-ish (5 total there and back) ride from Major the Bull over to Early Vote at the NCCU Turner Law Building (640 Nelson Street, Durham).

UDO KICK-THE-TIRES WORKSHOP #2: COMMERCIAL

Tuesday, October 28, 2025 • 12:00 PM - 2:00PM
The Trotter Building (Basement) • 410 W Geer Street, Durham

In our second workshop of this series, we invite builders, designers, and concerned citizens, to “kick-the-tires” on Durham’s new proposed Unified Development Ordinance. Join us in putting pen to paper to test what’s possible under the new guidelines. Lunch will be provided.

More info and RSVP here.

OCTOBER BOOK CLUB: ESCAPING THE HOUSING TRAP

Wednesday, October 29, 2025 • 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Press Coffee • 400 Hillsborough St, Raleigh

Join us for our October Book Club to discuss Escaping the Housing Trap by Charles Marohn and Daniel Herriges. This book

Escaping the Housing Trap by Charles Marohn and Daniel Herriges argues that America’s housing crisis stems from treating homes as both investments and essential shelter, creating conflicting pressures that drive up costs and limit choices. The authors, from Strong Towns, propose local, incremental solutions—like zoning reform and diverse, small-scale housing—to build more affordable, resilient communities.

More info and RSVP.

REMINDER: MAKE A PLAN TO VOTE!

Every single municipality in the Triangle (except Raleigh) has elections this fall.

ICYMI we broke down everyone whose running, in every race. Be sure you make a plan to vote!

Key Election Dates for 2025:

Fall Primary Election Day (Durham only)
Tuesday, October 7th

Voter Registration Deadline:
Friday, October 10th

Municipal Election Early Voting:
Thursday, October 16th - Saturday, November 1st

Municipal Election Day:
Tuesday, November 4th

If you have never voted in a local election before, here is what to do:

Make sure you are registered to vote and that your information is up to date.
Find out when and where you can vote. In North Carolina, you can look this up here: North Carolina Voter Lookup. Your county Board of Elections website is also a wealth of information. Here’s Durham, Wake and Orange.
Plan ahead! Early voting is often the easiest option. You can register there too! Mark your calendar, set a reminder, bring your ID, and make time.
Talk to someone else about voting. Invite a friend to go with you or remind your neighbors’ kids who are new voters that their ballot matters.