Don’t let this fact fool you: Falconbridge has a Chapel Hill address but sits in Durham County. Instead of a split personality, however, this leafy neighborhood of gently rolling streets is a model of togetherness.
Among 453 households, there are 163 townhomes and 290 single-family abodes in a variety of architectural styles. Serene and green, it makes for a pleasant walking neighborhood, with wide streets and colorful curb appeal. Townhome residents even have some yard space that they often transform into beautiful gardens right outside their doors. However, the “tie that binds” at Falconbridge is not a visual feature. It is a voluntary community spirit that is second to none in making its residents feel part of a thriving whole.
The clubhouse overlooks the summer gathering spot, a crystalline pool adjacent to tennis courts. The clubhouse is used year-round, however, for movie nights, games and other activities. Nominal voluntary dues are collected to support the Falconbridge Alliance, which has a near 50% membership rate. A very available Board of Directors oversees the community aspects of homeownership and a newsletter called “The Bridge.” The Bridge informs residents of calendar events. These include seasonal celebrations, and even a yearly ArtWalk, showcasing neighborhood talents. The caring spirit that has built up over decades is so well-organized now that there are even “aging in place” services for elderly residents.
Convenience to UNC, RTP, and main commuting areas make Falconbridge a haven that’s just a stone’s throw away from the busy Chapel Hill/Durham nexus. House prices range from $170K for 1600 sqft. townhouses to the low-to-mid-$300K range for larger detached homes.
This post was written by Mary Joyce Cable: 
Mary Joyce is a graduate of Catholic University, where she studied literature and history. She speaks fluent German and some French. Having grown up in the Maryland suburbs of our nation’s capital, she has extended these interests to our state Capitol, volunteering as a trained docent downtown at the Capitol and Executive Mansion in Raleigh. She lives with her husband Joe in the Preston neighborhood of Cary, where they enjoy the pleasures of a delightfully walkable neighborhood. Mary Joyce and Joe make a point to walk all over the Raleigh, Cary, Apex and South Durham areas where they do business. “There is no substitute for the kind of familiarity that provides”, she asserts. She is an active member of St. Michael the Archangel Church in Cary.
