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We are a small family-run business, specializing in unique and affordable rental properties in an urban setting in Durham,
NC, convenient to downtown, Duke University and the Research Triangle Park.
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Our properties include studios and one and two-bedroom units. Most are in renovated older
homes, located in residential neighborhoods close to the Duke campus. Most of our units have unique features
common to older houses such as hardwood floors, spacious rooms, wide porches, attractive hearths, high ceilings and large
windows.
About Us
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| Sandy, Roque and Don |
Our primary identity is our academic life -- both of us (Don and Sandy) are anthropologists who teach at UNC-Chapel
Hill. He studies Asia; I'm a Latin Americanist (See link below) And we have a 18-yr-old son named Roque, who's a student at
Svannah College of Art & Design. So the rentals are a part time business. All of the houses are works in
progress -- for many years now a third to a half of the proceeds from the rental business have been reinvested in
the business each summer, either in new purchases or in upgrades to the houses. We take pride in keeping our rents
affordable and stable, and in a "hands-on" approach to management. Our philosophy is not to offer any property
for rent that we would not be willing to live in ourselves.
Sandy's academic website.
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Our houses are located in Watts-Hillandale, Trinity Heights, Lakewood, Walden Pond and Old
West Durham neighborhoods-- all in west-central Durham. Many are within walking distance to the popular
Ninth Street business district. All are either walking distance or a quick (5-10 min) bike or car commute
to Duke's Campuses.
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| Sandy (on paint fumes) |
One of us (Sandy) got bitten by the "old house" renovation bug in 1991 after moving back to Durham following a decade
as a journalist living in various urban centers -- from Chicago to Washington, DC to San Salvador. During the 1990s (while
attending graduate school) she renovated three older houses, as well as the apartment upstairs in our own home.
We acquired the Vernon Pope House (our first registered "historic" property) in 2003, which took about
18 months (and an unseemly amount of $) to whip into shape. Our most recent purchase was the Vesson Ave. house, in June 2005.
Sandy swears this will be the last big project -- skeptical Don, who has heard this before,
is laughing, ah well. . . .
Don does the heavy lifting. He built the steps below single-handedly. Just kidding.
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| Don (in the Andes) |
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Contact us at:
286-7396 (Sandy)
email: scsmith@email.unc.edu
Running Dog Propeties, 2030
Englewood Ave., Durham, NC 27705
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