DURHAM COUNTY
Updated 12/31/99
In 1984, salvage archaeology at the Heritage Square site revealed information on the nineteenth century African-American Hayti community, conducted by the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office in advance of the HUD-funded development of a shopping center. Almost 700 Durham County sites have been recorded in the Historic Preservation Office's statewide inventory.
Architectural surveys were completed for the city of Durham in 1980, the Edgemont Neighborhood in 1979, and Durham County in 1987. In 1995 to 1997, a survey update of the county was conducted in preparation for publication of a survey manuscript. These have been cooperative local-state projects accomplished with grants and staff assistance from the Historic Preservation Office.
Major state or federal preservation grants (in excess of $10,000) have been awarded for work at the Carolina Theater, the 1980-1981 Durham architectural inventory, Downtown Arts Complex, Hayti Section Development, St. Joseph's AME Church, Piper-Dixon House at Eno River State Park, and several buildings associated with the Stagville Preservation Center. State grants total $384,000, and federal grants total $233,720.
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
Among the fifty-one listings in the National Register of Historic Places are thirteen historic districts in Durham. Over thirty individual listings include numerous tobacco and textile complexes. The Historic Preservation Office assisted preparation of a National Register nomination for the Bright Leaf Historic District in 1999. The Duke Homestead and Tobacco Factory, the Bull Durham Tobacco Factory, and the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Building are also National Historic Landmarks.
LOCAL PRESERVATION COMMISSIONS
Frequent Historic Preservation Office consultations provide assistance to the Durham County Historic Preservation Commission. Durham County and the City of Durham are both Certified Local Governments. The Historic Preservation Office has commented on reports for the local designation of four districts and thirty landmarks.
Second in the state in total construction investments for income-producing tax credit projects, twenty-three projects have been completed in Durham County at a total construction investment of $29,205,200, including Brightleaf Square, Erwin Square, and the Durham Hosiery Mill, all in Durham. Eight additional income-producing tax credit projects are currently undergoing renovation, including five former Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company buildings now collectively known as West Village. Two residences are currently undergoing renovation to utilize the new state tax credit for non-income-producing structures. The Historic Preservation Office reviews and provides restoration technical services for all tax credit projects.
PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PUBLICATIONS
The Historic Preservation Office assisted the city of Durham with the publication of The Durham Architectural and Historic Inventory in 1982. Staff members of the Historic Preservation Office also have made numerous presentations at the Stagville Preservation Center, including the 1998 Historic Paint and Wallpapers Institute conference. In 1996, the Durham Historic Preservation Commission hosted the annual Spring Commission Training Workshop co-sponsored by the Historic Preservation Office. In 1998, the Historic Preservation Office co-sponsored the first statewide conference of the North Carolina African American Network on Historic Preservation, held at the Hayti Heritage Center in Durham.
The Historic Preservation Office has provided restoration technical services to state and federal grant-supported projects including Historic St. Joseph's and the Carolina Theater. In addition to tax act projects and privately owned properties, staff has assisted historic Watts Hospital, now the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, the Stagville Preservation Center, and the Leigh Farm.