Each month there is an Uplift East Durham meeting. Usually we discuss how neighbors feel, who’s new in the area, whether a new sandwich shop is on its way. At the November 2007 meeting the topic was “how do we get the people to revisit Historic East Durham”? I suggested an open house tour event in January. We would invite the public, asking real estate companies to help.

Durham City Councilman Mike Woodard, Preservation Durham Executive Director John Compton, PNC Board Chair Denise Barnes, Durham City Councilman Farad Ali, and PNC Piedmont Regional Director Cathleen Turner (Pauli Henson/Preservation Durham)

Aidil Collins, founder of the Uplift East Durham Association, and others there were inspired by the idea. Those at the meeting volunteered to open their own homes to show visitors what could be done, and they would ask other homeowners to join them. A new venture for the rediscovery of East Durham’s neighborhood was born!

A primary goal for East Durham is to stop the investment mentality of either fix and flip or keep and rent. We want real estate companies to work with Preservation Durham and help find families seeking affordable homes they can own. Currently, approximately 80% of homes are rented, with absentee ownership. The homeowners who have purchased houses from Preservation Durham, private owners or real estate companies love their neighborhood and recognize the need to educate people about the area.

The Uplift East Durham Association has become a spark plug for the neighborhood. Aidil Collins and other residents speak so clearly about the sense of community that is leading the changes in East Durham. I love the name “Uplift East Durham” because it tells the people that those behind it have uplifted attitudes and spirit--that the organization is about who they are and where they live.

Together we assembled packets for visitors: a Historic Durham map, mortgage information, tips on housing rehab, a list of Preservation Durham’s properties for sale, and a map guide for the tour. Extra police were on call. Preservation Durham volunteers stood ready at every open house. The sky was crystal clear, weather crisp, and attitudes of pride shining that Sunday. Neighbors and volunteers stood ready to greet the more than 100 people who visited. “What a wonderful neighborhood feel,” said one visitor, in some astonishment. “It doesn’t feel anything like [how it’s shown on] the news.”

THE VISION OF EAST DURHAM’S FUTURE WAS LOOKING BACK AT EACH PERSON THERE ON JANUARY 27. PEOPLE WALKING, HOLDING HANDS, SMILING, BABY CARRIAGES BEING PUSHED AND DOGS WALKED. PEOPLE TALKING. PEOPLE SEEING EAST DURHAM AS AN OPPORTUNITY.

A BEAUTIFUL DAY, A NEW VISION FOR THE FUTURE EAST DURHAM.

Future plans include a neighborhood and real estate BBQ, another open house in the fall, and a campaign to reach out to tenants to help them understand that they too can be homeowners.

Preservation Durham board member Eric Lewis greets visitors at213 South Driver Street (Pauli Henson/Preservation Durham)

Pauli Henson is Endangered Properties Coordinator for Preservation Durham.

Learn more!

Bull City Rising story on the open homes tour (1-29-2008)

Information on East Durham neighborhood history

Other Preservation Durham properties for sale