Thursday night's opening for the New Neighbors exhibit was amazing! 

"New Neighbors" is a community outreach and arts initiative by artist Dave Alsobrooks, who has installed paintings of Durham residents performing everyday activities in the windows of vacant properties, including the (under contract!) Y.E. Smith School and surrounding houses. Alsobrooks encourages viewers to picture themselves living in the neighborhood and providing a catalyst for a renaissance of the neighborhood.

There was a huge turnout and folks stayed way past dark and viewed the installation with flashlights.  There were a couple of food trucks, so people stayed and ate in front of the school and talked.  Residents from Uplift East Durham took people in groups to each installation house, as well as the Paul Ligon House. 

I stayed in front of the YE Smith School to talk to folks about our project and hand out fliers on Project RED.  There were also plenty of nearby neighbors who came out just to see what was going on and we were able to meet people we hadn't reached before.  It was an amazing day — people are really rooting for this neighborhood! 

Learn more!

New Neighbors on Facebook

Dave Alsobrooks web site

Artist's "New Neighbors" East Durham public art project kicks off
Bull City Rising (2/2/2011)

Interview from "The State of Things"
WUNC Radio (3/3/2011)

In partnership with the UNC Wilmington History Department, the Bellamy Mansion Museum of History and Design Arts has awarded the first Boney-Bellamy Scholarship and internship to Sarah Skrobialowski, a graduate student in Public History at UNCW. The scholarship was named for Lillian Bellamy Boney, granddaughter of the original owner, and her late husband, architect Leslie N. Boney. Lillian and her sister were the last private owners of the site, and the family was instrumental in its preservation.

by Aidil Ortiz Collins

I've been asked many times over the years why the heck I love East Durham so much.

It might be all the ethnic eateries at the Green Flea Market that offer awesome food at a great price. Maybe it's the cool clinic at the Holton Center that I can walk to for services.

Of course, I love all the historic architecture of the homes in my area. I also mention my neighbors in all my conversations about the things that make me passionate about East Durham.

This story was originally published in the Durham News (10/6/2010) — reprinted by permission
www.thedurhamnews.com

Learn More

East Durham open house

Sunday, October 24, 2010
1:00–4:00 p.m.

Self-guided, free tour. Maps and info available at 201 S. Driver Street, Durham

For more info, contact
Aidil Collins
919-260-4807
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Over the years though, I have learned that the proof is in the pudding. I could talk until I am blue in the face, but it's just better if I show you how wonderful life in East Durham is. So rather than beat you over the head with a semester-long lecture on how much my neighborhood rocks, I'll just invite you over.

I know that everyone has a voyeuristic side. You know you've driven by a cute house in my area and thought to yourself, "I wonder what it looks like inside." If you've considered buying a house and wondered what the neighbors over in East Durham were like, then the Old East Durham Open Home Tour is your event.

On Sunday, Oct. 24, from 1 to 4 p.m., Uplift East Durham, Preservation Durham and Preservation NC are holding various East Durham open houses to satisfy all your curiosities. You'll get a chance to see houses that are fully renovated, houses in the midst of their makeover, and houses that are available for anyone willing to take the renovation plunge.

This free event not only lets you snoop around someone's house, but it also lets you talk to local home owners about how they did it and how they've liked living in East Durham. We have homeowners on the tour that have been in East Durham from one year to over two decades.

If you're a Realtor or a prospective home buyer, you'll get information on tax credits and the loan structures available to those that want to renovate a historic home. We're a community that is ready to have happy new neighbors.

So, I'll spare you the hard sell and just ask that you come on over to 201 S. Driver St. at anytime between 1 and 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 24. Tour packets can be found there and participants guide themselves through the tour. You can spend as much or as little time as you like at any point on the tour. If you want more information about the tour, contact me at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

Until then, I have my hands full as I fluff some pillows, rearrange furniture and pretty up my front yard in preparation for your arrival. I can't wait to have everyone over!

Aidil Ortiz Collins is founder of Uplift East Durham.

Some real-life fieldwork was on the syllabus this spring for students in Prof. Lina Sibert's Interior Design studio course at Meredith College. Their assignment? Imagine how some of the large Victorian Houses in Downtown Goldsboro might be transformed for new owners.

Many of the houses Preservation NC has available for restoration in Goldsboro have been poorly maintained, divided up into apartments, or otherwise chopped up. The challenge for the students was to re-envision these houses as single-family homes, keeping historic fabric and character intact.

The students measured and photographed properties then worked in groups to prepare design boards with reworked plans, interior furnishing layouts, finish suggestions and perspective drawings of key rooms.

In May, the students returned to Goldsboro to present their ideas to Downtown Revitalization team members and city officials.

Take a look at some of their ideas . . .

On June 8, more than 300 folks came to downtown Raleigh to support Preservation NC and our Endangered Properties Program at the annual Taste of Downtown Raleigh. Thanks to all the sponsor, supporters, and attendees for making this a terrific event.

Get your own taste of the Taste of Downtown Raleigh with pictures below!