Durham authorizes option for Home Security Life building; resident urges city to prioritize housing for unhoused

Durham — Durham City Council authorized the city manager on April 6 to negotiate and execute an option to sell a portion of 505 West Chapel Hill Street (the former Home Security Life Insurance / old police station) to the Historic Preservation Foundation of North Carolina for preservation and rehabilitation.

The item was pulled from the consent agenda for public comment and discussion. Victoria Peterson, a member of the public who identified concerns about homelessness, said the city should not "give them our property" and urged the council to use the building to provide low‑cost housing for residents with no income or very low income. “We need this building to be used to help persons who are living on the street,” Peterson said, arguing that the shelter system is at capacity.

Council members and staff clarified the procedure: the option before council is a draft and will be negotiated; staff said the sale and any rehabilitation agreement will return to council for approval before the sale is executed so council will have the opportunity to review the developer selection and rehabilitation terms.

Supporters said preservation could stabilize, rehabilitate and activate the site and that a phased approach might create long‑term opportunities for affordable housing or mixed‑use reuse. After discussion, the motion authorizing the manager to negotiate the option and continue work with Preservation North Carolina passed unanimously.

Staff said the draft option is under negotiation and that final sale documents, the rehabilitation agreement and any conveyance would return to city council for approval before the sale is executed.

That review will be a future agenda item; the option authorization allows staff to continue negotiations and to refine the contract language to reflect council direction.