[Durham INC] Fw: Public Meeting - proposed demolition of the Durham Social Services Building

Tue Nov 12 16:05:55 EST 2013

Is this the building to which you refer? D. Snyder
[image: Inline image 1]

On Tue, Nov 12, 2013 at 4:01 PM, Tom Miller <tom-miller1 at nc.rr.com> wrote:

> John is right.  We need another useless “public plaza” like a hole in the
> head.  If we are willing to covert this property into a revenue-neutral of
> revenue-negative proposition, I say let’s lease it to a developer for 20-30
> years for a minimal amount of rent and impose conditions that the property
> be renovated and maintained to a certain standard.  During the life of the
> lease, the developer would get the value of his investment back and at the
> end of the lease, the county would have the building back none to worse for
> wear.  AND downtown Durham wouldn’t wind up with another gap in its skyline.
>
>
>
> Tom
>
>
>
> *From:* inc-list-bounces at rtpnet.org [mailto:inc-list-bounces at rtpnet.org] *On
> Behalf Of *John Martin
> *Sent:* Tuesday, November 12, 2013 10:28 AM
> *To:* inc-list at durhaminc.org
> *Subject:* [Durham INC] Fw: Public Meeting - proposed demolition of the
> Durham Social Services Building
>
>
>
> I'm forwarding this appeal from Preservation Durham for citizens to show
> up at tonight's hearing on the future of the former DSS  office building at
> 200 E. Main St.
>
>
>
> Regardless of whether you are a preservationist or not, tearing down this
> building and *leaving the site empty makes no sense.*  Downtown Durham is
> already suffering from too much empty space (and this goes double for the
> areas around Roxboro St. and east).  If the building is truly not worth
> rehabbing, and it is going to be torn down, the empty lot should be offered
> for sale to a developer *who will actually build something desirable on
> the site*.
>
>
>
> The idea of a plaza there is a fiasco in the making right out of the
> 1950's urban renewal playbook.  Those of you have been around Durham as
> long as I have can remember the Redevelopment Commission which did a lot of
> tearing down, and not much redevelopment.
>
>
>
> I hope to see you there tonight.
>
>
>
> John
>
>
>
> ----- Forwarded Message -----
> *From:* Preservation Durham <info at preservationdurham.org>
> *To:* bulldurhamnc at yahoo.com
> *Sent:* Monday, November 11, 2013 5:40 PM
> *Subject:* Public Meeting - proposed demolition of the Durham Social
> Services Building
>
>
>
>  <http://s.rs6.net/t?e=I4eK3_zqd6A&c=1&r=1>
>
> <http://s.rs6.net/t?e=I4eK3_zqd6A&c=3&r=1>
>
> <http://s.rs6.net/t?e=I4eK3_zqd6A&c=4&r=1>
>
>  <http://s.rs6.net/t?e=I4eK3_zqd6A&c=5&r=1>
>
> <http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Hidden-Durham-Tour--Maureen-Joy-Charter-School.html?soid=1112457037077&aid=I4eK3_zqd6A#fblike>
>
>
>
>
>
> * JOIN US - VOICE YOUR OPINION*
>
> *on the proposed demolition of the former DSS office located at 200 E.
> Main Street*
>
>
>
> *Tuesday, November 12, 2013 @ 6:00 pm*
>
> *Human Services Building, Countywide Meeting Room A*
>
> *414 E. Main Street*
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *Durham County Government is holding a public input session regarding the
> proposed demolition of this building, located at 200 E. Main Street, for
> the creation of a public plaza.*
>
>
>
> *Why this issue matters: *
>
>    - *This is an awful location for a plaza*.  Constant street noise and
>    exhaust from the Durham Freeway and Roxboro Street will omnipresent and
>    will not support a relaxing atmosphere.
>    - What purpose does the proposed plaza serve that is not already met
>    by CCB Plaza, American Tobacco and other downtown open spaces?
>    - Demolition will further reduce the connections from Downtown Durham
>    to East Durham and Golden Belt
>    - Demolition does not support the Downtown Durham Master Plan which
>    specifically sets out the need for connectivity along main street.  A gap
>    where this building is would be would further decrease the number of people
>    on E. Main Street, and the number of people willing to venture east.
>    - Creation of a public plaza, that does not generate tax revenue and
>    requires continual maintenance, is not in the best fiscal interest of the
>    City or County.
>    - Demolition will erase part of Durham's history
>    - Demolition will decrease the supply of office space, and further
>    increase downtown rents
>
> *Other Options:*
>
>    - Rental office space or sale of the building
>       - Selling the building would bring further commercial development
>       to East Main and make further connections to the city's investments in East
>       Durham.
>
> *Preservation Durham*
>
> P.O. Box 25411
>
> Durham, North Carolina 27702
>
>
>
> *Forward this email
> <http://ui.constantcontact.com/sa/fwtf.jsp?llr=virwzbmab&m=1112457037077&ea=bulldurhamnc%40yahoo.com&a=1115625312646>*
>
>
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>
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>
> This email was sent to bulldurhamnc at yahoo.com by
> info at preservationdurham.org |
>
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>
> Preservation Durham | P.O. Box 25411 | Durham | NC | 27702
>
>
>
>
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-- 
*Dorothy Potter Snyder*
*The Art of Language*
*305 Monticello Avenue*
*Durham NC 27707*
*919-237-2931*
www.dorothypotterspanish.com
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