Durham taking steps toward new use for old police department HQ site

The city of Durham is looking for a developer with ideas for four acres of property on West Chapel Hill Street, property that used to be the city's police headquarters.

City council has defined six priorities for the downtown development. It must:

• generate financial return for the city;
• include affordable housing;
• preserve the existing building designed in the 1950s;
• include uses that drive the economy, such as commercial space that would create jobs;
• include space for a museum or other public way to mark the city's West End and Hayti legacy;
• deliver "signature design and creation of an iconic gateway" for the city.

The city is not looking to sell the property, rather to find a development partner with which to work. Interested firms are invited to provide a written statement of their qualifications to the city manager. From those qualified, the city will choose a list of firms to submit proposals for the site.