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Durham leaders consider building a new convention center, expected to cost nearly $315 million

Durham leaders are considering the construction of a new convention center, which is estimated to cost $314.7 million. The proposal also includes the construction of a new hotel, which is expected to cost an additional $225 million.

Posted 2024-04-02T21:58:15+00:00 - Updated 2024-04-02T22:01:27+00:00

Durham considers building new convention center

Monica Casey

, WRAL Durham reporter

Durham leaders are considering whether to build a new convention center.

Building a new convention center is expected to cost about $314.7 million, according to the city of Durham.

The proposal also calls for a new hotel attached to the convention center, at an additional cost of $225 million. Gap financing could be needed too, which means a loan to cover the “gap” between any money borrowed to fund the project and the eventual total cost.

“We need to be thinking about, what’s the size convention center we need 20 years from now?” said Discover Durham President and CEO Susan Amey.

The proposed financial figures do not include the cost of land.

The proposed convention center needs about five acres of space while the hotel needs another two acres, according to the city.

The current Durham Convention Center at 301 W. Morgan St. has about 31,735 square feet of meeting space. Expanding at the current site would increase the size to 72,735 square feet.

However, Discover Durham is calling for an entirely new build. The proposal calls for a new convention center at about 186,000 square feet of meeting space.

Durham leaders' discussion about the possibility of a new convention center comes as the city works to adopt the 2025 fiscal year budget, which runs from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025.

Durham Mayor Leonard Williams believes a bigger convention center would help small businesses.

“We’re going to see a significant boost in economic impact,” Williams said.

Amey said visitors to the Bull City spent $1 billion in 2022.

Building a new convention center is one of many recommendations in the Durham Destination Master Plan, which also calls for more family-friendly attractions, greenways and sporting events.

However, not everyone is on board with building a new convention center yet.

“Maybe down the road, once we get essential workers paid, once we make sure we have 911 operators, firefighters, better affordable housing [and] infrastructure that works,” said Habitat for Humanity Chair Carleena Deonanan.

City staff showed the possible impact of the proposal in the next 30 years: New spending of at least $5.1 billion, new earnings of $2.3 billion and more than 1,100 new full-time jobs.

"That revenue comes to the city to do things such as maybe bring infrastructure like sidewalks, fill those potholes [and] build more parks,” Williams said. “We just have to think holistically."

Here is a look at the sizes of other convention centers in North Carolina: