Preservation Voters: Candidate Responses

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2025 Durham City Council and Mayoral Candidates Preservation Questionnaire Responses

UPDATED 10/29/25: For clarity, candidate responses have been narrowed to include only those who advanced from the primary and will appear on the November 4, 2025 general election ballot. All original candidate responses remain available as reference links at the bottom of the page.

As our 2025 local elections near, we wanted to ask each candidate how they feel about historic preservation and what their plans in office will be to support historic preservation efforts in our community. We reached out to each candidate, and have received answers from 10, which you can read below.

2025 City of Durham Candidate Questionnaire: Historic Preservation in Durham

Prepared by Preservation Durham (www.preservationdurham.org)

*Each candidate's full answer sheet and submitted bio are linked at the bottom of this page

1. Partnering for Preservation:

How do you envision the City partnering with nonprofits like Preservation Durham to achieve the historic preservation goals outlined in the Comprehensive Plan?

DeDreana Freeman: I see real possibilities for the City to partner with nonprofits like Preservation Durham as both a resource and a conduit for the community. Nonprofits can help us identify and document historically significant sites, especially in underrepresented Black, Indigenous, and working-class neighborhoods that have often been overlooked in preservation efforts.

Our Partnerships should include:

• Identifying early collaboration opportunities on rezoning and development reviews so historic preservation concerns are addressed before projects move too far along.
• Grant matching and technical support from the City to help property owners access preservation incentives and adaptive reuse programs.
• Working closely with city staff on community education and outreach programs, co-led with nonprofits, to raise awareness about local history and available preservation tools.
• Integrating preservation into affordable housing strategies so we maintain both our historic structures and build stability for long-term residents.

Working together, the City and nonprofits can preserve Durham’s rich stories, culture,

and community identity while building a future that reflects our shared values.

Matt Kopac: Partnerships with nonprofits like Preservation Durham will be important to achieving the preservation objectives in the Comprehensive Plan. The first major policy that address preservation is Policy 29, which recommends the use of public funds to support preserving and presenting our local history, especially telling the stories of Durham’s Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. The second policy focused on preservation is Policy 31, which recommends preserving the buildings, neighborhoods, and places of historic significance that define Durham. Looking back, two examples that highlight the spirit of these policies are Preservation Durham’s advocacy for the preservation of the Pauli Murray home and the West Village. The Comprehensive Plan envisions more such work going forward.

To align with these policies, I see the city collaborating with community organizations to expand historical information gathering and expanding the Durham Affordable Housing Loan Fund. This fund, which is designed in part to help affordable housing developers acquire and preserve existing properties, will be critical to meeting our preservation goals and for protecting our naturally occurring affordable housing (see question 3).

Shanetta Burris: In the 2023 Comprehensive Plan, a key objective is to recognize Durham’s historic buildings and sites as vital parts of our shared public history and to preserve these structures thoughtfully. To achieve this goal, partnerships with community-led nonprofit organizations like Preservation Durham are essential. As a council member, I will make it a priority to consult and collaborate with your organization to fulfill the objectives outlined in the Comprehensive Plan.

Mark-Anthony Middleton: No response

Chelsea Cook: I am excited to continue partnering with Preservation Durham and other nonprofits. There are several components of the Comprehensive Plan that can be better met with the experience and knowledge of this (or other similarly situated) groups. For example, in our recent conversations around the redevelopment of 505, we saw that the City’s understanding of what could be done to preserve and update the Milton Small Building was inaccurate in terms of cost and time because we had not specifically discussed the building’s future with developers in the preservation space. I am appreciative of the organizations stepping forward and offering expertise to help the City meet some of our immediate goals around this project, even though the entire property is not moving forward as we might like.

Diana Medoff: I have a great appreciation for the way the story of Durham is told through our architecture. The American Tobacco Campus, for example, has been preserved and reinvented to suit the current needs of Durham’s economy while still telling the story of our history. As we move forward, I am grateful for the work of Preservation Durham in advocating for this sort of storytelling as we adapt and grow. Because of that, I believe everyone and especially local nonprofits like Preservation Durham should have a voice in shaping Durham’s future.

Anjanée Bell: Durham will partner with nonprofits like Preservation Durham through a formal, funded, and accountable structure that delivers the Comprehensive Plan’s goals of rooted communities and a protected sense of place.

As Mayor, I will establish a Joint Preservation Partnership that convenes Preservation Durham, the Hayti Heritage Center, the Museum of Durham History, Planning, and neighborhood leaders each quarter to co-author an annual Preservation Work Program with clear targets, timelines, and budgets.

The City will create a reliable funding stream for partner organizations through annual operating and project grants aligned with state and philanthropic dollars. The Historic Preservation Commission is primarily occupied with Certificate of Appropriateness caseloads; nonprofit partners will extend the full set of preservation functions envisioned by state law, including proactive work with owners of endangered properties and culturally significant sites. All actions will be consistent with North Carolina law.

Policy will match practice. For rezonings and major site plans that implicate historic neighborhoods or cultural assets, staff reports will include early, written comments from Preservation Durham and sister organizations. The City will deploy tools—adaptive reuse incentives, local and conservation districts, landmark designations, demolition-delay triggers, and state and federal historic tax credits—equitably and effectively, prioritizing long-standing Black and working-class neighborhoods vulnerable to displacement.

Durham will expand the citywide historic resource survey with an explicit equity lens, integrating oral histories and cultural landscapes so preservation honors people as well as buildings. Each year, the City and its partners will publish an At-Risk Places & Preservation Priorities list, co-created with neighborhood groups, to direct funding, staffing, and regulatory action. A Durham Preservation Fund will pair small grants and revolving, low-interest loans for owner-occupants and small landlords with technical-assistance clinics, energy-efficiency upgrades, and, where eligible, property-tax relief—so preservation keeps residents in place.

Hayti will be the immediate proving ground. The City will launch a small-area plan for Hayti with a standing advisory committee that includes Preservation Durham, Hayti Reborn, the Hayti Heritage Center, and resident leaders from the start. Progress will be tracked on a public dashboard: structures stabilized, homes repaired, dollars deployed, and cultural assets protected.

This is how Durham advances development without displacement and builds a better Durham for everyone.

Leonardo Williams: One of Durham’s greatest blessings and assets is the extensive nonprofit community throughout our city that works every single day to better the lives of all Durhamites. From food availability, to neighborhood revitalization, to homeownership support, nonprofits are a key auxiliary partner in the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan. If elected, it is my intention to continue preexisting collaboration between the city and nonprofit groups, while constantly seeking ways to expand and streamline these partnerships for the ultimate betterment of our whole community.

2. Historic Neighborhoods & Growth:

What role do Durham’s historic residential neighborhoods play in the city’s future growth? How should the city balance preserving neighborhood character with the need for increased housing density near downtown?

DeDreana Freeman: Durham’s historic residential neighborhoods, especially places like Golden Belt, Hayti, Tuscaloosa-Lakewood, Walltown and Watts-Hospital are foundational to our city’s identity, cultural heritage, and sense of place. They embody the strength, resilience, and legacy of Black, Brown, working-class communities that shaped Durham. As we grow, we must ensure these neighborhoods aren’t erased in the name of progress.

Preserving neighborhood character isn't about halting change. It’s about guiding growth in a way that honors local architecture, walkability, green canopies, and community fabric while meeting housing needs. We can do this by focusing new housing on transit corridors, under-used commercial sites, and city-owned land. Tools like conservation districts, design standards, and affordable housing requirements can help protect what matters most.

For instance, a recent zoning case in Hayti illustrates this balance in action. A proposal for a high-rise, mixed-use project at Heritage Square was withdrawn after residents voiced concerns about displacement, affordability, and erasure of history. Durham’s response shows the power of centering community vision in development. That same space can and should be reimagined in partnership with Hayti residents, grounded in respect, equity, and preservation, rather than driven by speculative development.

By combining intentional preservation with thoughtful, community-directed growth, we can build a Durham that stays rooted in its history, even as it welcomes new neighbors and opportunity.

Matt Kopac: I believe we can and must balance preserving neighborhood character while having more homes near downtown. There will be areas like downtown and transit corridors where we will want to build greater density to meet the needs of our growing population. In our historic neighborhoods the key will be incremental growth that contributes to our housing needs while remaining in character. This includes local decisions like Expanding Housing Choices to build ADUs and supporting residents and local developers to build more housing stock like duplexes and triplexes. I live in Trinity Park, which is a terrific example of how diverse housing types can co-exist and preserve neighborhood character.

Shanetta Burris: Many of Durham’s historic residential neighborhoods are being targeted by developers for various reasons. However, this approach often does not yield positive outcomes for long-term residents. These residents face the loss of their social and cultural fabric, in addition to a significant increase in property taxes. The city should make a concerted effort to engage with the communities residing in historic neighborhoods, such as Hayti and Walltown, when making decisions about growth and increased density. Residents and community leaders possess invaluable insights gained from years of living in their neighborhoods and should be seen as trusted partners and advisors, rather than obstacles. While increased density is important, it is equally essential to honor the history and character of these neighborhoods. Furthermore, council members should be intentional when engaging with developers who come before them to request annexations or rezonings in historic neighborhoods. This presents an excellent opportunity to advocate for the community's needs and to assess whether the developer is genuinely interested in being a long-term partner who cares about their impact on the community.

Chelsea Cook: This is certainly a balance and one that comes with any growth, including the growth of Durham. I am mindful of certain histories and their importance to the City and the people who live here, as well as certain neighborhoods that attract people – both new residents and tourists alike. Like with any conversation around development and land use, I am careful to consider all the information in front of me, including the comments of Durhamites who will come share the stories of their neighborhoods during public comment. I do my best to choose the outcome that I feel is in the city’s best interest, and I take seriously the charge in determining if what we are giving up is less than what we are gaining on a whole.

Diana Medoff: As somebody who calls a historic neighborhood “home”, I understand the power and responsibility that comes with this rich history. When we renovated our historic home to meet the needs of our growing family, we were able to add an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). These sorts of personalized and creative solutions allow us to build more densely in these neighborhoods while also staying true to our history. History and character shouldn’t limit us moving forward but should guide us in our growth and development.

Anjanée Bell: Durham’s historic residential neighborhoods are the city’s living foundation. They hold our story—architecture, culture, and the everyday places where children were raised, neighbors looked out for one another, and elders aged in place. They are our heirlooms; preserving them is a people-first strategy, not nostalgia. They also contain the largest share of naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH), essential to stability and intergenerational wealth.

First, protect what works. I will work to bring an Established Neighborhoods zoning framework to Council within my first 100 days, tailored by neighborhood and tied to anti-displacement standards. In these areas, the City will discourage teardowns that destroy NOAH, apply conservation or local historic districts where communities want them, use demolition-delay triggers for at-risk structures, and expand repair grants, tax relief where eligible, and low-interest rehab loans so owners can maintain and remain. Displacement-impact statements will be required for rezonings that affect historic neighborhoods.

Second, add gentle, compatible infill. Accessory Dwelling Units will be by-right and easy to build. The City will offer pre-approved ADU and small-plex plans and expedited review for projects that retain an existing primary home. Context-sensitive pattern books will govern duplexes, townhomes, and small apartment houses on appropriate lots or vacant parcels—matching height, setbacks, massing, and materials—so new homes fit the block.

Third, target meaningful density where it serves public goals. Higher density will be focused on downtown edges, major transit corridors, activity centers, and publicly controlled sites—not within the interior of established historic blocks. Upzoning will be conditioned on deep and durable affordability, enforceable anti-displacement commitments, and community benefits agreements. Density is a means, not an end; any added entitlement near downtown must prove public value or it will not advance.

Fourth, center historically Black neighborhoods. Walltown, Bragtown, Hayti, College Heights, and similar communities will not be asked to pay the price of “growth.” With Preservation Durham and neighborhood leaders, the City will identify at-risk places, direct resources, and codify protections that keep residents in place while improving housing quality. A quarterly NOAH Preservation Scorecard—including a teardown-to-rehab ratio by neighborhood—will guide funding, enforcement, and code changes in real time.

This balanced approach advances development without displacement, safeguards Durham’s sense of place, and delivers more homes where they belong—near jobs, transit, and services—while honoring the neighborhoods that made Durham what it is. That is how we build a better Durham for everyone.

Leonardo Williams: This is the eternal question, striking the appropriate balance between residential neighborhood sprawl and consolidated development. Thankfully, in Durham our geography allows us to do both. Our city limits include extensive residential-style neighborhoods filled with standalone single family housing. The assertion that this model can’t co-exist with large scale apartment style housing is demonstrably inaccurate, and this is borne out in real-time throughout Durham. Our council has presided over a period of sustained housing growth that has incorporated both models, while also devoting resources to rejuvenating pre-existing communities.

3. Affordable Housing & Older Homes (NOAH)

Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH) often refers to older, modest homes in need of renovation. Many of these properties have traditionally offered a path to homeownership and wealth-building but are increasingly being bought by investors or demolished for higher-end development. What policies or tools should the city consider to preserve NOAH and support owner-occupant buyers? If elected, how would you incorporate this issue in the affordable housing conversation?

DeDreana Freeman: Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH) is one of Durham’s most important yet most at-risk housing resources. These older, modest homes have historically provided first-time buyers, working-class families, and long-term residents especially in Black and Brown communities with a pathway to homeownership and intergenerational wealth.

However, speculative investors are increasingly purchasing these properties, either to flip them into high-cost rentals or to demolish and replace them with expensive new construction.

To preserve NOAH, Durham needs a multi-pronged strategy. First, I would support the creation of a dedicated NOAH preservation fund that could be used to help owner-occupant buyers, especially low- and moderate-income households compete with investors through down payment assistance, low-interest rehab loans, and grants for essential repairs. Second, I would advocate for a “first look” policy, giving qualified owner-occupants, community land trusts, and nonprofit housing providers priority access to purchase NOAH properties before they hit the speculative market. Third, we should expand tax relief programs like the Longtime Homeowner Grant to help keep these homes in the hands of residents facing rising property taxes.

If elected, I would make NOAH preservation a core pillar of Durham’s affordable housing strategy. This means integrating NOAH goals into our housing bond commitments, incentivizing renovation over demolition, and partnering with community development financial institutions, local banks, and land trusts to maintain these homes as permanently affordable. Preserving NOAH is not just about saving buildings, and it’s about protecting Durham’s people, culture, and the ability of working families to stay and thrive in their neighborhoods.

Matt Kopac: Preserving Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH) is critical because most low and moderate-income residents lack access to subsidized units, and most of the affordable housing in Durham (where residents aren’t cost-burdened) is naturally occurring. A mix of solutions is needed.

The city should start with short-term stopgaps to help people stay in their homes. This includes eviction diversion, legal aid, and stronger tenant protections. Durham’s Minor Repair and Substantial Rehabilitation Programs are vital, addressing substandard housing issues like plumbing, roofing, stormwater, and HVAC – expenses that often force residents out of otherwise affordable homes. These repairs also support energy affordability, lowering utility costs. The Longtime Homeowner Grant Program is another great program that eases rising tax burdens and should be more accessible.

Community land trusts such as Durham Community Land Trustees (DCLT) are valuable for keeping homes permanently affordable by removing them from speculative markets. We should also explore models like housing cooperatives, shared equity programs, and community investment trusts to protect our existing affordable housing stock.

Even with these efforts, most low and moderate-income residents remain vulnerable to private market pressures. Building more homes is therefore crucial to stabilizing costs and preserving NOAH. We need to build more affordable homes, but if we only do this, it can push wealthier residents into naturally affordable neighborhoods, displacing longtime residents. Encouraging more locally responsive, small-scale development – such as projects supported by the Durham Affordable Housing Loan Fund and the ADU pilot fund and by providing more flexibility in the new UDO – offers a way to ease displacement pressures without the same cost pressures of large-scale developments.

Shanetta Burris: It is crucial to acknowledge that homeownership can become a burden for our neighbors, particularly those in their later years, in an environment where property taxes are increasing for various reasons. In many of our established neighborhoods, gentrification significantly contributes to rising property taxes, putting those on fixed incomes at risk of financial hardship. I believe we are not doing enough as a local government to explore effective strategies to reduce the tax burden on our neighbors. While recognizing the legal limitations of the council, I am committed to researching and collaborating with community members to find appropriate solutions to this issue. By partnering with banks and credit unions to provide low-interest loans, we could help offset these rising costs.

Chelsea Cook: I am excited to see this question because I feel that sometimes we hear an incorrect narrative around affordable housing and how it is at odds with all other good services; we are told that, in order to achieve affordability, we must give up our environmental goals, or our goals around history and preservation, and the list goes on. This is a perfect example of how preservation and affordability can actually go hand in hand. I am committed to retaining the council’s power in zoning and will use my voice to stand against the “density at all costs” push. Durham should be able to decide how we densify by keeping the power to make those decisions in the hands of electeds who are accountable to the public. For me, this is the only way to ensure the density we want comes with any affordability or preservation of history at all (and ideally it comes with both!).

Diana Medoff: To preserve Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH) in Durham and support owner-occupant buyers, we must take a proactive, balanced approach that protects long-time residents while managing the pressures of growth. Durham is growing, and with that growth comes change. Building for the influx of new residents is not the same as building for affordability—and we must do both. That means we have to approve new developments, even when it brings discomfort or change to established neighborhoods. It means allowing accessory dwelling units (ADUs), multi-unit housing on formerly single-family lots, and greater density in areas near transit, jobs, and services. These are tough choices for some Durhamites, but the alternative—displacement and disinvestment—is far worse.

Anjanée Bell: As Mayor, I will lead the City to execute a two-track strategy for Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH): preserve what exists and produce what is missing. NOAH is Durham’s primary on-ramp to homeownership and intergenerational wealth. The goal is development without displacement and more first-time buyers in stable, well-kept homes.

1) Preserve what exists and prioritize owner-occupants.

Create an Established Neighborhoods zoning framework that discourages teardowns, applies conservation or local historic districts where communities want them, and activates demolition-delay for at-risk homes. Launch a NOAH Preservation Fund that provides low-interest rehab loans and small grants, paired with a homeowner navigator to stack historic credits, energy upgrades, and code remedies so owners can maintain and remain. Provide targeted tax and fee relief where eligible, and expedite permits for rehab that retains the primary structure. Establish First-Look & First-Opportunity on City-controlled disposals and incentive deals, giving owner-occupants, community land trusts, and mission-driven buyers time and support to acquire NOAH; assistance will carry owner-occupancy covenants and recapture provisions to deter flipping. Publish a quarterly NOAH Preservation Scorecard—including a teardown-to-rehab ratio by neighborhood—to direct funding, inspections, and code changes in real time.

2) Produce what is missing: small houses on small lots.

Durham cannot regulate sales prices in most cases; it can regulate size and form. Through rezonings and Planned Density Residential approvals, I will require that at least 20% of new for-sale homes are small houses on small lots, with clear caps on building size and height. Accessory Dwelling Units will be by-right. The City will provide pre-approved small-house and ADU plans and a context pattern book so new homes match block character. Projects that retain an existing home while adding gentle infill will receive priority review. Durham will retire any small-house option that induces teardown of NOAH and shift that production to new subdivisions and appropriate infill sites.

3) Make compatibility a public good.

In partnership with Preservation Durham and sister nonprofits, the City will sponsor an annual Small House Design Challenge; rezoning proposals that adopt winning designs will receive scoring preference. All actions will comply with North Carolina law.

How this fits the affordable housing conversation.

NOAH preservation will be a standing pillar of Durham’s housing policy and bond investments, measured by displacement prevented, NOAH homes preserved, and first-time buyers housed. This is how we keep families in place while adding attainable homes—and how we build a better Durham for everyone.

Leonardo Williams: Preservation of Naturally-Occurring Affordable Housing is a pivotal part of Durham’s current housing policy, including intentional investment from the city and partnership with non-profits currently providing meaningful community support in the housing sphere. It is also a key residual effect of the city’s drive to expand the housing market for both tenants and homeowners. Equitable abundance is a policy that uplifts all members of the community, and includes not only keeping housing costs down, but keeping the cost of living manageable as well. Addressing food deserts, providing reliable public transportation, and ensuring public safety all play a part in constructing the affordable Durham that our community deserves. 4. Downtown Development & Preservation

How do you view the role of historic preservation in the past and future development of

Downtown Durham and its surrounding neighborhoods? In your opinion, how should the city balance preservation goals with the call for greater height and density in the urban core?

DeDreana Freeman: As a resident of the historic Golden Belt Neighborhood, just across the street from downtown, I deeply value the 100-year-old homes and the mill village that tell the story of the east side of Main Street. Preservation has played a critical role in shaping Durham’s identity by honoring the history of the hosiery and cotton mills where generations of working-class residents built their lives. That story deserves to be preserved alongside

the wealthier narratives of our city’s past. Looking ahead, preservation must remain part of how we grow.

Balancing preservation with the push for greater height and density has become more challenging with the passing of Simplified Code for Affordable Housing (SCAD) text amendments, which removed incentives to keep historic homes in favor of new development. But we don’t have to sacrifice modest historic neighborhoods to achieve growth. By slowing the process for deeper review and pairing density with meaningful affordable housing benefits, we can protect what makes Durham unique while still meeting future needs. We also need to ensure that density is scaled appropriately within existing communities, cascades thoughtfully across the city, and preserves as many of the structures and stories as possible.