Look around your neighborhood. Who is doing something good, preserving Durham's architectural and cultural heritage? The Architectural Preservation and Awards Committee invites members of the Community to nominate potential recipients for the Neighborhood Conservation Award. Nominations are due by April 1 of each year and the committee recognizes NCA winners at the Historic Preservation Society’s annual dinner held in early summer.
STEPHEN AND KATHLEEN STONE
This house has a lot of original construction and trimwork, and the repairs were crafted inside and out to match the original. The Stones even shaped new exterior siding to match the profile of the original. You have to look closely to see the patches. It is no surprise that it sold only one week after it went on the market. The craftsmanship, style and detailing of old houses and the way houses work together to form special street environments is clearly a very attractive combination to prospective homeowners, and just what the Neighborhood Conservation award is meant to recognize.
Trinity Neighborhood Houses
DUKE UNIVERSITY
Duke University purchased twelve houses near East Campus with a plan to turn them from student rental properties into single family homes. This isn’t the only initiative the university has used to improve Durham neighborhoods, but it has had a tremendous effect. Almost immediately the neighborhood became the place of beauty and quiet that homeowners expect. (And there are a great number of students still living in the neighborhood who are welcomed by the permanent residents.) Scott Selig, Duke's Associate Vice President, saw this project through from start to finish.
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Thompson House
KEVIN WATT AND MELISSA ROCHE
TRINITY DESIGN/BUILD
M. Webb Thompson House, 1009 Burch Avenue. Webb Thompson demonstrated his skill in the fashionable Craftsman style when he built this two-story shingled home in 1923. The house was recognized as a pivotal structure in the neighborhood in the early 1980s although deferred maintenance had taken a toll before Trinity Design/Build purchased the structure in 2005. Working with Trinity Design/Build to complete the work after they bought the house, Watt and Roche completed renovations and repairs. This was the first historic home to qualify for the local Green Building tour.
Bussel House
DAVID AND ANDRA JAMES
Philo M. Bussel House, 816 Watts Street. This house was a showcase of technological advances when it was built in 1927, featuring in-wall radiators, tiled, modern baths, and the first electic stove in Durham. Andi and David have done an excellent job of preserving the original character of the house and its distinctive features, while removing 1970s-era alterations, creating a master suite from two upstairs bedrooms, and updating the bathrooms and kitchen. For pursuing a dream of a house and retaining its lovely character, we happily award David and Andra James a Neighborhood Conservation Award.
