West Village developers Blue Devil Ventures applied in mid-January 2004 for rezoning for seven buildings once occupied by the Liggett Group tobacco factory at the corner of Main and Duke Streets. Plans call for the creation of 447 apartments, 210,00 square feet of office and laboratory space, and about 50,000 square feet of retail. The NC Department of Transportation has agreed to lease part of the Walker Building for an Amtrak station. Blue Devil Ventures anticipates opening all seven buildings with most of the space leased by the spring of 2006. The buildings were constructed beginning in the late 19th century and include architectural styles from classic early warehouses with elaborate brickwork to the massive modern Cigarette Factory. Built in 1948, the Chesterfield Building was the last major tobacco building in Durham.

Preservation Durham's 2004 Annual Meeting and Awards Presentation was held in the Chesterfield Building on Wednesday, May 26. Blue Devil Ventures partner Tom Neiman gave a presentation describing the company's plans for the historic building complex.