505 W. Chapel Hill (The Home Security Life Building) Advocacy Updates

UPDATE 5/30/2025:

A staff recommendation to end negotiations with Peebles (the selected preferred developer) is on the agenda for the June 5th City Council Work Session. Read the full staff report here and Preservation Durham's statement in response.

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Preservation Durham strongly supports the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of the historic Home Security Life Building at 505 W. Chapel Hill Street, a significant mid-century modern landmark designed by renowned architect Milton Small. Constructed as a headquarters for the Hill family’s insurance company, the building symbolized the optimism of mid-20th-century Durham and remains a key part of the city’s architectural and cultural identity. Alongside Duke Memorial Methodist Church and the NC Mutual Tower, it helps define a principal gateway to downtown.

Despite its significance, the Home Security Life Building faces the threat of inaction. The City of Durham has entered negotiations with Peebles Corporation, the third development team to take on the project, but past efforts have stalled, leaving its future uncertain. Although structurally sound, years of vacancy and deferred maintenance put the building at risk. Without a clear and feasible preservation plan, Durham could lose an architectural gem, contributing tons of material to landfills and erasing an important piece of its history.

Preservation Durham’s ideal outcome is a sensitive rehabilitation that integrates the building into a larger redevelopment, ensuring its long-term sustainability. We will continue to advocate for historic tax credits and preservation incentives to make the project financially viable, working with the City, developers, and community stakeholders to ensure a successful outcome. Our organization offers technical expertise, support in securing National Register designation, and community advocacy, including applying for preservation awards and assisting with marketing efforts. Additionally, we are prepared to accept an easement on the property to provide tax benefits and long-term protection.

Through ongoing engagement with city staff, the development team, and elected officials, Preservation Durham is committed to ensuring that the Home Security Life Building remains a proud and functional part of Durham’s built environment, rather than becoming another lost landmark.