Renowned for its Queen Anne's, bungalows, craftsman, and colonial revival homes, the boundaries of Durham's Holloway Street Historic District have been officially increased by the National Park Service.

The expansion, which encompasses 15 city blocks, now includes North Queen Street, Oakwood Avenue, Gurley Street, North Elizabeth Street, Carlton Avenue, Ottawa Avenue, Elliott Street, Primitive Street, and Mallard Avenue.

According to Steve Medlin, director of the Durham City-County Planning Department, National Register designation is a public recognition of the historic and architectural importance of the area.

"This boundary increase expands what is now known as the Cleveland-Holloway neighborhood," Medlin said. "This expansion area developed as a response to Durham's burgeoning population at the turn of the century to house the city's growing middle class and exhibits a largely intact early 20th Century neighborhood with significant architectural resources. By gaining this national recognition, it enhances our property owners' ability to secure historic tax credits for property renovations."

According to Medlin, the United States Department of Interior granted the expanded boundary due to the remaining density of housing historically associated with the 1900-1945 period of development for the Cleveland-Holloway neighborhood.

The next step for this historic neighborhood could be to grant a local historic district designation to the area, which will place a regulatory restriction on these properties that any exterior change must be reviewed and accepted by the Historic Preservation Commission prior to being issued a building permit to ensure any proposed changes are in keeping with the historic character of the area.

"We are going to the Joint City-County Planning Committee in August with a recommendation to support the local historic district designation, if and when the neighborhood organization applies for it in accordance with our UDO requirements," Medlin said.

For more information about the historic designation, contact Keith Luck, assistant director for the Durham City-County Planning Department, at (919) 560-4137, extension 244 or via e-mail at keith.luck@durhamnc.gov.

About the Durham City-County Planning Department

The Durham City-County Planning Department is involved in many aspects of community growth, including reviewing development plans and protecting Durham's natural and cultural resources. Planners meet regularly with citizen groups to discuss specific issues and to talk generally about Durham's future. The department is charged with implementing Durham's Comprehensive Plan and Unified Development Ordinance to direct future growth. To learn more about this department, visit www.durhamnc.gov/departments/planning.