505 West Chapel Hill Street Development

The City of Durham has begun a third effort to redevelop the 4.4 acre property located at 505 West Chapel Hill Street (“505”). This large public site in downtown offers an extraordinary opportunity for the Durham community. This significant public asset can give us a unique chance to take a big step forward in meeting Durham’s affordable housing needs while also providing support for local retail businesses, all while respecting an important part of downtown’s history.

The 505 Coalition has been following and advocating for this project for the last year and a half.  Included in this group are many of Durham’s community-centered organizations -- Coalition for Affordable Housing & Transit, Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People, Durham CAN, Duke Memorial United Methodist Church, the Durham chapter of the NAACP, and the People's Alliance. A representative team of these organizations have been working meticulously as the newest iteration of the project unfolded. 

As the last remaining large, publicly-owned parcel of land downtown, 505’s development should reflect the most pressing need facing Durham today: a shortage of housing, and specifically housing affordable for Durham’s public servants – teachers, first responders, and City/County employees -- and families living on incomes of 60% AMI or less. The City Council recognized this need and made affordable housing the #1 stated priority for the property over 15 months ago. 

In line with our Progressive values, we support the following changes to the current proposals under consideration by the City Council:

1) The need for substantially more affordable units at 60% AMI or less in mixed-income buildings, including units that include multiple bedrooms.

2) The need for the City to retain ownership of the 505 property via a ground lease or similar arrangement.  

3) A review of the level of risk the City is being asked to assume.

Affordable housing experts and community groups have been advocating for the just renovation of this community asset for eight years. Every member of the group desires a conclusion to this process so we can move ahead with an equitable and inclusive project. Durham deserves a development that can help meet the needs of those in Durham who are being left behind.

This op-ed was submitted to the News and Observer on August 16, 2024 and was reviewed by the members of the 505 Coalition, and approved by the Board of People’s Alliance. It is drawn from the public statements made by 505 in the last year.

Allan Freyer - C4 President Nominee

He is an innovative public affairs professional with more than 20 years of experience driving policy change at the intersection of politics, advocacy, and policy-making. Before founding Peregrine Strategies in 2020, he served as the Director of Workers’ Rights at the NC Justice Center, where he oversaw the Center’s policy and campaign efforts aimed at helping North Carolina’s low-wage workers obtain quality jobs, earn higher wages, receive adequate health and safety protections, and access crucial work family supports like paid leave.

He also is a Capitol Hill veteran, serving as a communications and policy advisor to three members of the United States Congress, where he led policy development and legislative strategy on a wide portfolio of domestic economic issues, including taxes, trade, rural development, job training, and labor. In his service to Congressman Artur Davis, he led the office’s work to develop an economic development strategy to support Alabama’s Black Belt region, worked successfully to increase federal funding for historically-Black land-grant colleges, and played senior communications roles for the congressional office and election campaign, In the years since, he has also served as an independent economic consultant to nonprofits, universities, and state and local government agencies.

Alongside his policy work, Allan has extensive experience leading strategic communications and media relations efforts, including senior communications roles for political campaigns, advocacy groups, industry groups, and members of Congress. He has frequently appeared in state and national media as a commentator and expert on the Southern economy and politics.

He has a Bachelor’s degree in political science and history from Duke University and a masters and a Ph.D. in city & regional planning from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where he is currently a Visiting Professor of the Practice. He also has an adjunct appointment to the faculty of the Terry Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University, where he teaches classes on the politics of policy-making.

He lives in Durham, NC with his wife and son.

Bjorn Pedersen - C4 Secretary Nominee

Bjorn Pedersen has served on the People's Alliance Board since the start of 2024 and volunteered for the role of Acting Secretary in May. He currently works as a Software Engineer at Google and was elected to lead the NC Triangle chapter of the Alphabet Workers Union in 2023. He also serves on the Durham Workers Rights Commission. Originally from Chapel Hill, he has called Durham home since 2019

PA Budget Priorities for FY25

Responses to our Voice

In response to the PA budget requests the following items have been confirmed as included in the City and County Budgets. The Official County budget is not on-line. Nearly 100% of our budget requests were met!!

Over 23% of PA member voted on our budget priorities this year. Many attended City and County Meetings to speak on behalf of the PA priorities. 

It was rewarding working with our Movement Partners: Bike Durham, the Coalition for Affordable Housing and Transit, Durham For All and the Durham Association of Educators.

County Requests and Response

Full Funding for DPS - Met

Appropriate Sufficient Funding to Achieve Renewable Energy and Carbon Reduction Goals - Met

Renew Funding for Durham Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) - Met

Provide Cradle to Career Systemic Investment-Met

Fully fund Low-Income Homeowners Relief Program (LIHR)-Met

City Requests and Response

Increase Wage for City Staff Following the Pay Study  - Met

Address Contaminants in City Parks - Met

Support Durham’s Guaranteed Income Pilot Program - Met

Dedicate City Staff Position to Leverage Federal Environmental Grant Opportunities - Partially funded