Durham, N.C. – Residents and customers who need to visit and/or park at the Durham County Human Services Building, located at 414 E. Main St., are advised that construction activities for the 500 East Main Street Mixed Use Development will commence on August 5, 2022. This is a change from the original start date of Monday, July 25. The construction will impact pedestrian and vehicular travel until Phase One project completion – scheduled for spring of 2024.

 

All departmental services in the Human Services Building – including Durham County Department of Public Health, Durham County Department of Social Services, and Durham County Veteran Services – will remain operational during this period. Visitors with in-person appointments are advised to plan for additional time upon arrival to reach their final destination. A reminder that all forms, applications, and other paperwork for the Department of Social Services are available at a self-serve kiosk outside the building as well as in the main lobby.

 

During construction, the northern portion of the 500 E. Main St., parking lot will be closed and fenced off. Sidewalk closures around the construction zone on Elizabeth, Main, and Dillard Streets will be in effect. Signage will be posted to direct pedestrians to crosswalks at the intersections Dillard/Ramseur for access to the Human Services Building.

 

To download/view a PDF of parking and pedestrian maps of the area, click here.

 

The southern portion of the 500 E. Main St., parking lot will remain accessible to public vehicular traffic and parking. The new entrance to the parking lot will be reachable on South Elizabeth Street. This will be the only vehicular access to the parking lot during the construction. Those looking to park should travel down Ramseur Street, turn onto South Elizabeth Street, and then turn left into the parking lot. Members of the public utilizing the recommended exit paths will encounter the least amount of construction traffic and disruption to their travel.

 

Because some of the sidewalks around the construction zone will be closed, pedestrians will be directed to the intersection of Dillard and Ramseur for street crossing from the parking lot and will be able to enter the Human Services Building using the Dillard Street entrance.

 

The 500 East Main Street Mixed Use Development Phase One will feature 246 market rate apartments and an 850-plus car parking deck and ground-level retail. Construction for Phase One is slated to be completed in the spring of 2024. Phase Two, which will include 195 affordable housing units, is scheduled to begin construction in the first quarter of 2024.

 

For more information on this project, visit the Durham County Engineering and Environmental Services 300/500 East Main Street Redevelopment website.