Old DSS Main St.

Durham County is evaluating options for the redevelopment of the County-owned property at 220 East Main Street known as DSS Main. The nearly 50,000 square foot building stands on 0.4 acres at the critical intersection of East Main Street and South Roxboro Street.  Currently vacant, DSS Main was built in 1967 to house Durham County Social Services and to complement the adjacent historical Durham County Courthouse. 

The Development Finance Initiative (DFI) was engaged by Durham County in November 2020 to provide pre-development services for the site. The pre-development process involves several key components – public engagement, a parcel analysis to understand current conditions in downtown, a site-specific market analysis, site planning, and a financial feasibility analysis. This process will help the County identify a redevelopment plan that meets both public and private sector interests, and ultimately identify the right partner to realize its vision for this key gateway to downtown

DFI, a program of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill’s School of Government, partners with local governments to attract private investment for transformative projects by providing specialized finance and development expertise. DFI was previously engaged by Durham County for the redevelopment of the 300 and 500 E. Main blocks into a mix of affordable and market rate apartments, commercial space and a pre-K center. See the project page for additional information. 

Guiding Public Interests

Public interests are the values that will shape the redevelopment vision for DSS Main. At the March 1, 2021, worksession, the BOCC endorsed the following guiding public interests. 

Redevelopment of DSS Main should:

• Maintain the primary use of the building for community-oriented activities and/or office space accessible to businesses with needs unmet by downtown market.
• Incorporate ground-floor and outdoor uses that increase street-level vibrancy and invite community interaction after five and on weekends
• Preserve the unique architectural features of the exterior and allow for enhancements consistent with the building’s prominent location at a key gateway to downtown Durham.
• Include design elements that facilitate pedestrian traffic to and from nearby commercial nodes.
• Optimize public investment and attract private investment.