1. Partnering for Preservation 

How do you envision the City partnering with nonprofits like Preservation Durham to achieve the historic preservation goals outlined in the Comprehensive Plan? 

Durham will partner with nonprofits like Preservation Durham through a formal, funded, and accountable structure that delivers the Comprehensive Plan’s goals of rooted communities and a protected sense of place.

As Mayor, I will establish a Joint Preservation Partnership that convenes Preservation Durham, the Hayti Heritage Center, the Museum of Durham History, Planning, and neighborhood leaders each quarter to co-author an annual Preservation Work Program with clear targets, timelines, and budgets.

The City will create a reliable funding stream for partner organizations through annual operating and project grants aligned with state and philanthropic dollars. The Historic Preservation Commission is primarily occupied with Certificate of Appropriateness caseloads; nonprofit partners will extend the full set of preservation functions envisioned by state law, including proactive work with owners of endangered properties and culturally significant sites. All actions will be consistent with North Carolina law.

Policy will match practice. For rezonings and major site plans that implicate historic neighborhoods or cultural assets, staff reports will include early, written comments from Preservation Durham and sister organizations. The City will deploy tools—adaptive reuse incentives, local and conservation districts, landmark designations, demolition-delay triggers, and state and federal historic tax credits—equitably and effectively, prioritizing long-standing Black and working-class neighborhoods vulnerable to displacement.

Durham will expand the citywide historic resource survey with an explicit equity lens, integrating oral histories and cultural landscapes so preservation honors people as well as buildings. Each year, the City and its partners will publish an At-Risk Places & Preservation Priorities list, co-created with neighborhood groups, to direct funding, staffing, and regulatory action. A Durham Preservation Fund will pair small grants and revolving, low-interest loans for owner-occupants and small landlords with technical-assistance clinics, energy-efficiency upgrades, and, where eligible, property-tax relief—so preservation keeps residents in place.

Hayti will be the immediate proving ground. The City will launch a small-area plan for Hayti with a standing advisory committee that includes Preservation Durham, Hayti Reborn, the Hayti Heritage Center, and resident leaders from the start. Progress will be tracked on a public dashboard: structures stabilized, homes repaired, dollars deployed, and cultural assets protected.

This is how Durham advances development without displacement and builds a better Durham for everyone.

2. Historic Neighborhoods & Growth 

What role do Durham’s historic residential neighborhoods play in the city’s future growth? How should the city balance preserving neighborhood character with the need for increased housing density near downtown?

Durham’s historic residential neighborhoods are the city’s living foundation. They hold our story—architecture, culture, and the everyday places where children were raised, neighbors looked out for one another, and elders aged in place. They are our heirlooms; preserving them is a people-first strategy, not nostalgia. They also contain the largest share of naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH), essential to stability and intergenerational wealth.

First, protect what works. I will work to bring an Established Neighborhoods zoning framework to Council within my first 100 days, tailored by neighborhood and tied to anti-displacement standards. In these areas, the City will discourage teardowns that destroy NOAH, apply conservation or local historic districts where communities want them, use demolition-delay triggers for at-risk structures, and expand repair grants, tax relief where eligible, and low-interest rehab loans so owners can maintain and remain. Displacement-impact statements will be required for rezonings that affect historic neighborhoods.

Second, add gentle, compatible infill. Accessory Dwelling Units will be by-right and easy to build. The City will offer pre-approved ADU and small-plex plans and expedited review for projects that retain an existing primary home. Context-sensitive pattern books will govern duplexes, townhomes, and small apartment houses on appropriate lots or vacant parcels—matching height, setbacks, massing, and materials—so new homes fit the block.

Third, target meaningful density where it serves public goals. Higher density will be focused on downtown edges, major transit corridors, activity centers, and publicly controlled sites—not within the interior of established historic blocks. Upzoning will be conditioned on deep and durable affordability, enforceable anti-displacement commitments, and community benefits agreements. Density is a means, not an end; any added entitlement near downtown must prove public value or it will not advance.

Fourth, center historically Black neighborhoods. Walltown, Bragtown, Hayti, College Heights, and similar communities will not be asked to pay the price of “growth.” With Preservation Durham and neighborhood leaders, the City will identify at-risk places, direct resources, and codify protections that keep residents in place while improving housing quality. A quarterly NOAH Preservation Scorecard—including a teardown-to-rehab ratio by neighborhood—will guide funding, enforcement, and code changes in real time.

This balanced approach advances development without displacement, safeguards Durham’s sense of place, and delivers more homes where they belong—near jobs, transit, and services—while honoring the neighborhoods that made Durham what it is. That is how we build a better Durham for everyone.

3. Affordable Housing & Older Homes (NOAH) 

Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH) often refers to older, modest homes in need of renovation. Many of these properties have traditionally offered a path to homeownership and wealth-building but are increasingly being bought by investors or demolished for higher-end development. What policies or tools should the city consider to preserve NOAH and support owner-occupant buyers? If elected, how would you incorporate this issue in the affordable housing conversation? 

As Mayor, I will lead the City to execute a two-track strategy for Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH): preserve what exists and produce what is missing. NOAH is Durham’s primary on-ramp to homeownership and intergenerational wealth. The goal is development without displacement and more first-time buyers in stable, well-kept homes.

1) Preserve what exists and prioritize owner-occupants.
Create an Established Neighborhoods zoning framework that discourages teardowns, applies conservation or local historic districts where communities want them, and activates demolition-delay for at-risk homes. Launch a NOAH Preservation Fund that provides low-interest rehab loans and small grants, paired with a homeowner navigator to stack historic credits, energy upgrades, and code remedies so owners can maintain and remain. Provide targeted tax and fee relief where eligible, and expedite permits for rehab that retains the primary structure. Establish First-Look & First-Opportunity on City-controlled disposals and incentive deals, giving owner-occupants, community land trusts, and mission-driven buyers time and support to acquire NOAH; assistance will carry owner-occupancy covenants and recapture provisions to deter flipping. Publish a quarterly NOAH Preservation Scorecard—including a teardown-to-rehab ratio by neighborhood—to direct funding, inspections, and code changes in real time.

2) Produce what is missing: small houses on small lots.
Durham cannot regulate sales prices in most cases; it can regulate size and form. Through rezonings and Planned Density Residential approvals, I will require that at least 20% of new for-sale homes are small houses on small lots, with clear caps on building size and height. Accessory Dwelling Units will be by-right. The City will provide pre-approved small-house and ADU plans and a context pattern book so new homes match block character. Projects that retain an existing home while adding gentle infill will receive priority review. Durham will retire any small-house option that induces teardown of NOAH and shift that production to new subdivisions and appropriate infill sites.

3) Make compatibility a public good.
In partnership with Preservation Durham and sister nonprofits, the City will sponsor an annual Small House Design Challenge; rezoning proposals that adopt winning designs will receive scoring preference. All actions will comply with North Carolina law.

How this fits the affordable housing conversation.
NOAH preservation will be a standing pillar of Durham’s housing policy and bond investments, measured by displacement prevented, NOAH homes preserved, and first-time buyers housed. This is how we keep families in place while adding attainable homes—and how we build a better Durham for everyone.

4. Downtown Development & Preservation 

How do you view the role of historic preservation in the past and future development of Downtown Durham and its surrounding neighborhoods? In your opinion, how should the city balance preservation goals with the call for greater height and density in the urban core? 

Durham’s downtown renaissance is, at its core, a preservation success. People are drawn to the warehouses, storefronts, and street grids that carry our story. Preservation did not slow growth; it made growth possible by giving downtown an identity worth investing in. That lesson must guide the future of downtown and the neighborhoods that surround it.

Durham’s downtown renaissance is a preservation story. People choose downtown because of its historic warehouses, storefronts, and street grid—not the newest towers. That lesson must guide the future: preservation did not slow growth; it made growth possible.

My view of preservation’s role.
Preservation is an economic strategy, a cultural anchor, and a climate tool. The downtown core is a local historic district; contributing buildings and streetwalls will be protected and reinforced. Adaptive reuse will be the first choice, not the exception.

Fix what is not working.
Our current design district rules in downtown and Ninth Street have underperformed—especially at the street level. As Mayor, I will lead a standards update with Preservation Durham and national preservation partners. The rules will require active, lease-ready ground floors (right floor-to-floor heights, storefront transparency, small bay widths, no blank walls), human-scale streetwalls, and durable materials. I will strengthen demolition-by-neglect enforcement so irreplaceable assets are not lost by delay.

Draw a clear edge between downtown and neighborhoods.
There will be a visible, codified transition between the urban core and surrounding historic residential blocks. I will implement step-down maps, mandatory upper-story stepbacks, and conservation overlays at the edges so height and intensity scale down toward neighborhoods.

Plan with shared power.
In East Durham and other legacy areas burdened by obsolete zoning and past neglect, the City will restart citizen-led, City-supported small-area planning. Engagement will move beyond surveys and post-it notes to shared decision rights, budget transparency, and timelines that residents help set.

Balancing preservation with height and density.
Greater height and density belong in the core and on transit corridors, not inside historic neighborhood interiors. Where additional height is sought, approvals will be conditioned on clear public value: adaptive reuse of contributing structures, excellent ground-floor design, deep and durable affordability, enforceable anti-displacement commitments, and secure small-business space. Streetwall protections, context-driven massing, and required stepbacks will govern all tall buildings. I will use targeted bonuses and transfer mechanisms to shift intensity away from fragile edges while funding preservation outcomes.

Unlock the grid.
The downtown loop has outlived its purpose. Converting it to complete streets will reconnect neighborhoods, open redevelopment sites, and make preservation-first infill viable.

This is how we protect Durham’s character, welcome growth that serves the public, and build a better Durham for everyone.

5. Support for Preservation & Equity 

Programs that assist low- and moderate-income homeowners in maintaining historic properties  (such as Preservation Durham’s Preservation Equity Project) currently have limited resources.  Would you support dedicating City resources to initiatives that help homeowners preserve  historic homes? Why or why not?  

Yes. I will dedicate City resources to initiatives that help low- and moderate-income homeowners preserve historic homes because this work keeps families in place, protects NOAH, and safeguards Durham’s cultural memory. Preservation Durham’s Preservation Equity Project has shown what is possible; it needs stable funding, staffing, and City partnership to scale. It is low-hanging fruit for City partnership that keeps families in place and protects NOAH.

As Mayor, I will:

1) Create a Preservation Equity Partnership.
Establish a multi-year City–Preservation Durham partnership that combines small grants with revolving, low-interest rehab loans targeted to owner-occupants. Funding will prioritize roofs, systems, code repairs, weatherization, and accessibility so owners can maintain and remain. Assistance will include owner-occupancy covenants and basic recapture provisions to prevent speculative flips.

2) Stand up a Homeowner Navigator & TA Hub.
Fund dedicated staff and clinics to help residents layer resources—state historic tax credits, energy-efficiency rebates, and City repair programs. The City will sponsor quarterly seminars and one-on-one application support, offered in multiple languages, with pro bono design and tax guidance where appropriate. Permits for in-place rehab will be expedited. City support will leverage tax-deductible donations to Preservation Durham, stretching every public dollar further.

3) Build local capacity to deliver repairs.
Create a pre-qualified contractor pool with fair, transparent pricing; reserve a portion for small, minority- and women-owned firms; and pair with paid apprenticeships in preservation trades through Durham Tech. This strengthens quality, speed, and neighborhood wealth.

4) Advance Landmarking and Equity.
Direct staff—working with Preservation Durham—to proactively identify eligible properties in underserved areas and prepare City-funded landmark nominations. Where landmark status affects taxes, provide clear guidance and targeted relief that protects seniors and cost-burdened owners. This mirrors successful efforts such as landmarking the Chicken Hut and extends them equitably.

5) Fix what has not worked and measure results.
Centralize intake, scope repairs with independent QA, and coordinate with existing City home-repair tools to avoid duplication. Publish a public dashboard tracking homes stabilized, dollars leveraged, neighborhoods served, age of owners served, and teardown-prevented estimates.

City dollars here are high-leverage: they preserve NOAH at a fraction of new-build cost, reduce displacement risk, and retain embodied carbon. I will make Preservation Equity a standing pillar of Durham’s affordable-housing strategy and bond investments—measured by displacement prevented, historic homes preserved, and first-time and long-time owners sustained—so we build a better Durham for everyone.

6. Preservation & Sustainability 

How do you see preservation contributing to Durham’s sustainability and climate resilience  goals?  

Preservation is climate policy. The first rule is simple: the greenest building is the one that already exists. Demolition landfills embodied carbon and demands new, carbon-intensive materials to replace what was lost. In nearly every case, it is better to keep what is built than to replace it.

My approach: Preserve First, Upgrade Always

• Preserve First standard. Any request to demolish a contributing or potentially contributing structure must pass a life-cycle carbon test and include a deconstruction and salvage plan. Demolition is the last resort. Only in very few cases will demolition be warranted after this test. The City will consult national preservation partners to align our standards with best-in-class practice.

• Deep-green rehab. Pair preservation with weatherization, envelope upgrades, electrification-ready panels, and high-efficiency systems. Provide low-interest loans and small grants, and expedite permits for rehab that retains primary structures.

• Adaptive Reuse Bonus. Offer context-safe incentives—reduced parking, modest height or FAR flexibility tied to streetwall protections—for projects that retain significant portions of existing buildings.

• Deconstruction over demolition. When removal is unavoidable, require material salvage and landfill diversion, and build a local salvage market and workforce pathways in deconstruction and preservation trades.

• Intensify without erasing. Where it is argued that historic homes “occupy too much land,” prioritize additions, rear-yard ADUs, courtyard apartments, and over-the-garage units that add homes while keeping street-facing fabric intact.

• Measure what matters. Publicly report CO₂e avoided, landfill diversion, homes rehabilitated, and utility savings to anchor preservation within Durham’s climate goals.
  

Neighborhood resilience. Historic blocks already deliver climate benefits: mature tree canopy, human-scale streetwalls, and walkable grids that reduce vehicle miles traveled. The City will pair preservation with street-tree replanting, cool roofs where appropriate, permeable surfaces, and green-infrastructure upgrades to reduce heat and flooding risk in vulnerable neighborhoods.

Durham School of the Arts. I share the concern about the historic DSA complex. Demolition and landfilling are not environmentally sound. The City will work with DPS and the County to prioritize adaptive reuse and treat demolition as an extraordinary exception, not a plan.

This is how preservation advances sustainability, strengthens climate resilience, and builds a better Durham for everyone.

7. Personal Connection 

What is a place in Durham (whether historic or not) that is of particular significance to you?  Why?  

The Kress Building is the place in Durham that most clearly aligns my head and my heart. When I traveled downtown with my father as a little girl—in the years before downtown’s resurgence—the Kress Building was a beacon for me, and it remains so today. Its historic façade, fine-grain storefronts, and human-scale streetwall remind me that beauty and usefulness belong together. It is a building designed for people on foot, for small businesses with big dreams, for a downtown where the sidewalk is the main stage.

Kress carries layers of meaning. It speaks to the five-and-dime era when everyday commerce knit neighbors together. It also stands within a broader Southern story in which public counters and front doors were contested—then reclaimed—by people insisting on dignity. That history matters. The building is more than beautiful; it is instructive.

Kress shapes how I lead. Preservation is an economic strategy, not a museum exercise. Ground floors must work for local entrepreneurs and creatives. New construction must respect the streetwall, the rhythm of bays, the transparency of glass, and the scale that invites people to linger. Adaptive reuse should be the first option, not the last. When we keep a building like Kress alive, we keep small businesses alive, we keep culture alive, and we keep memory within reach.

Kress also informs my approach to affordability. Preserving Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing nearby, supporting repair programs for long-time owner-occupants, and pairing preservation with energy upgrades are how we keep people in place while we welcome growth. The goal is constant: development without displacement, design without erasure.

When I pass the Kress Building, I see what is possible in Durham—craft, care, and commerce working together. That is the city I will steward: a downtown that honors the buildings that shaped us while opening doors for the next generation of makers, families, and small business owners. That is how we build a better Durham for everyone.

8. Biographical Statement

Anjanée Bell is a lifelong Durham resident, educator, artist, entrepreneur, and public servant whose career has spanned classrooms, stages, and government. She has lived in Durham for over four decades and was educated in Durham Public Schools. She served as Director of Dance and Outreach for the North Carolina Arts Council and as Director of Arts in the Parks for North Carolina State Parks and Recreation, leading statewide initiatives that brought arts, equity, and community to public life. She taught in Durham public, private, and charter schools and founded Bellan Contemporary Dance Theatre, advancing work at the intersection of education, the arts, and community.

Her lived experiences in Spain and Mexico deepened her commitment to inclusion and broadened her perspective as a leader. Her leadership in city and state government has given her direct experience with how policy decisions in housing, transit, natural resources, and community development shape daily life. As the daughter of William V. “Bill” Bell, Durham’s longest-serving mayor, she brings a clear understanding of how local government works—while making it plain that this campaign is hers. She stands on her own record with a bold vision to restore leadership, strengthen neighborhoods, expand opportunity, and build a better Durham for everyone.

Anjanée is a registered Democrat who believes municipal leadership must be inclusive, practical, and accountable. Her governing agenda—Durham is H.O.P.E.—sets a clear course for the city: Housing & Healing, Opportunity & Ownership, People’s Safety & People’s Trust, and Environment & Education. It centers development without displacement, preservation and adaptive reuse of historic places, diverse housing opportunities, innovation that serves the public, and neighborhood infrastructure that connects residents—because strong infrastructure is more than roads; it includes transit, safety, green space, and third spaces that foster belonging.

She is running to protect the spirit of Durham and to expand access to opportunity for all who live, learn, work, worship, serve, play, and invest here. Durham made her who she is. Anjanée Bell is ready to listen and to lead, bringing clear goals, transparent metrics, and measurable outcomes to the work of building a better Durham for everyone.