529 HOLLOWAY
Above, 529 Holloway in 1964
529 Holloway is another of the early 20th century large Victorian houses built along the Holloway ridge line. Through the 1970s, the neighborhood had large shade trees, and neighborhood-scale streets (i.e., two-lanes, undivided)
529 Holloway and the remainder of the north side of the 500 block of Holloway St., 1970s.
During the 1970s, Elizabeth St. was widened to Ridiculous Size and connected with newly Ridiculous-Size Fayetteville St. Something also happened to most of the shade trees on Holloway - whether natural or human-induced, I don't know. (Despite our "Tree City USA" designation, I'll take the latter.)
The location on this newly-busy corner was not kind to 529 Holloway, and the house fell into disrepair. Back when I devoted many volunteer hours to Preservation Durham, we had an option to purchase this house for ~$85,000 - it was owned by a developer, and it had been gutted inside. We couldn't find a buyer. Eventually, the developer re-did the house himself, and sold it to someone who lives in Wake Forest, but leases it to Freedom House Recovery Center as "a ten-bed halfway house that provides up to six months of recovery services for alcohol/drug addicted men, and those who are dually diagnosed."
The neighborhood recently attempted to fight the Board of Adjustment rezoning of this house to accommodate 10 people rather than the existing 7-person designation. They did not succeed. 
529 Holloway and the remainder of the north side of the 500 block of Holloway St., 2007.
Posts
3 comments:
Oh, for a wraparound front porch like that.
Having noted the lack of trees in many of the latest blog entries, I find it quite amazing the inability of many homeowners here in Durham to embrace the idea that great landscaping, albeit trees, shrubbery, plantings, etc, can make or break a wonderful home or community. The lack thereof makes it just seem lifeless and sterile. Come on, everyone, let's bring life back into these homes by bringing life into the landscape! Even a cruddy looking home can be made to look wonderful with the right plantings.
just a quick note: this property is going in front of the Historic Preservation Commission next Tuesday for a Certificate of Appropriateness for "New porch rails, steps, ramp and decking." I'm not sure if it's for changes already made or planned changes.
Post a Comment