411 Mcmannen (s. Mangum) St.

Much like the western side of the 400-500 block of McMannen St., the eastern side developed with a first generation of ~1870s-1880s houses (most likely) of which many were supplanted by larger dwellings during the 1890s-1910s. Some of the earlier dwellings persisted on the east side into the 1960s

411 S. Mangum


All of these houses were torn down by the city using federal urban renewal funds in the late 1960s.

Looking south from the courthouse, 07.15.68. The area to the west of Roxboro (right side) had been completely cleared, and the freeway is under construction in the background. Demolition of the east (left) side of the street had not begun.

Hard to get perspective on this, but I believe it is looking southwest from near Dillard Street, 1968

Looking north from present-day Jackie Robinson, ~1969-70.
(Courtesy Durham County Library / North Carolina Collection)

Elkins Chrysler-Plymouth moved south from their former location at North Roxboro and Parrish Streets in a land swap for their former location, which was also demolished by urban renewal.

Elkins Chrysler under construction, looking east, 1968.
(Courtesy The Herald-Sun)

Looking northwest, 02.01.89.

Chrysler dealership, looking southeast, 2007.

Chrysler dealership, looking northeast, 2007.

Durham Freeway, looking southeast, 2007.

Most recently, the dealership was purchased by the Johnson dealership company, who made no secret that they were interested in unloading the property. They placed it under contract within the past few weeks, to Scientific Properties, who have stated only that they are interested in developing a "mixed-use project."

The Scientific Properties portfolio continues to grow: I've put together a quick-and-dirty overview map to show their projects, proposed and actual.

Given the projects on their plate, one has to think that the Elkins Chrysler parcel is land banking more than project at the moment. As much as I love adaptive reuse, I'm happy that SP is proposing new, mixed-use development downtown. This is exactly where it should go - on the scorched earth of car-dealership land. I think we've got awhile to wait to sound my familiar streetscape refrain, so I'll just note that it's thrilling to think of some city re-occupying the urban renewal moonscape.