A unimous vote at the Durham Historic Preservation Commission has kept the Rivera house where it is, at least for the time being.

Tuesday morning the council heard from the public, North Carolina Central University, and the City of Durham on the best way to handle the more than 100-year-old house. NCCU obtained ownership of the house in 1998 when the renowned photographer Alex Rivera sold it to the school. Now, school officials want to tear it down to make room for expansion.

The house has a statewide historical significance, which means the final say of whether the house will be bulldozed lies in the hands of the Historical Preservation Society. Alex Rivera played an integral role in capturing important moments of the civil rights movement. He also taught at NCCU. Rivera died in October at the age of 95.

Learn More About Rivera by clicking on the video above.

NCCU included the house within its master plan for expanding the Durham campus. Officials say to it would cost half a million dollars, or five times the amount of the homes value, to renovate and remodel the structure.

Some residents feel there isn't a price you can put on a piece of history.

"The house lies within the only African-American historic district in Durham," Denise Hester said. "I want NCCU to bring the house up to code because it's a part of our history."

According to letters to NCCU from Rivera before he died in October, the photographer wanted the University to have the final say in how the property should be used. In a letter regarding the property, Rivera feels the house doesn't hold any historical significance because during the mid 1950s he remodled the entire house, leaving none of the original architecture.

But the Historical Preservation Society agreed with residents and the city. Council member Eddie Belk said he feels cost should not be a factor, even during tough economic times.

"Putting a cost on renovation and saying it's too much money is really irrelevant," Belk said. "Saying there isn't any money in the budget right now is one thing, but demolishing this building because of that is forever and we need to think about that."

NCCU officials say there is no money in the renovation budget and they don't know what to do about the property. They will be appealing this decision, however, to the state.

Related Links

1. Preservation Durham