CLEVELAND STREET

Cleveland Street, early 20th century
(From "Images of America: Durham" by Steve Massengill)

Cleveland Street, similar vantage point, 2006

Cleveland Street was, along with Dillard Street, a preeminent address in Durham during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The 'East of Downtown' neighborhood that is now largely gone extended to the east along Holloway, Liberty, and Main to approximately Dillard St. and, along Holloway, the railroad tracks. The neighborhood extended to the west and north along Cleveland Street and Roxoboro.

Cleveland Street southern extent, 1959

Cleveland Street southern extent, 2006.

Cleveland Street still has several outstanding houses, however, the neighborhood has been severely diminished. The southernmost blocks of Cleveland, from Seminary to where Liberty and Church Streets once intersected with Cleveland, are basically non-existent due to the downtown loop and realignment of Liberty Street. The 500 and 600 blocks of Cleveland are badly damaged due to teardowns by First Baptist Church and the City of Durham. Only one of the remaing houses, extending from the 600 block to Little Five Points is owner-occupied. They are in varying states of repair and disrepair. Vacant lots, neglect, and encroachment of cul-de-sac development all detract from the integrity of this local and National Register historic district.