70 Business View Magazine - September 2016
began to decline. However, in recent years, the city has
stepped up its downtown revitalization, spurring an
economic and cultural renaissance. Partnering with
private developers, Durham continues to revive many
of its former tobacco districts - projects supplement-
ed by the construction of the $47 million, city-owned,
Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) and the new
Durham Bulls Athletic Park (DBAP). The American To-
bacco Historic District, adjacent to both the DBAP and
DPAC is one such project, having successfully lured a
number of restaurants, entertainment venues, and
office spaces geared toward hi-tech entrepreneurs,
investors, and startups. Additionally, many of the his-
toric tobacco buildings elsewhere in the city have been
