$729,500
About this home
Storybook charm and timeless character in one of Durham's most beloved in-town neighborhoods. This 1930s Watts Hillandale classic is the kind of house that fulfills dreams. From its swooping roofline and picket fence to the expansive screened porch, this home is brimming with warmth and character. Designated as a historic landmark, the Council-Arena House was beautifully built in 1937 for Jay Arena (1909), a professor of pediatrics at Duke. Inside, the gracious foyer with original banister opens to arched doorways, oversized original windows, hardwood floors, chunky moldings, and a welcoming living room with fireplace. The large dining room is adorned with historic built ins and the spacious kitchen has recent updates like quartz counters with breakfast bar, new sink, Bosch dishwasher, and a generous walk in pantry. The rear of the home is just as sweet as the front, with a quaint back porch ready to sit and swing while visiting with friends in the fenced backyard. Upstairs, the updated peaceful primary suite offers a rare luxury for a home of this era: an en-suite bath and large closet! Two additional bedrooms share a sweet vintage-tiled bath. A walk-in basement provides excellent storage and utility access. Newer washer, dryer, and refrigerator can convey. Roof 2021. HVAC 2021 and 2022. Steam boiler 2009. Water heater 2017. Set on bucolic W Club Boulevard, this is quintessential Watts Hillandale: tree-lined streets, a close-knit community, beloved traditions like the neighborhood Halloween parade, and an enviable walkable location near 9th Street, Duke, Monuts, Whole Foods, EK Powe Elementary, Oval Park and more. This beautifully preserved slice of Durham history is ready for its next chapter!
Highlights
Property details
- MLS #
- 10185191
- Property type
- Single Family Residence
- Subdivision
- Not in a Subdivision
- Status
- Active
- Days on market
- 54
- On market date
- August 16, 2026
- Stories
- N/A
- Total bathrooms
- 2.5
- Garage spaces
- N/A
- Parking spaces
- N/A
- Lot size
- 0.11 acres
Location
Get directions →Nearby schools
Within 10 miles. School directory data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), accessed via the Urban Institute Education Data API. Local Score is calculated by INNOVATE Real Estate; where a state rating is shown, it comes from that state's own official school report card (e.g. NC Dept. of Public Instruction, SC Report Card).
- Enrollment
- 393
- Student:teacher ratio
- 10.6:1
- District
- Durham Public Schools
- Enrollment
- 695
- Student:teacher ratio
- 14.8:1
- District
- Durham Public Schools
- Enrollment
- 352
- Student:teacher ratio
- 14.1:1
- District
- Durham Public Schools
Walkability
Blended score for Durham's center, calculated by INNOVATE Real Estate from two sources: the EPA's National Walkability Index (street network, transit, land-use mix) and Google Places amenity data (what's actually reachable on foot from this point). EPA National Walkability Index only -- nearby-amenity data not cached yet for this area.
Market position
How this listing compares to current activity in Durham, from live MLS data.
Mortgage calculator
Estimate only - actual rate and payment depend on your lender, credit, and loan program.
Adjust tax / insurance estimates
Similar homes you might like
Data source: Listing information provided by Doorify MLS via Trestle/CoreLogic. Last updated September 7, 2026.
Information herein deemed reliable but not guaranteed; all measurements, school assignments, HOA fees, taxes, and feature lists are approximate and should be independently verified. Equal Housing Opportunity.