The Durham Planning Commission declared the Rolling Hills/Southside area to be legally "blighted" Tuesday night, but its deliberation was dominated by "eminent domain."

As a result, what was in essence a formality in the process for organizing rehabilitation in the run-down and crime-plagued area off the Durham Freeway gained approval by only a 6-5 vote.

"I'm not sure what we've done," commissioner Jackie Brown said after the vote.

In April, the state of North Carolina declared the 96-year-old house at Fayetteville and Lawson streets to hold “statewide historic significance.”

Next week, N.C. Central University is going to see about tearing it down.