A historic downtown Durham building that has sat empty for years has been bought by the nonprofit developer Self-Help, which plans to renovate the property and lease it to fellow Triangle nonprofit MDC.

Last month, Self-Help paid $1.4 million for the John Sprunt Hill building at 307 West Main Street. It will spend $800,000 renovating the four-story, 16,295-square-foot building.

MDC, which develops anti-poverty, job training and other types of programs for struggling communities, is currently based in Chapel Hill. It expects to occupy three of the four floors by July.

MDC plans to sublet the groundfloor to another nonprofit.