DURHAM, N.C. -- City leaders are pondering what to do with the soon-to-be vacated police headquarters in downtown.

• Advocates rallied Thursday to make the space include affordable housing
• City leaders agreed with the proposal but said it's up to the developer who buys the property
• Matter to be revisited later this summer

Dozens of advocates rallied outside City Hall Thursday, asking the city to set aside space at the site to include affordable housing. They held mirrors to force city leaders to look at themselves.

“And I would like for the city council to listen to me and try to put us people with vouchers, and low income people downtown. We would like to be able to walk to the bus terminal,” said Marian Spicer with Durham People's Alliance.

The advocates then packed the room where the city council work session was held. City leaders agree with the proposal, but say it's up to developer who buys the property. So they talked about how to require the developer to include affordable housing.

“Reserving a certain percentage of any residential units that are built on the property, setting a minimum number of residential units to be affordable for working families,” said Councilman Charlie Reece.

Mayor Steve Schewel asked the city staff to come up with a Request For Proposal, that would include mandatory affordable housing, to send out to any interested developers.

No further action was taken, but the council agreed to revisit the matter later this summer.