Community News
Community news for Grant Street is a way of keeping neighbors informed about what’s happening in and around our neighborhood—projects, events, decisions, and opportunities that impact our shared life together. It helps us stay connected, build trust, and make sure everyone has access to what they need to participate in shaping the future of our community.
New Partnerships Support Grocery Store Vision for Villages of Hayti
On June 2, 2026, members of the Grant Street Community met with researchers from Duke University and leaders from Durham CAN (Durham Congregations, Associations, and Neighborhoods) to explore opportunities for strengthening food access, improving community health, and advancing efforts to bring an affordable grocery store back to the Hayti neighborhood.
Grant Street Community Shares Vision for the Neighborhood with City Leaders
On Sunday, May 24th, leaders and elders from the Grant Street Community had the opportunity to meet with Durham City Council member Matt Kopac following an earlier meeting on May 6th with Durham County Commissioner Wendy Jacobs. After hearing more about the neighborhood’s ongoing work and vision, Matt reached out to continue the conversation and learn more about what residents have been building together.
The First Sketch for the Grant Street Community Garden
Together, the community has shared ideas, stories, hopes, memories, and practical needs for the space — intentionally centering residential input from the people who live, worship, gather, and have deep roots in this neighborhood. Those conversations are now beginning to take shape in the form of our first draft sketch for the Grant Street Community Garden, a project being developed in partnership with Monument of Faith Church.
Research, Relationships, and the Future of Food Access on Grant Street
On April 29th, Grant Street Community and BLK South had the opportunity to meet with a research team connected to Duke University, including researchers working on emerging data related to food access, neighborhood health, and community food environments. The conversation centered around the ongoing advocacy efforts connected to the proposed grocery store at the Villages of Hayti development and the current estimated $6 million funding gap preventing the grocery component from moving forward.