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.
Meeting with Maggie Kane, Founder of A Place at the Table
Just days after Grant Street residents voted to explore a future Boys & Girls Club centered on food, hospitality, and support for our unhoused neighbors, we sat down with Maggie Kane, founder of Raleigh's nationally recognized A Place at the Table. Her insights affirmed much of what our neighborhood envisioned while offering practical lessons about creating a pay-what-you-can café, building community through dignity and belonging, and partnering across sectors to make this kind of vision sustainable. Here's what we learned—and how it may shape the future of 808 E. Pettigrew Street.
Pollinator Garden Grant Awarded as Community Calls for Greater Transparency
Over the past several months, Grant Street neighbors have worked together to imagine a brighter future for Grant Street North Park. In this update, we share exciting news about a newly awarded Burt's Bees Foundation grant for a pollinator garden and gathering space, reflect on the importance of transparent communication with residents, and outline the next steps—including adopting the park, partnering with Durham Parks & Recreation, and advancing a resident-led vision for one of our neighborhood's most important public spaces.
How Grant Street Community Is Preparing for the Future of the Boys & Girls Club
For decades, neighbors in Durham's historic Hayti District have dreamed of bringing a Boys & Girls Club back to the community. As that vision moves closer to reality, the Grant Street Community is beginning the important work of listening, planning, and building alongside residents and partners to ensure this becomes more than a building—it becomes a lasting community asset shaped by the people it serves.
Communicating a Desired Partnership with Durham Housing Authority
What does it look like for neighbors to have a seat at the table? This week, members of the Grant Street Community attended the Durham Housing Authority Board meeting to advocate for opportunities that support neighborhood wealth-building, student housing, local property management, and the future Villages of Hayti grocery store. We left encouraged by a positive response from the Board and hopeful about building a stronger partnership as Hayti's future continues to unfold.
Grant Street Community Featured in The New York Times and Duke Media
Grant Street Community is receiving national attention. This Monday, The New York Times will publish a story featuring our neighborhood's partnership with Dr. Lawrence David and the Edible Atlas research team, highlighting how community-led research is strengthening the case for bringing a grocery store back to Hayti. We also recently spoke with Duke Media about how research can move beyond the university and create meaningful change at the neighborhood level.
Garden Funding Received & Expansion Conversations Underway
The Grant Street Community Garden has reached an exciting milestone. With funding now in hand from the City of Durham, planning is officially underway for garden beds, soil testing, water access, and volunteer workdays. We're also exploring the possibility of expanding onto the neighboring lot to grow more food and create a vibrant gathering space for the community. Read the latest updates and see what's coming next.
803 Simmons Street Begins Its Next Chapter
A couple connected to the Grant Street Community is under contract on the home with a shared vision of contributing to the long-term flourishing of the neighborhood. Located immediately beside the future Grant Street Community Garden, the property represents more than a home—it is an opportunity to invest in relationships, hospitality, and the life of the community.
A Conversation with The New York Times: When Research Is Done With Community
Grant Street Community recently sat down with The New York Times to discuss an innovative partnership with Duke University's wastewater research team and how community-driven research can help advance food justice, public health, and neighborhood development in Hayti.
The conversation explored a larger question: How can research move beyond simply studying neighborhoods to genuinely serving them? Read how trust, collaboration, and a shared vision are helping shape a new model of community-led research in Durham.
Building Partnerships for a Community-Centered Neighborhood Grocery Store
Grant Street Community recently met with Black Farmers' Market founder JaNell Henry to explore how neighborhood organizations, researchers, and community leaders can work together to bring a community-centered grocery store to the Villages of Hayti.
The conversation focused on strengthening Black food systems, supporting local farmers, identifying funding opportunities, and building the partnerships needed to ensure future development reflects the needs and vision of the Hayti 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.
The Story of 702 & 704 Grant Street
On March 20, 2026, the Grant Street community gathered to celebrate something both historic and deeply rooted in years of quiet, persistent work—a new kind of home on a familiar street.
The open house, led by Durham Community Land Trustees, marked the unveiling of 702 and 704 Grant Street: a first-of-its-kind detached duplex in the Hayti community.