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.
Community Update: Building the Coalition Behind Hayti's Future Grocery Store
Behind every major community project are countless conversations that most people never see. In this update, we share our recent phone call with Villages of Hayti developer James Montague, along with new partnerships and ideas emerging from conversations with Duke University, Durham CAN, Black Farmers' Market, and Tall Grass Food Box as we continue organizing around Hayti's future neighborhood grocery store.
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.
Building Partnerships for Housing Solutions
Behind the scenes, we're building new partnerships to explore long-term housing solutions for our neighborhood's unhoused neighbors. A recent meeting with the City of Durham's Housing & Neighborhood Services Department opened the door to conversations about what's possible for Grant Street Community.
From tiny home villages and nonprofit partnerships to potential funding and local development, we're connecting people who share a vision for housing rooted in dignity, stability, and community. While these conversations are still in the early stages, we're excited to keep neighbors informed as new opportunities emerge.
Community Garden Update
The Grant Street Community Garden has reached another exciting milestone! After completing the required City of Durham grant orientation, we're one step closer to breaking ground on a shared space where neighbors can gather, grow fresh food, and strengthen community.
With funding on the way and volunteer leadership in place, construction will begin soon. Read the latest update and see what's next for the garden project.
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.
Villages of Hayti Groundbreaking Marks Historic Moment for the Grant Street Community
On Wednesday, May 13, community members, residents, advocates, elected officials, and partners gathered in Durham, North Carolina to celebrate the groundbreaking of the long-awaited Villages of Hayti development — a project many in the Historic Hayti District have spent decades fighting to see become reality. Among those invited to speak were Bishop Clarence Laney Jr. of Monument of Faith Church and longtime Grant Street resident Miss Brenda Bradsher — two individuals whose steady advocacy helped keep attention on the future of Fayette Place and the surrounding Hayti community for years.
Creek Revitalization Project Update
Over the past year, DCLT partnered with Axiom Environmental to conduct environmental assessments and research connected to the creek and surrounding landscape. On April 28th, neighbors and community members were invited to attend a community gathering and open house scheduled for May 7th where Axiom Environmental presented their findings and share early proposals for possible improvements to the stream and surrounding community space.
The purpose of this work has included…
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.
Grant Street Park North Revamp Update
On March 14th, approximately 10–12 neighbors gathered in person for a community brainstorming and visioning session focused on the future of the park. The gathering included long-term residents, newer neighbors, Monument of Faith Church members, and local community leaders. The meeting itself was organized and facilitated by neighbors and community members who care deeply about the future of this space and the broader flourishing of the neighborhood.
Grocery Store Opportunity In Hayti ($6M Gap)
On March 13, 2026, a couple of neighbors from the Grant Street Community had the opportunity to meet with Gerald Taylor, who is overseeing Phase I of the Villages of Hayti development along Grant Street and Umstead. During our conversation, he shared both progress and a key challenge: there is currently a $6 million funding gap preventing the inclusion of a grocery store on the west side of the development.
East Durham Waterline Project
Over the past few weeks, several neighbors have been asking about the construction happening near Colfax and East Jacob Street. We wanted to share a clear update on what we’ve learned and where you can go for more information.
After connecting with City Council Member Matt Kopac and his office, we were informed that this work is part of the City of Durham’s East Durham Waterline Replacement Project (Phase 1A).
This phase of the project includes…