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.

We wanted to share an important update about a major development project happening just near us in the historic Hayti neighborhood—the Villages of Hayti. This project marks the first phase of redevelopment for the Fayette Place site, a long-vacant property owned by the Durham Housing Authority. After years of planning and community input, the project has officially reached a key milestone and is moving forward.