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.
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.
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…
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.
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.