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.
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.
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.