Reimagining the Boys & Girls Club
A Community Hub for the Neighborhood
For decades, the former location of John Avery Boys & Girls Club served as a place where young people learned, played, and built lifelong memories.
Today, the building sits vacant.
But we don't see an abandoned building.
We see one of the greatest opportunities in Durham to create a community-owned gathering place rooted in the hopes and dreams of the people who already call Grant Street home.
Located on the same street as Monument of Faith Church, the historic Grant Street neighborhood, and the future Villages of Hayti development, this property is uniquely positioned to become a neighborhood anchor that serves thousands of residents across generations.
Our vision is simple: A community hub designed by the neighborhood, for the neighborhood.
Why This Matters
The Hayti community is changing rapidly.
Hundreds of new residents will soon move into the Villages of Hayti development. While growth brings opportunity, it also creates an urgent need for places where longtime and new neighbors can gather, build relationships, and strengthen community life.
Rather than allowing this property to remain vacant or become another private development, we believe it can become a shared resource that preserves the neighborhood's identity while creating new opportunities for everyone.
GOAL: $10M
Neighborhood Vision Supporters:
Community
✳︎
Hub
✳︎
Multi-Use
✳︎
Black-Centered
✳︎
Community ✳︎ Hub ✳︎ Multi-Use ✳︎ Black-Centered ✳︎
Research Meetings & Partners
As part of our due diligence, we've been meeting with key organizations and community assets throughout the neighborhood to build relationships, align our vision, and galvanize support for this work. Here’s a list of organizations we have met with so far:
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Student U is a nonprofit dedicated to creating a more equitable education system, so that every student in Durham can succeed.
https://studentudurham.org/ -
The Hayti Heritage Center is a vibrant cultural arts and education facility in Durham, North Carolina, housed in the historic former St. Joseph's AME Church. Managed by the St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation, it preserves African American heritage, supports Black creative excellence, and serves as a vital community anchor.
https://www.hayti.org/ -
Founded in 1933, Monument of Faith Church (MOF) has served as a spiritual and community anchor in Durham's historic Hayti District for more than 90 years. Led by Bishop Clarence Laney, Jr. for the past three decades, this progressive Church of God of Prophecy congregation is a Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-empowered community that is deeply committed to worship, social justice, and neighborhood renewal. Through its longstanding investment in local outreach and community development, MOF continues to faithfully serve the Hayti community with compassion, hope, and a vision for holistic flourishing.
https://mof-church.org -
Haven Design Build is a certified B Corporation and social enterprise based in Durham, North Carolina, that provides integrated architecture, real estate development, and construction management services.
https://www.havendesignbuild.org/
Development Team
We're actively building a community of private donors and values-aligned investors who share our vision for the long-term flourishing of the Grant Street Community and the historic Hayti District. We believe meaningful neighborhood transformation happens through partnerships with people who are committed not only to development, but to resident leadership, equity, and lasting community well-being. If you—or someone you know—would like to explore investing in this work, we'd love to connect. Please contact us using the information below.