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.
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.
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.
Together, these relationships are helping shape a vision that goes far beyond a grocery store—one that supports Black farmers, strengthens Durham's local food economy, expands food access, and creates new opportunities for neighbors to build a healthier, more intentional relationship with food.
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…
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.
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.
Grant Street Documentary Screening
To the hundreds of neighbors, friends, partners, and supporters who joined us—thank you. Your presence at the documentary screening meant more than words can fully capture. What took place was more than an event; it was a moment of collective remembrance, gratitude, and renewed vision for what is possible in the Grant Street Community.
Waterline Walkthrough
This week, members of the Grant Street Community joined representatives from the City of Durham and project partners for an on-site walkthrough of the ongoing work taking place near the creek, Grant Street Park North, and the surrounding areas.
This post includes a recording of the walkthrough, along with photos from our time together.
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…
Villages of Hayti 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.
The Story of 702 & 704 Grant Street
On March 20, 2026, the Grant Street community gathered to celebrate something both historic and deeply rooted in years of quiet, persistent work—a new kind of home on a familiar street.
The open house, led by Durham Community Land Trustees, marked the unveiling of 702 and 704 Grant Street: a first-of-its-kind detached duplex in the Hayti community.