Durham Breaks Ground on 252-Unit Affordable Housing Project in Historic Hayti
After decades of advocacy and delays, Durham Housing Authority breaks ground on 252 affordable housing units in the historic Black Hayti community.
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA — The Durham Housing Authority broke ground this week on Villages of Hayti, an affordable housing development that will bring 252 units to the historic Black Hayti community.
More than 300 people attended the groundbreaking ceremony that lasted over two hours, marking a milestone in the site’s redevelopment. The project represents years of community advocacy and planning for the former Fayette Place site.
Community Celebrates Long-Awaited Development
“Today is a moment many of us prayed for and never gave up on,” said Brenda Bradsher, who lives in the Grant Street community that includes the Villages of Hayti. The 80-year-old resident has lived on Grant Street her entire life and witnessed the neighborhood’s transformation over the decades.
Bradsher is one of the “Ladies of Grant Street,” whose story of advocacy and persistence in preserving the last surviving block of the Hayti neighborhood was captured in a documentary that premiered last month. Their efforts have been key in maintaining the community’s historical significance throughout the redevelopment process.
Historic Hayti District Legacy
The Hayti District once served as a bustling hub of commerce and culture at the center of Durham’s Black community. In its heyday, the area boasted more than 200 Black-owned businesses, including banks, insurance companies, and theaters.
“The whole section was Black-owned, and it was something that we were proud of,” Bradsher told NC Newsline in an interview. “We didn’t have to go downtown for anything. We had everything we wanted in Hayti.”
The community’s landscape changed dramatically in the early 1960s when urban renewal projects brought the Durham Freeway through the area, removing large portions of the historic neighborhood. Bradsher remembers the thriving Black community that existed before these changes reshaped the district.
Overcoming Decades of Delays
The redevelopment has faced numerous challenges over the years, with decades of sometimes contentious debate surrounding the project. The groundbreaking holds particular significance for Black residents old enough to remember the original Hayti community.
Previous redevelopment promises failed to materialize after the Fayetteville Street Apartments were demolished in 2009. The lengthy delays made this week’s ceremonial groundbreaking deeply personal for longtime community members who have advocated for meaningful redevelopment that honors the area’s heritage.
The Villages of Hayti project represents a commitment to providing affordable housing while preserving the cultural and historical importance of one of Durham’s most significant neighborhoods. The development aims to create new opportunities for residents while maintaining connections to the community’s rich past.
