DURHAM, N.C. — A long-awaited redevelopment project in Durham’s historic Hayti neighborhood is finally moving forward. After years of delays, the Villages of Hayti has officially closed on its site, clearing the way for construction and marking a major turning point for a community rich in history.
For nearly two decades, the land sat vacant. Now, city leaders and community members say a new chapter is beginning, one focused on rebuilding and preserving Hayti’s deeply rooted history.
“We’re delivering on a promise and a commitment that we’ve made long ago,” said Ashanti Brown, new interim CEO of the Durham Housing Authority.
Brown, who previously served as chief operating officer, is stepping into the leadership role at a critical moment. She will help guide the project as it moves from planning into construction.
The first phase of the Villages of Hayti is backed by a $44 million bond and includes plans to build more than 250 affordable housing units. Those units are aimed at families earning between 30% and 80% of the area median income, a response to the growing need for affordable housing in Durham.
For longtime residents, the project is personal.
Larry Hester, a Hayti native, remembers when the neighborhood was a thriving Black community built on economic strength and opportunity.
“The African Americans in Hayti, they really thrived and they were able to do all of the things necessary for the survival of our people,” he explained. “And that is what was destroyed.”
That history continues to shape expectations for what comes next. Many residents say it’s critical the redevelopment prioritizes people who need affordable housing the most.
Housing leaders say that’s exactly the goal.
“We are working to make sure that those that are eligible for those units have access to them directly and first,” Brown said. “That’s going through an application process where there are compliance requirements and compliance checks… “
The project is expected to unfold in phases. In addition to the initial housing units, a second phase will include more than 200 multifamily apartments and dozens of units designed specifically for seniors.
City officials say erosion control work has already begun with framing expected to follow soon.
The full development is projected to cost around $85 million and will be funded through a mix of tax credits, loans and affordable housing bonds.
A long-awaited investment, in a neighborhood that carries generations of history, now moving forward.
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