Local News

Group aims to give Durham blueprint for revitalizing once-thriving Hayti neighborhood

This week, a non-profit group from Washinton, DC is in Durham, facilitating research and discussions about the future of Fayetteville Street and the Hayti neighborhood.

Posted Updated

By
Sarah Krueger
, WRAL senior Durham reporter
DURHAM, N.C. — The growth and emergence of Durham is an ongoing storyline in the Triangle as cranes are busy and construction is underway in the city's downtown area.

But a few blocks south of that, it's a different scene.

This week, a non-profit group from Washington, D.C. is in Durham, sharing their findings and leading discussions about the future of Fayetteville Street and the Hayti neighborhood.

Hayti was once a thriving Black community that was damaged by redlining and the construction of Highway 147, also known as the Durham Freeway.

The one-mile stretch of Fayetteville Street is the focus of a redevelopment project for the City of Durham.

This week's objectives for the Urban Land Institute are to engage Hayti residents and community stakeholders about the best way to reinvigorate this corridor, while maintaining a focus on equity. Generations ago, the stretch of the Bull City was a bustling business hub and an inspiration to Black people in the southeast.

Rhenda Wilson, the owner of the Tea Bar Cafe on Fayetteville Street, lives right around the corner. She wanted to bring fresh, heathy food to the Hayti neighborhood.

"You didn't have to go far to grocery shop, to eat, any of those things were right in the area and that's exactly why we're here now," Wilson said.

The group was picked by the Hayti Heritage Center and their representatives are expected to talk to those who live in the neighborhood about their needs and wants.

The section of Fayetteville Street that is the focus is from 147 to North Carolina Central University, roughly a mile stretch.

The institute's suggestions could include moves such as constructing parks or building more houses. They'll present their recommendations to the community on Friday.

"We’re not telling the city they have to adopt it or put it into their plan, we’re simply providing advice," said Tom Eitler with the institute. "What they do with it is entirely up to them."

Boarded up buildings and abandoned homes are a common sight on Fayetteville Street, in contrast with the cranes and skyscrapers just on the other side of the highway. Mayor Elaine O'Neal mentioned reinvigorating the street during her State of the City address in April.

"We're really making a concerted effort to make sure that communities of color have a voice when they’re thinking about the future of their community," said Nicole Furnace, a project manager. "And Durham, I think, is moving in the right direction."

"We want to make it economically viable. We want to make it small business friendly," Furnace said. " We want to make it a community space for families to have a place to gather and have community events they can look forward to."

Related Topics

 Credits 

Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.