Fayette Place developers prioritize affordable housing, community

An artist's rendition of Fayette Place.Photo byCourtesy

By Mia Khatib

mia.khatib@triangletribune.com

DURHAM — Bull City residents gathered at the Hayti Heritage Center Thursday evening to preview and weigh in on design plans for development at Fayette Place, a former Durham Housing Authority public housing site that has been vacant for years. The last community engagement meeting was in late 2022.

The 20-acre site, which sits at the intersection of Umstead and Grant streets, will include more than 500 affordable rental units and homeownership opportunities for people earning up to 80% of the area median income, and 20,000 square feet of commercial space.

“We were the recipients of a $40 million grant from HUD and part of that investment is part of our initiatives here in this neighborhood to provide a reconnection back across the expressway,” DHA Director of Real Estate Development Anthony Snell said. “We are laser focused on trying to restore this community to some semblance of its rich history and its economic strength.”

Construction for the first phase will begin in 2025 and completed in 2028. It will include 23 affordable townhomes and 253 rentals. The second phase will develop the remaining 19 townhomes, 202 multifamily apartments and a 68-unit complex for seniors.

There also will be a community center, a walking trail, covered picnic areas, playgrounds and an on-site innovation center. Residents have previously raised hopes for a grocery store to be included. Snell said this is still in the works, along with the commercial and retail opportunities.

F7 International Development President James Montague, one of the project developers, said while it may be difficult to build a grocery store, residents suggested that a local food co-op could be a good alternative.

“We listened intently over the last [few] years on what the community wants. Initially, we didn’t have homeownership even in the plan,” he said. “We had some feedback from Grant Street leaders and… that’s why we decided to do townhouses near their houses, to add value to the community and closer mimic the houses that are around.”

Townhomes will cost around $300,000, and the project team will work with homebuyers to access down payment assistance programs and other resources that can lower costs.

Community members are still welcome to provide feedback on design ideas, and residents’ Sandra Battle and Vee Murphy, 17, told The Tribune that they feel heard and appreciate the developers’ transparency throughout the process.

“It’s been very inclusive,” Battle said. “The important thing to me is that they're focusing on housing and that's a priority. I hope that there’s a way our veterans will be able to benefit.”

Murphy is a student with Bull City YouthBuild, a program that helps high school dropouts obtain their GED and gain work experience. The DHA has worked with the group in the past, and program director Lucretia Alston hopes students can take part in the construction of Fayette Place.

Montague said they hope to use the innovation center as an opportunity for young people to start their own businesses instead of bringing major anchor tenants in.

“When the DOT leaders and all that ran the highway through the middle of this community, it destroyed it,” Montague said. “We can [bring opportunity] without gentrifying the area, by feeding the people that are already here with opportunities to help them change their own community.”

Mia Khatib, who covers affordable housing and gentrification, is a Report for America corps member.