05/27/2026

Successful Groundbreaking for the Villages of Hayti!

This month, DHA proudly celebrated and broke ground on The Villages of Hayti! It was a historic moment celebrating the long-awaited promise with community leaders, elected officials, development partners and the honorable Pastor Shirley Caesar.

The Villages of Hayti's first phase of construction will bring 252 fully affordable housing units to Durham, expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

#VillagesOfHayti #AffordableHousing #CommunityDevelopment #DHA

To view additional photos of the Villages of Hayti Groundbreaking, please click here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Aalayah Sanders
Director of Communications and Public Affairs
asanders@dha-nc.org | 919.407.0460

The Villages of Hayti Breaks Ground on First Phase - A Community-Led Affordable Housing Investment in the Historic Hayti District, Durham, North Carolina

Durham, NC (May 8, 2026) - The Durham Housing Authority (DHA) and Durham Community Partners, comprised of Harmony Housing Affordable Development, Gilbane Development and F7 Development, are pleased to announce the groundbreaking on the first phase of The Villages of Hayti, a multiphase affordable housing community. This first phase will bring a 252-unit, fully affordable housing development to Durham's historic Hayti neighborhood.

With the groundbreaking, construction now begins on one of Durham's most significant affordable housing investments in the City's recent history. Located on the site of the former Fayette Place, the first phase of the long-awaited development is projected to be completed by the end of 2027.

"This groundbreaking marks a meaningful milestone and a proud moment for the City of Durham as we move forward with the long-awaited first phase of The Villages of Hayti. This
vision has been shaped by the voices of the community, and I am deeply grateful to the residents, past and present City Council members, and the many partners who helped bring it to life. Together, we are honoring the legacy of Hayti while building something that reflects the hopes and needs of today's Durham," said Mayor Leonardo Williams.

"I also want to thank our partners at DHA and their team for their continued commitment to this work. This project represents more than new housing, it's about creating opportunity, stability, and a higher quality of life for our residents. While we know there is still more work ahead, this is an important step toward building a Durham where more residents can access safe and dignified housing." he added.

"The Villages of Hayti groundbreaking marks a significant step forward for Durham as we begin the first phase of construction on a site with deep historical meaning. In a time where our community is facing a shortage of affordable housing, we're excited to contribute 252 units of affordable housing after decades of the land being vacant," said
DHA's Interim CEO, Ashanti Brown.

"DHA is deeply committed to ensuring our community members have access to safe and quality affordable housing. This work would not be possible without support from the City of Durham's Forever Home, Durham program, which was funded by the $95 million housing bond approved in 2019. As we move forward, we remain steadfast to ensuring this development reflects both the history of this land and the future we are building together for Durham," she added.

The Villages of Hayti, structured as a 100% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) development, will provide much-needed deeply affordable housing for the community, with eligible households earning between 30% and 80% of Area Median Income (AMI). In accordance with the requirements of the N.C. Housing Finance Agency, 26 units are specifically designated as mobility-impaired units for people with disabilities or individuals experiencing homelessness.

"Breaking ground on the first phase of The Villages of Hayti represents an important step toward delivering high-quality, affordable housing in a community with deep historical and cultural significance," said James Triano, Executive Vice President at Harmony Housing Affordable Development Inc. "Following the successful financial close, we are proud to now move into construction alongside DHA and our partners to bring this long-anticipated vision to life. This milestone reflects a shared commitment to transforming this site into a vibrant community that honors Hayti's legacy while creating new opportunities for Durham resident's."

"The Villages of Hayti is more than just housing: it's an example of how we can come together to transform vacant, underutilized land into a thriving community for the residents of the Villages," said Yarojin Robinson, Senior Vice President of Gilbane Development. "This tremendous milestone is a testament to the hard work of many partners, and we are so proud to help deliver truly affordable homes for Durham."

"The Villages of Hayti represents what can happen when development is rooted in community, history, and long-term opportunity," said James 'Monte' Montague, President of F7 International Development. "For decades, this site stood vacant in one of Durham's most historically significant Black communities. Today, we are helping transform that land into affordable housing that honors the legacy of Hayti while creating real opportunities for families to thrive, he added.

This first phase will include a mix of 81 one-bedroom, 113 two-bedroom, and 58 three-bedroom apartments across nine garden-style walk-up buildings built on land owned by the Durham Housing Authority. A 4,000-square-foot community building will anchor the site, offering a multipurpose room, computer and office center, and fitness center.

Outdoor amenities include a 1,700-square-foot playground, shaded seating areas, and centrally located covered picnic pavilion. The site's location is less than 1.5 miles from downtown Durham and a quarter mile from a Go Durham bus stop, ensuring residents have convenient access to transit, employment, education, and cultural amenities.

At the groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, May 13th, DHA and Durham Community Partners will highlight the contributions of its Community Advisory Committee. This group is comprised of key leaders associated with Durham CAN, Hayti Reborn, W.G. Pearson Center, North Carolina Central University, Grant Street Ladies and the Hayti Heritage Center. These groups have played a significant role in facilitating community engagement and shaping final plans for the site.

Upon completion, The Villages of Hayti will provide stable, affordable housing for the community, contributing to the long-term economic and social health of the surrounding neighborhood. For more information about the Villages of Hayti project, click here.

About the Durham Housing Authority
The Durham Housing Authority is the largest affordable housing provider in Durham, North Carolina. DHA has developed, owned, managed, and contributed housing to diverse communities of choice since 1949. Development Ventures Incorporated (DVI) is a non-profit instrumentality of the DHA established in 1985 to develop mixed-income affordable housing as a complement to DHA's conventional public housing program.
For more information, about Durham Housing Authority, click here.

About Harmony Housing Affordable Development Inc.
Driven by a passion for creating and preserving affordable housing in our nation's most vulnerable communities, Harmony Housing Affordable Development Inc. is an industry-leading, mission-driven affordable housing developer and developer partner that specializes in construction, rehabilitation, repositioning, and recapitalization of projects. To date, the team has developed approximately 18,000 apartment homes with another 4,800 in various stages of completion in 10 states. The group's mission is to create meaningful and significant impacts on communities by helping to provide low-wealth households with decent, safe, and affordable housing. For more information about Harmony Housing Affordable Development, Inc., click here.

About Gilbane Development
Gilbane Development is the real estate development, financing, and ownership arm of Gilbane, Inc., a 155-year-old family-owned company. With over $11.8 billion in development and more than 25,000 units of housing completed/underway, Gilbane Development's projects incorporate every aspect of real estate including: multifamily housing (market rate apartments, student housing, and affordable housing); mixed-used developments; healthcare facilities; K-12 schools; government facilities; and many types of facilities delivered through public-private partnerships. To learn more about Gilbane Development, click here.

About F7 International Development
F7 International Development, a Triangle-based, black-owned business, was founded in 2002 with the sole purpose of improving the community and surrounding areas by developing and creating infrastructure; building and constructing commercial properties; and general contracting new residential housing as well as rehabilitating existing homes all to improve and empower the communities F7 serves. James (Monte) Montague, President of F7 International Development and son of Southeast Raleigh, is an Urban Community Property Developer with over 22 years of expertise in low-income communities, and is focused on underdeveloped areas, affordable housing and business office spaces.

About BLWall Consulting
BLWall Consulting LLC, Black female-owned business, located in the Triangle, is a trusted leader in public outreach and community engagement. Bridget Wall-Lennon, President, started the company in 2013, and has over 30 years of experience in public and private sector program development, implementation, and management. BLWall Consulting brings a wealth of experience across diverse sectors, including public policy and involvement, construction and economic development. BLWall is intentional about fostering meaningful connections between public agencies, private entities, and the communities they serve. For more information about BLWall consulting, click here.

Additional Media Coverage of Our Groundbreaking