Community Open House #2: Restoring a Creek in Hayti

We welcome everyone to join us for the 2nd Community Open House on November 23rd to share your ideas for the creek restoration! During our first open house event in September, we created a collective vision board for what the community hopes to see in the creek and surrounding space. A few of the larger recurring themes are: safety, accessibility, creating a legacy and memorializing the history that’s already happened here, as well as creating a communal space for gathering and fitness.

Join us in our second gathering to prioritize needs, name the creek, and strategize on next steps including stream bank repair and funding decisions.

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Simply called the ‘Branch’ by long-time residents on Grant Street, the creek runs through Grant Park North and next to a property where Durham Community Land Trustees (DCLT) will build affordable housing. DCLT and Grant Street Community have worked together since 2019, and members of this community and their families have called the area home for over a century. Elders recall swimming and playing in the creek, fishing, and watching frogs and tadpoles in the water. However, the creek is now inaccessible due to construction, steep slopes, and illegal dumping.

The initiative aims to revitalize the Branch into a safe, accessible, and healing green space. The creek has the promise to be a welcoming gathering hub with quiet walking trails, cool and clean water to wade in, and a beautiful place to spend time with neighbors.

It is key for the community to have an active role in creating their own surroundings. DCLT has received a grant to begin this work and will continue engaging the community through education, cleanups, and forums to understand their vision.

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Durham Community Land Trustees provides permanently affordable housing, serving nearly 400 rental residents and over 50 homeowners. We are committed to enhancing the quality of life for all residents through a community-led approach.

Our mission includes reimagining our spaces for not only affordable housing but for human well-being, economic mobility, and cultural strength. We seek and initiate projects that engage residents in shaping their neighborhoods and address environmental injustices.

The Branch is in Hayti, a vibrant Black community that was established after the Civil War. It was a cornerstone of Durham’s Black Wall Street until much of it was razed for Highway 147, displacing numerous families and businesses. DCLT’s partnership with Grant Street Community is a unique opportunity to hear and commemorate the deeply rooted legacy of black landowners and their connection to the Branch.

Host or Publisher Durham Community Land Trustees (DCLT)