Grand Opening & Groundbreaking Highlight Affordable Housing Programs

Durham leaders, development partners, and community members gathered to celebrate 2 milestones advancing affordable housing downtown: the grand opening of the Vanguard Apartments and the groundbreaking for the neighboring Dillard Street Apartments.

The Vanguard, a 72-unit mixed-income community at 519 E. Main St., represents the first phase of a 4-part redevelopment of 2 former Durham Housing Authority properties: 519 E. Main and Liberty Street Apartments. The new building offers 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom homes, with 21 apartments reserved for former residents of the site. Amenities include a fitness center, computer lab, multipurpose room, and playground - all designed to foster stability and connection for families and individuals.

Next door, officials broke ground on the Dillard Street Apartments, which will add 146 affordable and market-rate homes. 64 units are set aside for residents who once lived in the former complexes. Plans for the Dillard Street Apartments also include a community center, fitness facilities, computer lab, and outdoor play areas.

City of Durham officials, the Durham Housing Authority, and Laurel Street Residential led the event, joined by financing and development partners including the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, RBC Capital Markets, Fifth Third Bank, First Citizens Bank, JP Morgan Chase, and HUD's Choice Neighborhoods Program. Mayor Leonardo Williams emphasized that the projects reflect the City's commitment to creating communities where all residents can thrive.

The Vanguard and Dillard Street Apartments developments are financed in part by the Forever Home, Durham voter-approved housing bond initiative, which leverages public and private investment to expand affordable housing and revitalize neighborhoods. Together, these projects demonstrate the city's momentum in delivering high-quality, inclusive housing options for Durham families today - and for generations to come.