The Durham Housing Authority (DHA) showed off the new Vanguard Apartments in the heart of downtown Durham on Tuesday.
That project is part of a much larger redevelopment
initiative of DHA properties downtown, something that’s been talked about for years.
The site here is being developed in four phases.
Phase one is these units here behind me, the Vanguard
Apartments, completed construction earlier this summer.
There are 72 one- two-, and three-bedroom apartments throughout the buildings.
In total, including the other phases, there will be 538 new mixed-income homes. Of those homes, 348 of those will be affordable, and 190 are market-rate.
Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams told the crowd that this
celebration will be the first of many to come.
“Folks always talk about affordable housing,” Williams said. “They
talk about it through a lens as if it’s not happening. We are working. We are
doing work together. We are producing. There are over 3,000 units in the pipeline
right now and more are coming on board today.”
This development will also include a community center,
fitness-centered playgrounds, a central park and new commercial space along
Main Street.
Phases two and three are already under construction. The Commerce Street apartments are expected to be complete
in the next year. Those units include a senior building and a family building.
