More affordable housing opens in Durham with a new look

DURHAM, N.C. — Some affordable housing units in the Bull City are getting a makeover.

The Durham Housing Authority reopened the Vanguard Apartments and recently broke ground on the Dillard Street Apartments. It’s an effort to open up more affordable housing opportunities while also creating a new vision for what these communities can look like.

Inside her newly developed apartment at the Vanguard, Bianca Rivera says it’s finally setting in that this is her space to call home.

“I’ve been sitting outside on the patio and just enjoying it,” Rivera said as she reflected on the new space she now shares with her 10-year-old son, Micah.

Rivera and her son previously lived at Liberty Street Apartments before moving to Oxford Manor to live temporarily as the city made space for new developments.

 She says that she and her family can now feel safe.

“There was trash all over the place, and me coming here and not seeing trash all over the place, not seeing drug activity or gun violence,” she explained, “so far, that has made a big change in our lives.”

The Vanguard Apartments just reopened after a major renovation as part of Durham Housing Authority’s efforts to build what’s officials hope will be vibrant, mixed-income communities. 

The $200-million redevelopment project began with two aging properties downtown.

It’s a four-phase project. In all, 214 units will be replaced with 538 new homes, 348 being affordable and 190 being market rate. Twenty-one units are prioritized for former residents like Rivera.

Interim CEO of DHA Anthony Snell says this project and others to come reflect the importance of building safe, beautiful and affordable homes for people no matter the socioeconomic status.

“I know people think it’s innovative and it’s a model, right? We are just building communities that are totally inclusive of the entire community,” Snell said. “And so, that’s where we think we’re going to have our success.”

The need for more affordable housing is urgent.

In a recent National Low Income Housing Coalition report, it found that there are over 330,000 extremely low-income households in North Carolina. For every 100 of them, there are only 41 affordable rental homes available.

For Rivera, the move is more than just about having a new space. It has allowed her to dream big.

“It has helped me grow into wanting more and bigger and better living in the future,” she said.

The first phase, the Vanguard, officially opened in May with 72 new homes. The next step is the Commerce Street Apartments, where construction began in July 2024. It is expected to open in 2026 with 172 units for both seniors and families. Phases three and four will add nearly 300 more units for individuals and families.