The Durham City Council voted 5-2 on March 16 to approve revised terms for a $10 million ARPA investment in Hayti Promise CDC, the nonprofit leading revitalization on the Fayetteville Street corridor. Council Members Shanetta Burris and Chelsea Cook voted no.
- The vote changed the ARPA funding source for the investment and removed Saint Joseph's Historic Foundation as fiscal agent. A second motion removing the foundation from a related neighborhood stabilization agreement passed unanimously.
- Opponents cited the CDC's recent nonprofit status, difficulty obtaining clear financial reports, and unequal accountability standards compared to other organizations receiving city funds.
- The council also unanimously extended the Golden Belt Complex lease for five years at roughly $2 million total, with an option for a second five-year term.
The Hayti corridor has been a site of city investment and community conflict for years. This vote commits $10 million to one organization to lead the next phase. City Manager Bo Ferguson promised a full ARPA briefing in April.
The April ARPA briefing is the next accountability checkpoint. The FY 2026-27 budget process, covering fare-free transit, eviction diversion, and youth programs, runs through early summer.