Durham, North Carolina has experienced significant growth, with population increasing by 24% between 2010 and 2020 and median home values rising by 59% from 2017 to 2022. These market dynamics have widened existing inequities, with Black household homeownership (42.1%) lagging significantly behind white households (64.6%). To address these disparities, the City of Durham launched an innovative initiative to transform vacant, City-owned lots into affordable single-family homes.
The City has already identified 14 vacant lots suitable for conversion, with three nonprofit developers submitting bids for 12 of these properties. To support this effort, Durham is not only providing the lots at no cost but also offering up to $100,000 per lot to subsidize construction costs. With over 1,000 parcels of city-owned real estate potentially available, this project aims to create sustainable pathways to homeownership for families who have historically been excluded from such opportunities. The initiative will particularly focus on identifying lots that can accommodate homes with multiple bedrooms and are located near public transportation and community resources.