Durham, NC

Durham’s renaissance: Embracing diversity and growth

Since 2020, Durham has been ranked as one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S., attracting artists, wealthy professionals, and young families from outside of the state.

Home to comparatively affordable housing, a revitalized downtown, and a unique blend of racial diversity – where Black and white residents each constitute roughly 40% of the population – the city has been a magnet for newcomers and is experiencing a renaissance.

Why Durham?

Left behind amidst rapid growth and displacement

Unfortunately, Durham’s growth has led to the gentrification and displacement of Black residents who are unable to afford higher housing costs. The Black community, once known as the capital of the Black middle class, was already struggling to rebuild after decades of disinvestment and disastrous urban renewal policies. Today, the city’s economic boom has only exacerbated those challenges.

Durham’s stark racial inequities shine light on a hidden crisis

17%

The poverty rate in Durham is 17%, the highest in surrounding area

20%

Black homeownership is 20% lower than white residents

87%

Black families have 87% less net worth than white families

There are $4 trillion at stake, coming out of the various Infrastructure and Reduction Act and stimulus bills. Those dollars will fundamentally change the structure and the economic trajectory of communities in America. If those dollars are not invested into communities of color that are under-resourced, like Durham’s Black community, we will never, ever be able to close that divide.
Susan Thomas, Founder of PERC and President of Melville Charitable Trust

Durham Local Partners

Bridging the divide

The PERC Durham coalition includes a mix of 40 community individuals and organizations representing sectors in health care, education, economic stability, community, and environment led by:

National Institute of Minority Economic Development
Durham Housing Authority (DHA)
Office of Mayor Leonardo Williams

PERC Durham in action

Building the action plan

Using PERC’s model for shared decision-making and consensus building, PERC Durham has designed a data-centered action plan to apply for potential investment dollars, and to execute and deliver measurable, results-based outcomes once the investment is received.

Identifying Solutions

New systems for long-term change

The Durham coalition is currently developing public investment opportunities to influence the factors driving racial inequities while building new systems for long-term impact. Here are highlights for five-year targets:

Housing

Increase affordable housing options by 50% by incentivizing developers and landlords to build and offer low to moderately priced units in existing housing, financial institutions to support financing; identifying funders; and working with the city to ensure business adequate investment and create zoning permissions to allow for higher density buildings.

Economic Development

Decrease racial wealth gap by 25% over the next five years by creating ecosystem that cultivates and increases Black-owned businesses by 50% through employment and workforce development programs and advocacy efforts targeting barriers to entry (eg. criminal records, training minimum); creation of Minority Business Enterprise procurement goals for all corporations; securing access to capital; and identification of potential gaps to be filled by Black businesses.

Civic Infrastructure

Ensure 60% of new infrastructure resources are invested in Black communities through development of multi-year digital inclusion plan, and plan to identify and eliminate food deserts; and partnerships with city agencies to utilize equitable decision making framework for the investments in hard infrastructure projects (eg. sidewalks, sewers, schools, parks) in Black neighborhoods.

Are you interested in becoming an active participant in PERC’s transformation process? Let’s partner!