Development of Hardee Street Apartments

From bare ground to finished apartments, the construction of the Hardee Street Apartments was a two-year process that involved the collaboration between many organizations and people.

Architectural Design

Before any foundation was laid, the design for Hardee Street Apartments was created by Cline Design Associates, a Raleigh-based architecture firm with experience in designing affordable housing. Their approach to Hardee Street reflects the careful balance between creating a cost-effective design while still offering amenities and a sense of quality within the space. This emphasis on combining affordability with quality is what separates the development from typical affordable housing developments that are often seen as cheap, undesirable, and prone to crime. Hardee Street was designed not only to house people, but also to give them quality amenities outside of their units that promote social gathering, well-being, and belonging, i.e. community. Images courtesy of Cline Design Associates.

Construction

With this design from Cline Design, construction on the apartments began in 2023 and lasted until 2025.
Photos courtesy of Self-Help Credit Union

The creation of Hardee Street is a story not only about laying brick and mortar, but also promoting collaboration as well

In addition to the close collaboration between Self-Help and DHIC, it brought together a diverse network of partners, including the City of Durham, Wells Fargo, and the Oak Foundation for financial support. At its core, this project would not have been possible without the mass networks of organizations and partners that were incorporated in the process.

From the initial vision to completion, collaboration was the foundation that made the project possible. What was once a place of worship became a home for people in an area that once priced them out.