Raleigh Area Land Trust Awarded Grant to Bring Public Art and Historical Storytelling to Southeast Raleigh’s Idlewild Neighborhood

RALEIGH, NC — The Raleigh Area Land Trust (RALT) has received a grant from The Jandy Ammons Foundation to commission two public art installations and educational signage at its Idlewild development—Raleigh’s first permanently affordable community land trust (CLT) neighborhood. The project will celebrate the neighborhood’s legacy as one of the first places in Raleigh where formerly enslaved people could own property, while reinforcing a future of affordability and cultural preservation.

In partnership with the nonprofit visual arts center Artspace and a locally formed Neighborhood Art Committee, RALT will lead a community-driven process to select a North Carolina-based artist of color and co-create artwork that honors Idlewild’s rich African-American history. Educational signage will share stories of resilience and progress, including how, in 1891, a Black-led cooperative helped newly freed families purchase land in what became known as Idlewild. Many of the earliest residents were educators and community leaders connected to nearby St. Augustine’s College.

“This initiative is about reclaiming space, identity, and legacy at a time when many Black communities are being priced out of the very neighborhoods they built,” said Kevin Campbell, Executive Director of RALT. “By anchoring this affordable housing project in history and art, we’re creating a place where families can not only live—but feel seen and celebrated.”

The Idlewild project comes at a time when gentrification continues to reshape Raleigh. RALT’s use of the community land trust model—where the land is held in a community trust and homes remain permanently affordable—ensures that the neighborhood will remain accessible for generations. The grant-funded art and signage will be integrated into a landscaped courtyard and green space, creating a welcoming environment that reflects both past and future.

“Affordable housing should be about more than square footage,” said Angel Johnson, RALT’s Director of Homeownership & Stewardship Services. “It should reflect the culture, pride, and purpose of the people who call it home. With this grant, we’ll do just that—by inviting neighbors into the design process and spotlighting local stories through the eyes of a Black artist.”

Construction on Idlewild is expected to be complete by spring 2026. RALT will engage local residents through pop-up events and surveys in the coming months, with artist selection and concept design set to begin later this year.

To learn more about Raleigh Area Land Trust and its mission to create long-term housing affordability in the Triangle, visit https://www.ralt.org/.

About the Raleigh Area Land Trust
Raleigh Area Land Trust (RALT) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing affordable housing options for residents of Wake County. Through strategic partnerships and community engagement, RALT creates sustainable housing solutions that promote equity and opportunity for all individuals and families. The non-profit has committed to having 100 homes in a trust over the next five years, addressing the pressing need for accessible housing solutions in our community.