Momentum and energy downtown is in the vicinity of the stadium, and the Social District. It’s important to build on that energy by focusing public investment to leverage and maximize private investment. A mistake many cities make is to sprinkle investments across several downtown locations rather than focusing investments near core assets and market energy, which helps to build critical mass and greatly increases chances of long-term success. Major connecting corridors including N. Main Street should be a priority and sufficient parking and/or the construction of a parking deck will be important factors  to ensure a viable district.

Key objectives and policy revisions include but are not limited to:

• Create great streetscapes - careful attention to the relationship between public streets and built environment - along key corridors including all of  N. Main Street, Church Avenue, N. Elm Street between W. English Road and Sunset Drive and W. English Road between N. Main Street and Lindsay Street will send strong signals of a special downtown district.

 

• Develop N. Main Street as High Point’s premier signature street to send clear signals as a major gateway to High Point.

 

• • Create a balanced street that treats all users equally - pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, and motorists.

 

• • Special attention should be made to creating a quality streetscape with street trees, pedestrian scaled lighting, and furnishings in key locations.

 

• • A comprehensive theme and wayfinding system, which must be coordinated with the overall downtown branding.

 

• Utilize incentives to encourage mixed-use development with a strong housing component as well as housing only projects (see 1 on pg 62)

 

• Consider refining the Municipal Service Districts to support the new development in and around the social district.

 

• A hop-on-hop-off downtown circulator should be considered for the downtown, specifically in the “Social District”.