Cultivate a Sense of Community and Unity

OUR VISION

Priorities

Recognize and develop strategies to overcome the disparities that divide our city.

Why is this a priority?

There is a widespread sense that the city is disconnected and there is a north/south divide that creates what feels like two different cities - economically, racially, quality of infrastructure, provision of amenities, and other physical and social characteristics. Some people believe that the city is not just divided between the north and south but is compartmentalized to the point where it feels like three or even four small cities.

These disparities in High Point, and the corrosive impact they have on a shared sense of community in the city, did not take shape overnight and will not dissipate overnight. Recognizing these disparities is the first step in the right direction.

Community Voices

“Community & unity a must! The city is very divided and needs a serious change!!! The South end needs help!”
-Comment from July Open House

Community Voices

"I agree with the north/south divide perception. Having lived and worked in the north and the south part of High Point, it does feel like 2 different cities. Overcoming this perceived divide has to be a priority, or nothing else will get accomplished re: cultivating a sense of community."
-Comment from July Open House

Community Voices

“Not being “one” community but divided many ways — racially, economically, north from south, parts of High Point with other town’s postal addresses versus High Point areas with a High Point address.”
-Comment from April Open House
(in response to "What 'Big Things' do you believe this planning effort has to address?")

Community Voices

“I couldn’t agree more. This fragmentation of the city has existed for a while. I’ve recently been thinking about a new insight I had after listening to people and synthesizing comments from the NextDoor app and conversations with citizens. I believe there is a sense that High Point doesn’t belong to its own citizens. […]”

-Comment from July Open House

Community Voices

“[…] We moved to the Palladium area 3 years ago, and when I tell people we live in High Point I catch myself saying things like, "but not 'High Point' High Point...we're out at the Palladium so it's not really High Point." Sometimes it feels like a haul to go downtown and we'll often end up going to Greensboro instead. […]”

-Comment from July Open House

What do we know?

Percent of Population Below the Poverty Level, by Block Group 2021

At least in part, the sense of a north / south divide is exemplified by several demographic characteristics.

While neighborhoods in the northern half of High Point are prospering, many in the southern half are struggling. Several neighborhoods in south High Point have individual and family poverty rates that are more than double the national and state average.

Maps Median Family Income, 2021 and Homeownership Rate

At least in part, the sense of a north / south divide is exemplified by several demographic characteristics.

Median household income and homeownership rates in the southern half of High Point are significantly lower than in the northern half of the city. For decades, these neighborhoods have been home to a large share of the city’s Black population and other marginalized populations. For households living in these neighborhoods, incomes are often too low to afford the housing available. That means that moving elsewhere in the city, especially to north High Point, is rarely an option.

Map 2018-2022 Residential Construction Permits

Investment in residential development has been taking place throughout much of High Point but major investments are concentrated in a few key areas.

Since 2018, most residential construction including new builds and remodels have occurred north of downtown. New residential development and major remodels or upgrades valued at greater than $50,000 (purple dots) are concentrated northwest of downtown and in a few other key pockets throughout the northern portion of the city. These clusters correlate with assessed value which contributes to wealth building for many owners in these neighborhoods. Investments less than $50,000 (light pink dots) are in existing homes and more distributed throughout the city.

What outcomes do we want to achieve?

High Point’s status as an economic and cultural hub of the Piedmont Triad has strengthened, with businesses and households routinely choosing High Point over Greensboro and Winston-Salem.

New housing and businesses are springing up on previously vacant lots in neighborhoods that haven’t experienced development in a long time.

The sense of a North/South divide in the city has diminished and socioeconomic gaps have narrowed.

Strategic Initiatives for this Priority

Strategic initiatives refer to carefully planned actions or projects that the city will need to undertake to achieve this plan’s desired outcomes for each of the Big Things.

Learn more about these and other Strategic Initiatives in Our Way Forward

1 Focused Investment in the Activity Centers

2 Fund Community Development and Housing

3 Create a Community Reinvestment Fund

4 Revitalize Washington Street as a Catalyst Neighborhood Center

5 Collaborate with Partners to Revitalize the Southwest Area