Core city project focuses on "uptown'
by pat kimbrough enterprise staff writer
pkiimbrough@hpe.com
Jul 5,2009
HIGH POINT - Core City High Point representatives recently started a project they hope will contribute to the growth and revitalization of a key part of town.
"Uptown High Point" may not be a common way to describe the N. Main Street corridor, but some want the name to catch on as a destination. Core City summer interns are gathering data about the 200 businesses in the area for an inventory that will provide organizers a lay of the land as they look to the business and housing needs of this part of the city's urban core.
"This is the first inventory of the eight areas of the Core City plan," said Wendy Fuscoe, executive director of Core City High Point, a nonprofit public-private collaboration formed to promote the growth and revitalization of the city's 11-square-mile urban core. "It's generated some interest to start looking at branding and ways to design this as a destination and trying to generate some excitement and energy for businesses and residents in that area."
The inventory will cover N. Main Street from Ray Avenue to State Avenue and Lexington Avenue from Johnson Street to Long Street - an area Core City representatives and others have dubbed "uptown." The project will compile information such as the types of business, parking availability, operating hours and the historic or architectural significance of buildings in the area.
The purpose is to gather data on the current supply and demand for services, including retail stores, restaurants, entertainment and other types of business and housing needs.
Core City representatives recently met with business owners and developers to talk informally about the goals for growth and to mobilize efforts in the uptown area. Fuscoe said there have been discussions with city transportation officials about the possibility of placing banners and signage in the area touting the uptown designation.
"Instead of going to (Winston-Salem) and Greensboro for good restaurants and good shopping and good entertainment, we want to cultivate a sense of, "Hey, it's right here in our backyard, and uptown is the place you can go for quality food and quality shopping and good entertainment,'?" Fuscoe said.
The next inventory will cover the Washington Drive area outlined in the Core City plan.
