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Planning Award for the Washington Drive District Plan
On October 2, 2009, the City of High Point received the 2009 Marvin Collins Outstanding Planning Award in the Community Development category from the North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association for the Washington Drive District Plan.
The award recognizes plans, programs, and processes of unusually high merit. This project received the jury's highest recommendation. It represents a very good model for other governments to examine and potentially replicate. It is highly visual with excellent ideas that are well-illustrated. The section on implementation was considered by the jury to be especially valuable and thoughtfully prepared, covering all aspects of community life in this geographic area: social, physical, and economic. The jury considers this project to be an example of the value that outstanding planning brings to North Carolina.
Those present to receive the award were the following The City Project, Inc. Board Members: Jay Wagner, Tom Terrell, City Council member Bernita Sims, Julius Clark, City Council member Bill Bencini, and Executive Director Wendy Fuscoe.
The mission of City Project, Inc. is to spearhead the revitalization of the urban core – an 11 square mile area surrounding and including downtown High Point. Their strategy for carrying out this mission is four-fold: 1) Actively engage in promoting the return of people, businesses and services to the urban core; 2) Identify and develop incentives, initiatives, and funding mechanisms that encourage public/private partnerships; 3) Serve as a resource to energize neighborhood reinvestment; and 4) Reduce sprawl, make use of existing infrastructure, and encourage revitalization.
The vision is for an urban area that symbolizes economic health, local quality of life, and community pride.
This is the second award for the core city planning effort with the city winning a comprehensive planning award from the chapter in 2007 for the High Point Core City Plan.
As an outgrowth of the High Point Core City Plan, the purpose of the Washington Drive District Plan, adopted by the High Point City Council in December of 2008, is to physically and economically revitalize the historic commercial district and the adjacent neighborhood.
On December 15, 2008, High Point City Council adopted the Washington Drive District Plan.
As an outgrowth of the High Point Core City Plan, the purpose of the Washington Drive District Plan is to physically and economically revitalize this historic commercial district. It is the intent that the area becomes both a resource for the adjacent Washington Drive Neighborhood and the community as a whole.
Please help us by participating in and supporting the implementation of this plan.
If you have any questions, please call Heidi Galanti at 883-3328.
Washington Dr. Adoption Plan Washington Dr. Poster
One of the top priorities recommended for implementation of the Core City Plan adopted in February 2007 is the creation of a detailed plan for the Washington Drive district. The primary study area will be the commercial area of Washington Drive, which is one of eight mixed-use centers identified in the plan. The secondary study area will include the surrounding neighborhood located between Kivett Drive, Centennial Street, Montlieu Avenue, and College Drive. The Walker Collaborative, which was the principal consultant for the Core City Plan, has assembled a team of consultants to lead this planning process.
Following is a timeline of activities for the project:
For more background or history information on the Washington Drive District Plan, click here.
January 14, 2008: Kick-off Meeting
January 14-15, 2008: Focus Group meetings
Members of the consultant team conducted six one-hour meetings with approximately ten people in each focus group. All meetings were held at the Washington Terrace Community Center.
April 14, 2008: Public Workshop
Members of the consultant team conducted a hands-on workshop with approximately forty people, who provided ideas that formed the basis for the draft concept plan. The workshop was held at the Penn-Griffin School for the Arts.
April 17, 2008: Public Presentation of Concept Plan
July 22, 2008: Public Presentation of Draft Plan
Draft Plan Presentation
Draft Plan Summary
October 10, 2008: Final Plan
Using input received on the draft plan, the consultants created the Final Washington Drive District Plan (click here to see the Plan).
The final plan is now ready to go through the adoption process. Dates for public hearings are as follows:
The Planning & Zoning Commission Public Hearing
Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at 6:00 p.m.
City Council Chamber, 3rd Floor
Municipal Office Building
211 South Hamilton Street
City Council Public Hearing
Monday, December 15, 2008 at 5:30 p.m.
City Council Chamber, 3rd Floor
Municipal Office Building
211 South Hamilton Street
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Heidi Galanti at 883-3328.
November 11, 2008: Planning & Zoning Commission Public Hearing
December 15, 2008: City Council Public Hearing
High Point Planning & Development Dept.
