The council will consider a request by the city’s Planning and Development Department to amend the development ordinance to establish the market overlay district and apply the district to approximately 249 acres in downtown High Point. New showrooms would not be allowed outside the district.
The proposal will be the subject of a public hearing during Monday’s council meeting. The district is based on a City Project recommendation and is aimed at making the market area more compact while fostering the development of businesses besides showrooms in the downtown area.
The proposed district boundary takes in the majority of existing showroom square footage. Existing showrooms outside the boundary could continue as such as long as they haven’t ceased operations for more than two years. They also would be able to seek an exemption from the city that would allow them to expand, with some limitations.
The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the district, but the idea has generated opposition from property owners on the fringes of the boundary. They argue that being outside the district will devalue their property. Opponents also have criticized the proposal because it leaves out areas where several showrooms exist, such as portions of Wrenn and N. Main streets.
Proponents say the district is needed to help revitalize the downtown area, which hasn’t been able to draw much retail business and other uses because the existence of showrooms in widely scattered areas has contributed to inflated property values. The proposal takes into account recent trends that indicate the market has been contracting and using less square footage within existing showrooms.
Also on Monday’s agenda is the proposed University Area Plan, which would guide the growth of High Point University. The council discussed the plan last month but didn’t take action, opting to continue the study of issues such as whether new campus development should be contiguous to the school’s existing boundaries.
pkimbrough@hpe.com | 888-3531
Instead of trying to turn the old downtown area into a retail shopping area by forcing furniture showrooms to vacate the downtown area, I have a better idea...
Leave the old downtown area alone, and let the furniture showrooms continue to flourish...
Go a few blocks south of the old downtown area, and build a new downtown retail shopping area on the vast amount of vacant property in that area.
Then the furniture market and local retail shops could coexist, and both would have the opportunity to flourish.
Also, if someone wants to build a large new furniture showroom, we should welcome such efforts with open arms, and allow them to build ANYWHERE in the city!!
This "showroom district" idea, with all its limitations, is sending the wrong message to the furniture market people.
If we place unrealistic limitations on where furniture showrooms can be built in HIgh Point - and where furniture showrooms can lease space - we may give them no choice but to build or lease space in Archdale, Thomasville - or VEGAS!!
The furniture market is what made High Point what it is today. We need for it to continue to grow and flourish - not limit its growth.
So why are some of our local officials willing to risk the loss - or downsizing - of this vital economic industry in order to try to turn the old downtown area back into a retail shopping area which would not generate 1% of the revenue that the furniture market generates?
Dallas couldn't do it, Chicago didn't do it, and so far Vegas hasn't done it. They all tried to "KILL" the High Point Market, but have not succeeded.
Now, all of them are probably laughing all the way to the bank (especially Vegas) as they hear the news that local High Point officials have taken such harsh "anti-Market" action which - if it doesn't outright "KILL" the Market - will surely put the "squeeze" on it!!
This new plan could easily "squeeze" a lot of furniture showrooms out of High Point altogether, especially those which might have plans to open new showrooms in High Point.
It could just "squeeze" them all the way to the West Coast!!
If someone wants to build a very large new showroom, where within this fairly small "showroom district" would they be able to build? Of the 249 acres that are within this "showroom district" HOW FEW ACRES ARE VACANT, and available to build new small-to-medium-size showrooms? And how many FEWER acres are available to build any large showrooms on?
It looks like new showroom developers - if they want to build anywhere near the "Furniture Capital of the World" - might have to locate in other, nearby communities, such as Archdale, Thomasville, etc... and take their tax money with them!!
WHAT are our local officials thinking???
So, our local officials have decided that they want to turn the downtown area into a retail shopping area, with department stores, boutiques, flower shops, art galleries, etc... and they want to attract such businesses into the downtown area. But how?
In order to free up space to do that, furniture showrooms which occupy the downtown area must first either MOVE to some other area, or simply CLOSE THEIR DOORS, right?
But City officials have created a plan which WILL NOT ALLOW furniture showrooms to be built, or rent space, anywhere outside of the downtown area, right? So, where exactly are downtown furniture showrooms supposed to move to, in order to free up space for a downtown retail shopping district?
WHAT ARE OUR LOCAL OFFICIALS THINKING???
In a 10-28-2009 article, one showroom owner said it "may pull out of showing" in High Point... Another, which "had plans to build a $5 million building" within a few hundred feet of this new district border, said “If this district is passed, I will not be able to develop this building.”
If City officials refuse to allow showrooms to continue to flourish in the downtown area, but also refuse to allow them to be built outside of the downtown area, then exactly WHERE can new showrooms be built?
There simply isn't enough room within this new showroom district for very many new showrooms to be constructed, and especially not if they are very large size showrooms.
The owner of a showroom on North Wrenn Street said "It was unfair that the district lines do not include his property," which is JUST ACROSS THE STREET from the new district border!! W-H-A-T??? North Wrenn Street is a MAJOR PART of the furniture showroom area!!
WHAT ARE OUR LOCAL OFFICIALS THINKING???
In a 10-28-2009 article, a Planning and Zoning Commission member said, “The furniture market has served as the economic engine that has built this city, but it has also robbed us of our downtown."
That is true... But does this Commission and other City officials want to "ROB US" of this vital economic engine, in order to turn the downtown area into a retail shopping district?
We already have more retail shopping areas in High Point than the local citizens can financially support. Just look at Oak Hollow Mall, which has had financial problems for years.
If local officials force furniture showrooms out of the downtown area in order to turn it into a retail shopping mecca - and people flock downtown to shop and spend their money downtown - what will happen to existing retail stores throughout the city?
And what affect will it have on High Point? What affect will it have on the entire State of North Carolina?
It seems that local officials want to create a retail shopping district downtown which would generate an economic impact of only a few million dollars a year, at the possible loss of the furniture market which generates hundreds of millions of dollars a year, not only in High Point but statewide.
At a time when local officials need to be catering more than ever to the furniture market, they seem to have suddenly adopted an ill-advised "anti-Market" attitude!!
WHAT ARE OUR LOCAL OFFICIALS THINKING???