Special Projects
- Details
- Category: Special Projects
Forward High Point, Inc. (FHP) was formed six years ago by the City of High Point to spearhead the City Council’s Goals of bringing new investment, businesses, employees, and residents into a quadrant of downtown that had been seeing a decline in business, activity, and value. FHP took the lead in the development of a catalyst project (Multi-Use Stadium - Truist Point Stadium). During these past six years, FHP has operated primarily as a very proactive economic development organization.
The Stadium is in full operation and the initial development goals have been surpassed. This downtown area is seeing the steady influx of new investment, restaurants and offices; with substantial residential and hospitality projects planned. Forward High Point and the City of High Point agreed that it was crucial for the organization take time to assess its goals and objectives, while looking to transform FHP into a more “typical” downtown development organization, with greater focus on urban environmental management, branding, and marketing. To that end, FHP hired Benchmark Planning to guide the development of a strategic planning process for the downtown area, to lead the community’s efforts over the next 5-years and beyond.
The Strategic Plan examines current economic development plans, community desires, physical and social assets, and existing organizational structures to make recommendations for FHP and the City of High Point to best meet the community’s vision for an inclusive, livable, healthy, family-friendly, economically vibrant, and exciting downtown. Recently completed (2023), it will be used as a tool to help make policy decisions and promote downtown investment. FHP believes that downtown is the heart of the community and should be a place that is welcoming to all residents and visitors. The strategic planning process provided an opportunity for the community to get involved and share their thoughts and ideas on the issues that matter most to the future of downtown.
- Details
- Category: Special Projects
New Hanover County, working with Wilmington Downtown Incorporated (WDI) selected the Benchmark Planning team to conduct a Market Demand Analysis to determine viable development opportunities for the Downtown central business district and a Site Analysis to examine land use codes and architectural issues that could lead to the redevelopment of the entire one block site called Project Grace. During the process, Benchmark team members identified a greater opportunity for the County to leverage its investment beyond the redevelopment of the main public library, encouraging the relocation of the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science into a newly constructed joint space with shared meeting rooms, lobby, and other operational efficiencies. Benchmark met with County staff and key stakeholders to establish a plan to relocate the EMS station that was on the property and begin the planning process of collocating the two major destinations into one facility in downtown, building the patronage opportunity for both the museum and library. At the conclusion of the study, the County contracted with Benchmark to lead Phase Two of the project, helping the County prepare a request for proposal to select a development team to redevelop the entire downtown county-owned block.
Implementation Status
The Local Government Commission (LGC) approved the County’s $57 million financing plan to fund Project Grace. The New Hanover County Main Public Library and Cape Fear Museum of History and Science are now open! Plans are underway to leverage the county-owned parking deck with private developers for the redevelopment of the remainder of the site.
