South Greensboro Area Plan - Public Review Draft - 9.25.25

The South Greensboro Area Plan engagement process was a key component of the planning effort, spanning approximately 18 months. It builds on a longstanding series of efforts led by community members, local organizations, and City departments aimed at addressing persistent challenges and improving quality of life in the area. This planning process continues those efforts by providing a focused framework for future development and investment. Even before formal engagement began, residents, business owners, and community stakeholders had been identifying everyday concerns—such as limited investment, aging infrastructure, and a disconnect between planning processes and lived experiences. 03.01 Engagement Process Community Engagement Approach

As part of the community engagement effort, a range of activities were conducted, including canvassing local businesses, forming a Community Advisory Committee, and holding public meetings, stakeholder interviews, and presence at community events. Across these touch points, people spoke openly about their concerns regarding the lack of visible investment in south Greensboro, especially as other neighborhoods seem to benefit from more consistent infrastructure upgrades, development, and responsive city attention. A central concern voiced repeatedly was the disparity in how south Greensboro has been treated in relation to other areas of the city. Community members described years of inaction from the City on key issues, unsafe intersections, crumbling sidewalks, disconnected transit, and deteriorating corridors, all of which affect daily life and public safety. The feeling that south Greensboro is being asked to “wait for development” rather than being proactively supported has fueled a growing distrust in City processes. People expressed fatigue with being asked for their input in meetings that yield few visible outcomes, and many questioned whether their feedback has been meaningfully incorporated into City decision-making at all.

Draft

Community engagement events. (Source: Bolton & Menk)

34 / SOUTH GREENSBORO AREA PLAN

WHAT PEOPLE WANT

PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT - 9/25/25