The city of Greensboro, North Carolina, is making a significant investment in its downtown area with the unveiling of a development plan called GSO35. The 10-year strategic plan from Downtown Greensboro Inc. looks to revitalize the area by attracting new businesses, enhancing recreation opportunities and expanding housing options.
The comprehensive plan addresses multiple areas of improvement, including infrastructure, community development, business growth, housing, environmental sustainability and cultural programming.
Infrastructure improvements primarily focus on Elm Street, Greensboro’s historic main corridor. The upgrades are designed to increase foot traffic by up to 25% while enhancing the pedestrian experience through expanded outdoor seating areas, curb extensions and improved dining spaces. The city also plans to upgrade sidewalks, bike lanes, lighting, signage and accessibility features along the corridor.
City leaders have identified several potential development sites to help drive more activity downtown. These include mixed-use developments, innovation spaces and cultural venues, though officials will determine specific projects through future planning processes. The plan also calls for expanded public transportation options to accommodate increased visitors and residents.
The community-focused elements of GSO35 reflect input from more than 2,500 residents who participated in the planning process through focus groups, surveys and public meetings. The plan establishes five distinct districts within downtown—LoFi, Ballpark, Cultural District, Historic Core and South End—each with its own character and development approach. This allows city leaders to make targeted improvements that build on existing neighborhood strengths.
Safety enhancements will include expanded coverage from the successful Ambassador program, which provides hospitality services and connects people with social services. Officials also plan to have additional security cameras in busy areas and stronger collaboration with the Greensboro Police Department.
For business development, city leaders have set a goal of adding 3,000 new jobs over the next decade, with particular focus on healthcare, technology and education sectors. Downtown currently houses about 17,000 jobs but represents less than 10% of the city’s total employment.
The plan calls for adding at least 100 new ground-floor businesses, with 40% coming from minority or women-owned enterprises. Support measures include facade improvement grants, business incubator spaces and a more streamlined permitting process to help entrepreneurs establish new ventures or relocate existing operations downtown.
Downtown Greensboro’s cultural scene has already proven to be a substantial economic driver, generating $235.3 million in local impact while supporting 3,629 jobs and producing $33.3 million in tax revenue. The area currently draws more than 1.6 million visitors to over 20 major events each year, contributing to 9.4 million total annual downtown visits. The plan seeks to boost this to 12 million visits by expanding programming at key venues like the Tanger Center, LeBauer Park and the emerging Cultural District, while strengthening partnerships with local arts organizations and exploring new entertainment options.
Housing represents one of the plan’s biggest opportunities for growth. Downtown currently houses only about 3,800 residents—just 2% of the city’s population. Officials want to add 5,000 new residents by 2035, which would require approximately 2,500 to 3,000 new housing units ranging from live/work townhomes to senior living facilities and multifamily developments with ground-floor retail.
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