Preservation group urges High Point to finish John Coltrane boyhood home restoration and set completion date

Members of the High Point Preservation Society urged the city to complete restoration of the John Coltrane boyhood home and to set a firm completion date and clear steps needed before certificate of occupancy can be issued.

John Conrad, a board member of the High Point Preservation Society, described the home as a unique historical attraction and asked the council to set a firm completion date and a clear list of work items that must be finished before the house could open for tours, concerts and educational programming connected to Penn Griffin School of the Arts. Conrad said a Fox News report in October 2023 noted no completion date had been set and warned that further delay could harm the city’s reputation with the music community.

Coralie Cowan, treasurer of the High Point Preservation Society, told the council the house is one of the city’s most important African‑American heritage sites. She said a 2019 condition assessment report itemized required restoration work and that the state awarded the preservation society money in 2022 but that the award did not cover completion. Cowan asked the council to consider allocating funds in the upcoming budget to finish the restoration, noting the site is a short walk from Washington Street and could complement other downtown investments.

Councilors did not take action on the request during the meeting. Speakers asked staff and council to incorporate the restoration completion into budget deliberations so the project can open for tours and education when work is finished.