Southwest Mill District area plan presented; state law change may slow zoning rollout

Planners and community partners presented a draft area plan for High Point’s Southwest Mill District and described a zoning approach intended to encourage reuse of historic mill buildings, walking connections to the Heritage Greenway and smaller‑scale “artisan” manufacturing.

Andy Piper, planning administrator, introduced the presentation and said the project grew from the city’s comprehensive-plan guidance and a 2023 “Blueprints for Southwest High Point” effort funded by the Southwest Renewal Foundation. Consultants Margaret Flippin and Amy Brooks described the study area and said about 29% of parcels in the district are underutilized — a potential opportunity for infill, redevelopment and new street‑oriented building forms.

The proposed framework would create two subdistricts — a town-center zone around 300 Oak and a…