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Greensboro to pilot pedestrian plaza by closing a block of Elm Street starting Aug. 7
Summary
Greensboro will close the 200 block of Elm Street to vehicles for a multi-month pilot beginning Aug. 7 to create a pedestrian plaza; other sections of Elm will close on weekends. City and Downtown Greensboro Incorporated staff say the effort aims to boost foot traffic and reduce late-night cruising.
Greensboro will temporarily close parts of Elm Street to vehicles beginning Friday, Aug. 7, as the city pilots a pedestrian plaza on the 200 block and weekend street closures on other sections of Elm, officials said.
Rosemary Plyben, host of the City of Greensboro's FYI Weekly, announced the plan and said the section between February 1 Place and Washington Street will "become a pedestrian plaza and remain completely closed to vehicles through September 30." In a later interview segment, Rob Overman, interim executive director of Downtown Greensboro Incorporated, described closing the 200 block "semi-permanently" beginning Aug. 7 and running the plaza for about three months to test programming and logistics.
The city and Downtown Greensboro Incorporated (DGI) said the pilot draws on the downtown strategic plan known as GSO 35 and builds on past street activations, including Saturday strolls and other temporary events. Overman said the goals are to increase walkability and foot traffic so residents and visitors spend more time and money at downtown restaurants and shops.
"We're turning that into a pedestrian plaza," Overman said, describing the 200 block as a place for live music, public art, performances, yoga and dance classes. He said the city and DGI have held meetings with property owners, residents and business owners to address individualized concerns such as deliveries and second- and third-floor residential access.
In addition to the 200 block plaza, Overman said the city will close other stretches of Elm Street from Market Street toward the 500 block on weekends — 5 p.m. Friday through 5 p.m. Sunday — to curb loud cruising and reduce late-night disturbances. He described the weekend closures as both a public-safety measure and an opportunity for light programming.
Cross streets will remain open to vehicle traffic, and designated areas will be available for deliveries and ride-share pick-up and drop-off, officials said. The city plans to make several parking decks free on weekends during the first month of the pilot (the Green Street and February 1 decks were specifically mentioned) and said surface lots will remain available after 5 p.m. and on weekends. The city also said it is exploring valet options and will survey businesses and residents to evaluate impacts.
City officials emphasized the pilot nature of the effort: staff will monitor foot traffic, solicit feedback, and make adjustments if elements do not work. Overman cited examples from other cities that have seen increases in downtown foot traffic after street plazas and said Greensboro will measure results closely.
The pilot's exact calendar shows slightly different end-date references in the episode: the host said the plaza would remain closed "through September 30," while Overman described the closure as running roughly three months from Aug. 7 (which would extend into October). The city should be consulted for the authoritative schedule and any later adjustments.
The pilot is a city initiative supported by Downtown Greensboro Incorporated. No formal Council vote or ordinance was described in the episode; city staff framed this as an operational pilot and outreach-led effort rather than a final policy adoption.
What happens next: the pilot begins Aug. 7, the city will conduct business outreach and public surveys during the pilot, and officials said they will report results and make changes based on feedback.
