Community members share ideas for East Gate City Boulevard Plan

Greensboro is planning some major improvements for one of the main roads into the city. Officials are seeking public input for the East Gate City Boulevard project.

City leaders are focusing on the area between South Elm Street and the I-40 interchange along East Gate City Boulevard as well as surrounding neighborhoods. It's a historic community that's filled with Black heritage. The goal is to build off the momentum of an existing project that will combine the Windsor Community Recreation Center and Vance Chavis Library.

Some proposals from a recent community open house include adding more pedestrian connectivity with sidewalks and bicycle trails, more housing options, artwork and improving food access with grocery stores and restaurants.

Hart Crane is with the Greensboro Planning Department. He says the plan they are working on will serve as a unified vision for the community and help guide future development.

"When we get to the point when new folks want to come into the community or changes are occurring, we can point to this plan as a collective voice and say this is what folks have told us," says Crane. "This is what they would like to see here, this is what they would like to be known for when folks get off of the highway."

Crane says there will be more opportunities for public input, including an online survey that is expected to launch by early June. A draft plan for the East Gate City Boulevard project is expected to be completed in the fall. 

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