Downtown Winston-Salem Not Vacant After 5 P.M. Anymore

Winston-Salem is a small city with a sprawling central business district that is now vibrant in every quadrant.

In his column this week in the Business Journal, Justin Catanoso looks at just how far downtown has come in the last 15 years. He tells WFDD's Keri Brown that a big part of the city's revitalization plan in this area revolves around more housing.

“There are 3,100 residential units downtown, most of them built since 2006. Some 700 have come online in the past year, with more planned. Rents are high; vacancy is low. People are everywhere, a significant factor in the downtown's steady upward trajectory,” says Catanoso.

The addition of the BB& T Ballpark, several restaurants and other businesses in downtown Winston-Salem have also helped in redevelopment efforts.

“The 400 block of Liberty Street was once a desolate, sketchy stretch of downtown's core. It's now filling in with retail, offices, a cross-fit gym and a newly announced art park. "It's not just a work and leave place anymore. It has taken the commitment, investment and vision of key city and community leaders to turn this area into a successful place once again.”

But Catanoso says the growth of the downtown is also causing some challenges. “City leaders are looking at how do we handle parking issues and improve security downtown, especially since more people are living there now.”

The Business Report on 88.5 WFDD is a partnership with the Triad Business Journal. You'll find Justin Catanoso's column and more breaking business news at Triad.Bizjournals.com.

Justin Catanoso is director of the Journalism program at Wake Forest University and a regular contributor to 88.5 WFDD.

Follow Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news