Work begins on improvements to High Point's market district

Work has begun on a two-year project to improve High Point’s furniture market district through a partnership between the city and the High Point Market Authority.

The work includes infrastructure and beautification efforts in the 13-block showroom district downtown. That means burying power lines, adding security cameras and aesthetic improvements like streetscaping.

Tammy Nagem is president and CEO of the Market Authority. She says the improvements could boost the city’s downtown development efforts that include the Catalyst Social District and a greenway in the historic industrial corridor.

“These dollars will help sort of bridge those two areas and just give us an opportunity to make some improvements that I think will encourage that economic development,” she says.

The state budget included $9 million in a one-time allotment for the project. The city of High Point is providing another $3.4 million in financial and in-kind support.

High Point officials say the city will hire contractors for underground and street paving work, and the Market Authority will reimburse the costs. City crews will handle some of the installations and electric work.

Nagem says the project will likely run through the spring 2026 market.