High Point business owners demand better security on South Main Street

HIGH POINT, N.C. (WGHP) — South Main Street in High Point is known as the Gateway to the city according to Mayor Cyril Jefferson, but to business owners making a living in the area, some sections of it can be an eye soar and unsafe.

Empty storefronts, boarded-up windows and empty plots of land.

It’s a few of the sights you’ll see when you drive down S. Main Street near Guilford Technical College in High Point. 

Alexandra Poplin opened a Tobacco and Vape shop off Vail Ave in February. 

She says getting customers in the door has been tough because of her surroundings.

“I wouldn’t say trashy, just that the buildings look like they’re falling apart,” Poplin said.

It’s not just the conditions she has a problem with. Sometimes she says the area can feel unsafe.

“It’s not cleanly. It’s just looks really bad for our city especially year-round when we have people flying in from other states. It’s bad for business. Having people sleep in front of your building and solicited money in front of your building. It’s just a bad look,” Poplin said. 

Fox8 brought those concerns to High Point Mayor Cyril Jefferson.

He met me at the center of the areas of concern regarding his plan to revamp it. 

“For us quite frankly, we want to invest in the physical environment and in the people. So, a lot of infrastructure you’ll see along the corridor here. Right now, Business 85 is being done. We’ve got some money from the state that’s investing about $9 million into infrastructure investments here,” Jefferson said.

When it comes to more development in the area, Mayor Jefferson says there are plans to expand Guilford Technical Community College on the High Point campus, but a timeline hasn’t been announced yet. 

In the meantime, he acknowledges there is a need to keep people safe. He’s asking the community and business owners to give city leaders feedback. 

And goes on to say city leaders will discuss how to split up the city budget for better security. 

“At the very least, as city government, having the budget that can support those kind of competitive salaries shows that we can fill those positions and beef up security needed all throughout our city including in this community,” Jefferson said.

When it comes to helping the homeless community in the area, Jefferson says there’s no direct solution to the problem. But city leaders are working with several community partners to fix it.