HIGH POINT, N.C. (WGHP) — People in High Point’s Five Points community are weighing in on what could become of a 21-acre county-owned property along Jamestown Parkway during a community meeting with county leaders listening in.
There’s already been some pushback from people living in Five Points after the nonprofit Open Door Ministries expressed interest in building a new shelter there.
Guilford County Board of Commissioners Vice Chair Carlvena Foster said the feedback they get at the meeting will help them determine the next steps and will guide future decisions about the property.
“Bringing a homeless shelter in this neighborhood, I can’t see anything but a negative impact on the community,” said James McQueen, a resident.
McQueen has lived in the Five Points community in High Point for nearly 40 years.
Open Door Ministries of High Point said it is looking at the old Evergreen property on Jamestown Parkway for a multiphase project that would include a 128–bed men’s shelter, a 32–bed women’s shelter and the capacity to add bunk beds if needed.
McQueen said it’s not a good fit.
“It’s not bringing any kind of growth to the community, and it just creates a negative environment,” McQueen said.
Business owner Ron Spencer Jr. said his establishment has been in Five Points for more than 25 years.
He supports helping people experiencing homelessness but doesn’t support a high-capacity facility next to businesses and homes.
“I am in support of them looking to give resources to the homeless in regards to housing and resources as a food shelter, clothing, clinics, whatever else that they’re trying to do. But where I am opposed to is then putting it so close to the residences, the businesses,” said Spencer, of Five Point Styles Beauty and Barber Salon.
He thinks there are better alternatives.
“A better alternative would be to spread multiple facilities all throughout the city. Really, more so away from a lot of the establishments and the residence … Regardless of whether it’s here, regardless of whether it’s somewhere else, it can still interfere with a lot of other things,” Spencer said.
Foster said the meeting is about listening.
“That is the most important thing for people to understand. Nothing has been decided about that property that’s located at the old Evergreen site,” Foster said.
Foster said they have received several proposals from more than one group for the property.
“This is going to be a process, and it’s not going to be an immediate decision … We’re going to evaluate what’s best for the community, what’s best for the county,” Foster said.
There is no specific identified timeline for when the county plans to make a decision on what’s next to come for the 21-acre property.
Foster said within the next 60 days, commissioners expect to discuss it and start exploring options.
Source: Fox 8 News Channel
Be First to Comment