Planning Assistance Team • October 1995

Greensboro, North Carolina

During October 26-30, 1995, the City of Greensboro became the first site visited by a Community Planning Team (now known as a Planning Assistance Team). The team visited Greensboro to assist in the identification of alternative solutions for economic development, urban design, and community empowerment in the East Market Street District. 

The team had three basic goals for the project:

• Bring significant economic development to the East Market Street District as a means of increasing employment, services, and resident ownership of businesses.
• Develop planning and urban design concepts for a major roadway: East Market Street.
• Help build coalitions and partnerships that will see the revitalization of the district through whatever period of time required.

The team produced an initial report and a follow up that provided information on the implementation of a Community Development Corporation. With guidance from the report, the community formed a development corporation and hired its first executive director to implement the suggestions in the plan.

Dr William Harris, FAICP, led the team, which included Lee Brown, AICP; Ellen Crain; Samuel Cullers, FAICP; Cynthia Norman; Dr. Emil Malizia, AICP; and James E. Shelby.

Read the team's reports (pdf)