news-record.com

HIGH POINT — The Washington Drive district was once the boyhood home of John Coltrane and the center of black culture in High Point. Tonight the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission will get a look at a final draft of a plan to restore the now troubled district.

"If they approve the draft, it would probably go before the city council in mid-December," said Andy Piper, the city’s senior planner. "If the council approves it, work could begin almost immediately."

The Washington Drive district plan -- part of the city’s larger Core City Plan -- is extensive. But Piper said some of the most important work could happen in the next year.

"Some of the first priorities would be protection of some of the historic buildings, like the John Coltrane boyhood home and the old Kilby Hotel," Piper said.

Both buildings need a lot of work, Piper said — but they are both priorities in the neighborhood face-lift. Restoring the Kilby Hotel building — once a vital center for jazz in the city — could be costly. Roof damage will need to be repaired and lead paint, mold and mildew removed. In July an early estimate of the work was more than $2 million.

Piper said other key early-action items will be tackling real and perceived crime in the areas surrounding Washington Drive. The neighborhoods are now full of abandoned buildings and extensive streetscaping will be necessary, Piper said.

Piper said the plan has been through a number of changes — many suggested in neighborhood focus groups. But the fundamentals remain the same — concentrate on the area’s history, restore its original character and create a cohesive identity for the once-proud district.

If the revamp is successful the district could become a tourist destination with African American and state history museums, historical tours and other attractions.