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Some members of the High Point City Council and the planning and zoning commission will meet at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at city hall, 211 S. Hamiltion St., to discuss the proposed market district overlay map and concerns some business owners in the area have over the proposed area.

The council directed the planning and development staff to proceed with a proposed zoning map, which will be the basis for public hearings by the planning and zoning commission and the city council. The commission hearing is expected to be Oct. 27.

The purpose of the district is to designate where new market showrooms are allowed. Defining those areas are believed to help strengthen the market, reduce real estate speculation driven by showrooms that discourages other uses and allows the development of non-showroom uses in the peripheral areas that could benefit both the market and the community.

Cathy Hinson, building manager for Union Square, 410 W. English Road, requested that the building be included in the downtown market district. She said, in a letter to council, that leaving existing showrooms outside of the proposed district would devalue those properties.

Councilman Latimer Alexander said that the showrooms would be grandfathered into the showroom districts.

The problem is that there are buildings that are standing empty because they are priced for the furniture market, he said. Correcting that trend can't be fixed without the market districts.

"If they sit (empty) long enough, they will sale for anything," Mayor Becky Smothers said.

"Rent needs to get in line before we see any life in downtown," Councilman John Faircloth said. He believes there needs to be a market district but sees the need to be flexible to address concerns.

The council invited Hinson and other interested business owners to participate in the upcoming public hearings to be held by the planning and zoning commission and the city council, most likely one in October and the other in November.

How can Union Square be included, Hinson asked.

Staff said that the district could not be made larger but could be made smaller. To increase the boundary would require a new public hearing, separate from the ones already planned, to amend the district.

Smothers said the planning and zoning commission could recommend changes after hearing business owners and other citizens' comments.

Contact E.A. Seagraves at 883-4422, Ext. 241, or elizabeth.seagraves@news-record.com