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August 8, 2006

A big, traditional neighborhood approved

High Point City Council unanimously approved a large "Traditional Neighborhood" development at Barrow Road and Clinard Farms Road called Smithfield at Piedmont Crossing. It's not large in the sense of physical size: it's only about 61 acres. But it will be fairly dense, potentially as many as 500 homes, condos and apartments, and also have room for shops and offices.

And to answer a question already posed this morning -- sheesh Numbersgame, asking questions before I get a chance to update the blog in the a.m. I'm just teasing -- here's how many kids city planners think the development will bring to Southwest schools.
Southwest Guilford H.S.: 66 to 75 students
Southwest Guilford M.S.: 55 to 60
Southwest Guilford E.S.: 110 to 120

The "traditional neighborhood" zoning is a relatively new classification for the city that was created to take advantage of the growing trend in New Urbanism-style developments. It's the idea that people will be happier in communities that mix residential, retail and offices in close enough proximity that you can walk to get the things you want, much like we did in old urban neighborhoods. A couple of examples are here, here and here. Those developments were on much larger pieces of property, but you get the idea.

Posted by Jonathan Jones at August 8, 2006 9:50 AM

Comments

Jonathan,

Thanks for the info.

And so, the Southwest schools will continue to grow and be overcrowded. And the school board will continue to ignore the needs of this area of the county.

Some relief to these schools would have been gained had the Jamestown Middle and Ragsdale projects been allowed to complete.

Posted by: Numbersgame at August 8, 2006 11:45 AM

There's no denying that those are big numbers for a single development to contribute to area schools.

If you took an average of 25 kids per classroom, that's as many as three full classrooms at the high school, two and two-fifths at the middle school, and nearly five at the elementary school.

Posted by: Jonathan Jones at August 8, 2006 11:50 AM

More trailers for all!

And, look out - there will be many who blame the City Council for allowing this growth.

I say blame the School Board for not being fiscally responsible.

Posted by: Numbersgame at August 8, 2006 12:15 PM

That reminds me of something I meant to mention in the original post, Numbersgame.

This particular part of the city was designated for mixed-use development in the city's noise abatement plan for FedEx. The city won't be allowing much residential growth north of Clinard Farms/Piedmont Parkway if it follows its own noise plan.

Posted by: Jonathan Jones at August 8, 2006 12:46 PM

This is just ONE of the many new developments in and around the Southwest School area. I'm sickened when I drive by the new developments which are on all sides of Barrow, Willard Dairy and basically across the street from Southwest High.

So the total number of kids to burden the already over-crowded Southwest schools must be MUCH more than those numbers that you gave Jonathon, for just that one additional new hood.

Yes, Numbersgame, bring on the trailers. It seems to me that our schools are just becoming trashed with trailers...and the scores are plummeting (sp?). I'm sure it's no reflection of the trailers, but who in their right mind would want that for their kids?--the fact that their child will be housed in a temporary building (which in this county usually becomes permanent)coupled with the fact that academics are shotty at best.

I wouldn't take a house in that area if they handed it over to me for free.

Posted by: Trailer Trash at August 12, 2006 11:21 AM

I'm not sure I get your logic TT: If I'm reading you correctly you're saying that there are more neighborhoods under construction in north High Poitn than this one. Therefore the numbers of school kids coming from this particular development is going to be much higher than what city planners are predicting? If that's what you were trying to say, it doesn't make sense.

If you're saying that there are going to be a lot of new kids coming into the Southwest schools district because of overall home construction out that way, well, I don't think anyone's going to argue with you on that front. Anytime a developer proposes building a neighborhood of more than about 50 homes, we report on it.

There haven't been many new ones in the last year to come through the pipeline for what is now the Southwest district, but there had already been a bunch that gained approval prior to my arrival here and I'm certainly aware that they're under construction now.

Posted by: Jonathan Jones at August 14, 2006 3:15 PM

Yes, LOTS of kids due to LOTS of construction. I was just making the point that you mentioned only ONE new hood when there are MANY new ones out that way.

Sorry I didn't make that clear. But anyone that knows that area knows that it's a massive construction zone. Southwest Schools are going to explode. Actually they are already. There are MANY crazy rules in those schools just because of the over-crowding. NOT being allowed to go to your locker is one of them. Ask anyone that goes there.

That would make for a good article. There is a serious need for more schools out that way. And I mean real schools, not just more trailers.

Posted by: Trailer Trash at August 15, 2006 11:06 PM

Johnathon, this approval will make a total of three current new developments in the near vicinity of SW. Then if you add the housing development at Sandy Ridge if is going to add up to a lot of houses.
Why dont you drive by there Johnathon and check it out.
I heard from the school that SW high will be 200 over capacity at the start of the year.
Its frightening.

By the way, what going on along Willard Dairy about half way up (on the right going towards 68)? The bulldozers are in there too. Is that residential or business?

Posted by: SWparent at August 20, 2006 12:43 PM

I know Trailer Trash wouldn't take a free house in the area of Southwest Schools but many, MANY others are willing to shell out $300,000+ for them.

We're building them as fast as we can.

Buyers have learned that as soon as they sign the contract, GCS must let them start school in the area, even before the house is started. This may be a big reason the schools are already overcrowded even though not many houses are finished.

Posted by: Good Times In N. High Point at August 22, 2006 4:25 PM