This Is What’s Next for Downtown Greensboro — and Why It Matters at Wafco Mills
Downtown Greensboro is on the brink of transformation. A new vision is emerging, and the recent video “This Is What’s Next for Downtown Greensboro” captures that energy and hints at how our city center will evolve in the coming years. (You can watch it here.) YouTube
For those of us at Wafco Mills — residents, prospective buyers, neighbors, investors — this is not just a distant plan. It’s something that will touch our daily experience, our property values, and our community’s identity. Let’s take a look at what’s in the works, and why now is a great time to pay attention.
What the Video Highlights
Although the video is short, it sends a powerful message: Downtown Greensboro is poised for change. It showcases new venues (one filmed inside “The Pyrle,” a music venue in development where Triad Stage once stood) and frames downtown as a place where growth, culture, and community converge. YouTube
The visual tone and narrative emphasize:
Cultural momentum — new performance spaces and arts infrastructure are coming online.
Activation of downtown zones — underutilized areas are prepping for fresh uses.
The message of arrival — the video frames this as not a future dream but a near-future reality.
In short: Greensboro is saying, “Here’s what’s next — come be part of it.”
The Bigger Picture: Thrive35, GSO35, & Downtown’s Vision
The video aligns with a broader framework known as the Thrive35 Strategic Vision Plan (also called GSO35), which aims to guide downtown’s development through 2035. Downtown Greensboro Key points of the plan include:
Strengthening downtown’s identity, economy, and cultural assets
Aligning public investment with private development
Improving connections between neighborhoods, greenways, education, and community anchors Downtown Greensboro+1
One of the plan’s goals is to attract thousands more residents and jobs downtown, leveraging recent momentum. YouTube
For Wafco Mills, all this means we’re not just observing: we’re in the path of downtown’s next chapter.
What’s Already in Motion Near Wafco Mills
We don’t have to wait for dreams to materialize — many projects are already underway:
The Downtown Greenway Western Branch runs directly adjacent to Wafco Mills. Work is progressing, paving is recent, and enhancements like art, landscaping, and furnishings are planned. wafcomills.com
South Elm / Gate City mixed-use site: A 3.4-acre lot a short walk away is being redeveloped with a proposal combining residential, retail, parking, and community space. This could fill a long-standing demand in the neighborhood. wafcomills.com
Downtown development surge: In recent years, Greensboro has welcomed millions of visitors, large-scale hotel and retail projects, and a surge in downtown housing. pufferfish-sawfish-6ewk.squarespace.com
These aren’t abstract plans — they are investments, trails, buildings, and amenities coming to life in the streets we walk every day.
Why All This Matters to Wafco Mills Owners & Prospective Buyers
1. Walkability & access will improve
The Greenway and pedestrian improvements will give us more seamless access to downtown destinations, reducing the need to drive.
2. Property values are likely to benefit
A well-activated, well-planned downtown often boosts real estate demand. Being adjacent to the Greenway and in a revitalizing zone positions Wafco Mills favorably.
3. Neighborhood services and amenities may expand
Mixed-use developments, retail, food & beverage, and community gathering spaces will raise the standard of what’s considered “close by.” Our South Elm site is a prime example. wafcomills.com
4. You’ll be part of shaping College Hill’s role in downtown
Residents and stakeholders in Wafco Mills have voice and interest in how these redevelopment conversations unfold. The projects will affect shared infrastructure, traffic, parking, and character.
5. For buyers/investors — a timely moment
If you’ve been considering a home or investment in Wafco Mills or downtown Greensboro, this moment offers an opportunity to get in as the district transitions and gains momentum.
Suggested Actions / Calls to the Community
Stay informed and involved. Watch for public input sessions on the Thrive35 plan and downtown projects. Your voice matters when streets, zoning, and amenities are reshaped.
Leverage Greenway updates. Keep an eye on when sections open, where connections land, and how access will evolve.
Follow the South Elm development closely. The proposals could have a tangible effect on what we see outside our windows.
Engage with your trusted Real Estate Agent if you’re exploring moving in. With this wave of transformation, having a local agent who understands the neighborhood’s trajectory is a big advantage.
Share this narrative. Help neighbors, potential buyers, and the wider community understand what’s happening — knowing is better than speculation.
Closing Thoughts
The video “This Is What’s Next for Downtown Greensboro” is more than a promotional clip. It’s a snapshot of a city in motion. For Wafco Mills, what’s next isn’t just in distant plans — it’s happening around us.
As we walk the sidewalks, ride the Greenway, or join events downtown, we’re witnessing the early chapters of Greensboro’s next decade. It’s exciting, it's demanding, and it's ours to engage with.
If you’d like to explore how these developments might affect your property or to talk about living in Wafco Mills in this evolving downtown, I’d be glad to connect.
