City should consider buying mall
Posted by Bryan Rothamel on February 21, 2009 · Leave a Comment
This ran in the Campus Chronicle two weeks ago. Enjoy!
High Point University was approached about buying Oak Hollow Mall. Rumors around school, community and the web speculate we will demolish it and then build a football stadium. Previously I have written how I feel about adding a football team: I am against it.
I, however, am not against Oak Hollow Mall being demolished for an HPU athletic venue. The City of High Point needs to act quickly on this matter.
The bottom line is Oak Hollow Mall is dying, slowly and painfully. Every month it seems another store closes. By an eye count, there are 36 store openings give or take a few. That doesn’t count the many locations of empty kiosks. The City of High Point wants growth in tourism and the furniture industry. Here is the best opportunity to satisfy HPU sports, tourism, furniture and much more.
This all, of course, is hypothetical. The government acquires the mall plot legally through imminent domain. They pay fair market value for it and also try to buy as many empty plots surrounding the mall. The mall is then immediately torn down along with the other structures on property the city buys (e.g. Circuit City, bank, empty land).
In a partnership with HPU and the city, construction of an arena complex begins. The arena seats no more than 10,000. Construction of other surrounding buildings can include small meeting halls and maybe even a simple auditorium. The signed agreement between HPU and High Point gives HPU first right to the building for athletic events. A management firm is contracted to arrange both basketball games and special events. HPU’s men’s and women’s basketball teams move to the new arena while volleyball stays in the Millis Center.
The management firm brings in small concerts, similar to those at area amphitheatres. The High Point Market Authority can use the meeting halls and arena as more furniture showroom space. Other events the firm can bring in are the circus, rodeos, minor league hockey and conventions. Local high schools can play large holiday basketball tournaments there, too. HPU can also use the arena for commencement and convocation, alumni and family weekends and two concerts a year.
Ticket sales pay for upkeep while both HPU and High Point both pay usage fees. Also, the city enacts a greater tax on tourism related industries to help pay for the costs. The city also actively recruits another hotel to be established on Mall Loop Road.
This set up accomplishes HPU’s need for greater space for special events. It also allows the team to host better schools because our facilities would be above par for a school of our stature. Concerts inside would not only be weather-friendly but also would provide better audio than that of the Millis Center.
The city gets a chance to grow tourism to a “High Point.” Events will attract people from Greensboro, Kernersville, Winston-Salem, Davidson County, and as far as Danville, Va. These people will sleep in hotels (less likely), fill up on gas (more likely) and eat in restaurants (most likely).
The construction of such a venture would add jobs to a failing economy. The short-term effect is increase in construction workers to do demolition, site work and construction. The long term effects include more restaurant staff, arena staff workers, hotel workers, gas station attendants, arena complex managers, etc. Also, this creates an entertainment corridor on Eastchester Drive. Currently, many plots are for sale or lease on Easchester. This will encourage more businesses to locate on Eastchester. This is an idea that supports itself after the initially large cost.
Also, losing the mall to something that does not bring in high tax return could be detrimental to the High Point economy. It is hard to regain any retail lost. If the city takes the retail to bring in entertainment then they not only will eventually regain the retail tax base but increase it. The mall is currently not increasing anything related to retail.
Having an arena is something the city has outlined in its “Core City Plan.” Although the “core city” ends at the corner of Easchester and College, this should be an exception. The City of High Point needs to move on it before it is too late. I’m asking for a lot, because I’m trying to raise the bar.
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