Now that Greensboro and Guilford County’s economic success story has become better than in the leader’s wildest dreams – and a bajillion people are about to move to the Greensboro area – the city is even more worried about where they will all live.
To that end, the City of Greensboro will hold a community open house on Thursday, June 26, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at The Depot – Waiting Room at 236 E. Washington St. in downtown Greensboro.
The event – which is part of the city’s ongoing “Community Road Show” – will focus on the “Road to 10,000” initiative – a citywide effort to add 10,000 new housing units by 2030.
Everyone is invited to attend the free event, which will feature food trucks and a children’s area.
Those attending will have the opportunity to speak directly with city staff from many departments: the City Manager’s Office, Housing and Neighborhood Development, Planning, Transportation, Development Services, and Transit.
The Road to 10,000 plan was launched earlier this year as a response to Greensboro’s growing need for housing and especially for the increasing need for much more affordable housing.
At the beginning of 2026, the Guilford County Tax Department is going to let property owners in the county know what their values are assessed as of December 31, 2025, and some people may be at risk of a heart attack when they see those new values. Housing in the county has gotten very expensive.
According to city leaders, Greensboro needs thousands of new units to support population growth and economic development, and the initiative aims to provide housing across a range of income levels – from market-rate apartments to affordable and workforce housing.
The city’s plan is a whole lot more than a building target. It includes identifying areas that are suitable for development, reforming zoning and permitting regulations to reduce barriers – and offering financial tools and incentives to both private and nonprofit developers.
A new housing task force has been formed to help guide the work, bringing together city leaders and members of the development, nonprofit and finance communities.
One element of the initiative is a new program called “Reinventing the Starter Home.” That part of the plan encourages the creation of affordable single-family homes and small-scale developments aimed at first-time buyers. The city has issued a formal Request for Qualifications to community housing development organizations and will hold a virtual information session about the program on Monday, July 7 at 2 p.m.
City officials say Thursday’s meeting is a key part of the plan because they want to see a lot of public engagement. So, they are encouraging residents to attend, learn more and give feedback that will help shape future policy decisions.
A website for the initiative, www.GSORoadto10K.com, includes additional details, a project dashboard, a community survey and it explains ways the public can stay informed or get involved.
Officials say the success of the effort will depend on a combination of public investment, private development and community support.
