High Point tightens security
By Larry Thomas -- Furniture Today, September 23, 2001
HIGH POINT — HIGH POINT — A beefed up police presence and stringent on-street parking restrictions will greet marketgoers here next month.
Judy Mendenhall, president of the International Home Furnishings Market Authority, said the new security measures, which will include police sharpshooters on downtown rooftops, are being implemented in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.
"These measures have been put in place out of concern for the safety and well being of our market visitors," she said. "We believe that it is in our best interest to get on with our business, and we intend to do just that."
She said the new measures were decided upon last week during a series of meetings involving the Market Authority, High Point city officials and representatives of several police agencies.
Mendenhall said there will be an increased presence of uniformed police officers and firemen in the downtown area and in major showrooms. Several canine officers also will be on patrol.
In addition, High Point police and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms will set up a mobile command post in the Showplace showroom parking lot beginning Oct. 15, three days before the market's official opening day. It will remain there through Oct. 25.
On-street parking will be banned from Main, Hamilton and Wrenn streets in the downtown area, while Commerce Street will be closed to all but market transportation vehicles between Hamilton and Elm streets. Unattended vehicles in these restricted areas will be immediately removed.
"Just like they're doing at the airports, we're trying to get vehicles away from areas where large numbers of people will congregate," said Mendenhall.
She said the restrictions will result in the loss of about 100 downtown parking spaces, and said the Market Authority is urging attendees to park in satellite lots in High Point and ride shuttle buses to downtown. She noted that Oak Hollow Mall, for example, is about doubling the number of spaces it makes available to marketgoers.
Private downtown lots and buyer lots run by the Market Authority will remain open, she said.
| Officer Tim Tonsor, left, dog trainer for the High Point police, stands with the department's latest addition, bomb-sniffing specialist Max 911; Police Chief Louis F. Quijas; and Pete Williams of Alderman Studios. Alderman presented a $6,766 check to the police to purchase Max 911 to help guarantee security for city events, including the furniture market. The "911" in Max's name is taken from the date of the terrorist bombings, Sept. 11. |
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