Officials: Proposed Greenway to cost $26 M

GREENSBORO — Bicentennial Commission officials told the City Council Tuesday that the proposed Downtown Greenway, a 4.8-mile recreational loop around the center city, will cost an estimated $26 million.

Commission members said money for the project — a paved path for walking, running and biking — will come from state funding sources, federal programs, local foundations and local bonds.

The cost includes $17 million for the trail and transportation improvements, $3 million for parks that will be built along the trail, $5 million for ones that could be built in the future and $1 million for operations.

Groundbreaking for the first section, which will run south of Lee Street through the Warnersville community, will be held this spring as part of the city’s bicentennial celebration.

The Greensboro Bicentennial Commission has adopted the development of the greenway as its commemorative project. Work on the trail could take five to 10 years to complete.

After an update on the project Tuesday morning, the city council approved a resolution of support by a 7-0 vote.

map of greenway

http://mm.news-record.com/legacy/news/08/greenway.pdf

^^
Here is my contribution to this topic: Greensboro greenway moves forward (http://news14.com/content/top_stories/593308/greensboro-greenway-moves-forward/Default.aspx). Great addition to Greensboro's downtown :okay:

O'Reilly Auto Parts distribution center:okay:

GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) – Plans to bring a new distribution center to Greensboro means the addition of 520 new jobs.

O'Reilly Automotive announced it will open a new east coast distribution center off Business 40 and McConnell Road.

The first phase will include construction of a 300,000 square foot facility. O'Reilly said it expects to hire 360 people.

Once phase one is complete, the company said it will expand the facility to 520,000 square feet and add another 160 new jobs.

A company spokesman said the new jobs will have an annual average salary above $27,000.

"They'll be able to bring in their parts and ship them out to their retail outlets," said Dan Lynch, Greensboro Economic Development Alliance president.

The city of Greensboro is giving O'Reilly about $180,000 in financial incentives. The company said it will invest $41.7 million in the project over the next three years.

Area community colleges and the state employment office will help the company recruit workers.

sounds like nothing but great news for Greensboro!

sounds like nothing but great news for Greensboro!

This is great new for the Triad. All of those workers will not come exclusivlely from Greensboro. They will come from all over. I am glad that Greensboro got it.

Im sure the FedEx hub was a big factor too.

^^Any pics of the new Apple Store going in at Shops at Friendly Cityboi? :)

sorry g.man no pics :)

GSO developer plans last stage of downtown Southside project

After several years and millions of dollars, developer Bob Isner is planning his last project for the Southside neighborhood, the neotraditional development in downtown Greensboro.

The latest addition to the redeveloped neighborhood -- which already includes retail shops, town homes, lofts and apartments in the Southside community, as well as the adjacent CityView apartments -- is FountainView, a 14-condominium development set to start construction in a few weeks.

FountainView, where units will start around $199,990, will be built on Arlington Street. Condos will be 1,270 square feet and will come with hardwood floors, granite countertops, detached garages and an interior elevator, making the building accessible to a wider range of tenants, from young professionals to retirees, said Michelle Porter, Realtor with Yost and Little Realty Inc., which is marketing the project.

Once the project is in the framing stages, she said, they will start showing units for sale. Construction, which will be handled by project partner Berkley Hall Construction, will take about five months and the condos should be ready by the fall, said Isner, who helped develop CityView and handled building in the Southside community.

Thanks for the update, cityboi.

I like the fact that the city came up with a Bicentennial Commission that will present a gift to the city on its 200th birthday, and a greenway at that--something that citizens will enjoy for years and years to come. I commend Greensboro for being innovative in that regard.

:okay: Bird's eye view now available for Greensboro: http://maps.live.com

:okay: Bird's eye view now available for Greensboro: http://maps.live.com


Thanks for the link! I like the angle and it so much more detail and much closer of Greensboro from above. I can easily see my parent's house and a clear view of their cars in the drive way! plus you can rotate the views

close up of Wet'n Wild Emerald Pointe in Greensboro

http://www.downtownstadium.org/wetwild.jpg

you can even see the Hydra Fighter II rollercoaster on the right
http://www.downtownstadium.org/wetwild2.jpg

bottom left corner is the tallest waterslide between Atlanta and New York
http://www.downtownstadium.org/wetwild3.jpg

birdseye view even has a 3d earth feature. Now we can see Greensboro in 3d! You shouldnt have never told me about this gman LOL

http://www.downtownstadium.org/downtown3d.jpg

even the Koury Convention Center is in 3d
http://www.downtownstadium.org/koury3d.jpg

Greensboro Coliseum in 3d with Greensboro's skyline in the background
http://www.downtownstadium.org/coliseum3d.jpg

Downtown Greensboro

http://www.downtownstadium.org/dt3d.jpg
http://www.downtownstadium.org/dt3d2.jpg
http://www.downtownstadium.org/dt3d3.jpg
http://www.downtownstadium.org/dt3d4.jpg
http://www.downtownstadium.org/dt3d5.jpg

Greensboro Coliseum Complex

http://www.downtownstadium.org/gborocoliseum3d1.jpg
http://www.downtownstadium.org/gborocoliseum3d2.jpg

^^:rant: :rant:

-I want my Apple pics Cityboi. :D

Having fun with those aerials, aren't we? :lol:

Having fun with those aerials, aren't we? :lol:

like I said....g-man430 made a big mistake telling me about this :lol:

Now, g-man demands his Apple Store photos, so you must deliver :lol:

Maybe G.man will be satisfied with this industrial Greensboro aerial near the coliseum...no?


http://www.downtownstadium.org/industrialview.jpg

^^No sir. I want my apple. Not an orange not a penguin but an apple. :D

Here is an apple... Now go back to work :lol:

http://vnuuk.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/04/04/green_apple.jpg

It really is an exciting time for downtown Greensboro. btw a new sports pub is opening up on North Elm Street in downtown Greensboro, called Beef O' Brady's. Its a family friendly national pub chain that has a few locations in North Carolina

Beef O' Brady's Family Sports Restaurants (http://www.beefobradys.com)

There is even a location in Matthew's home town of Arden.

^^Oh yeah, well Greenville has ummm....uhhh...Raleigh-NC help me out here. :lol:

Here is an apple... Now go back to work :lol:

http://vnuuk.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/04/04/green_apple.jpg

I wanted a red one. :rant:

^^
You are so freakin' difficult :bash: Green apples (Granny Smith, to be precise) are better if you have acid reflux. I am sure your acid levels will increase dramatically as NC cities continue to hog it all :rofl:

cityboi, where exactly on Elm Street will the Beef O' Brady's will be located?

^^Everything has to be perfect. Tux's right foot is bigger than his left foot. :rant: It needs to be fixed. :D

Beef o Brady's is nowhere near downtown Greensboro, it is 8 miles away in a strip shopping center next to a BP gas station.

^^Poor Cityboi is so desperate like me that he's saying things are going downtown when they really aren't. :hug:

Beef o Brady's is nowhere near downtown Greensboro, it is 8 miles away in a strip shopping center next to a BP gas station.
Wasn't cityboi talking about a new location? That is what I thought...

Wasn't cityboi talking about a new location? That is what I thought...

This is the location of the new location (only location) in Greensboro. It's miles away from downtown:

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/3606+N+Elm+St+Greensboro+NC+27455-2600/

cityboi, are you trying to mislead us? Shame on you :rofl:

^^You're supposed to be helping me out here. :rant: What does Greenville have that's better than Greensboro? And don't say dead highrises. :D :lol:

Greenville has "g-man430" :)

cityboi, are you trying to mislead us? Shame on you :rofl:

No the News & Record misled us...the paper said downtown Greensboro^^

^^:hug: :pet: :D I'm gonna go play a game of froggy now.

Anything in Arden-Fletcher is too suburban for a downtown setting. :lol:

Greenville and Greensboro both have equal numbers of positives. If Greenville could annex, Greenville's population would be around 200,000+, equal to the Triad's two largest cities. I consider both cities as equals. While Greensboro's "larger and better" is known, here are a few of Greenville's "larger or better." Greenville's Main Street is award winning for downtown redevelopment and is a national model for redevelopment (Greensboro visited Greenville for ideas), the tallest building in Greenville has a higher floor than any building in Greensboro, Greenville has a mountain backdrop with a natural water feature (Reedy River), Greenville has a better downtown park (Falls Park) than North Carolina's big five cities, Greenville has larger bank headquarters than Greensboro, Greenville's urbanized area is larger than Greensboro's, Greenville has more downtown highrises (12+ floor definition), I remember Greenville's airport had more passenger traffic (though this could change soon, with SkyBus at PTI) and both Greenville's coliseum and ballpark are downtown. Greenville also demolished a taller building than Greensboro. The Woodside Building was five floors taller than the King Cotton Hotel and is the tallest building demolished in South Carolina. Maybe that isn't a positive?

I hate they couldnt save that building. I would have thought Greensboro would have a taller building than any of the ones in lil' ol Greenville. Also doesnt Carolina First Bank have more assets that Wachovia?

^Carolina First Bank doesn't come close to Wachovia in terms of assets.

In terms of tall buildings, I would have thought that the Four Seasons hotel would be taller than anything else in Greensboro or anything in Greenville.

A little contribution from me: Fans say corridor should be revitalized (http://news14.com/content/top_stories/593640/fans-say-corridor-should-be-revitalized/Default.aspx).

The Four Seasons is only 295 feet tall. It is the third tallest building in the city. Hotels, condos and apartments have floor-to-ceiling heights of 3 meters on average. Office towers have floor-to-ceiling heights of 4 meters on average. Greensboro's tallest isn't a hotel in a mall parking lot, but a 20-storey office building on Elm Street. The highest floor above the sidewalk in Greensboro in feet or meters is the top floor of the Wachovia Building. The highest floor in feet or meters above the sidewalk in Greenville is a few feet higher.

^^305 feet. Landmark building.

A little contribution from me: Fans say corridor should be revitalized (http://news14.com/content/top_stories/593640/fans-say-corridor-should-be-revitalized/Default.aspx).

Thanks for the link!!

My measurements are based on feet/meters above the sidewalk to the highest floor used for offices, residential or hotel space. It doesn't count crowns, spires, mechancial and other structures. This is often known as the "best view" measurement. The 22nd floor of Greenville's tallest is slightly higher than the 21st floor of Greensboro's Wachovia Building and the 20th floor of the Lincoln Financial Center is higher than the top floor hotel rooms at the Four Seasons. I think the highest hotel rooms are around 280-285 feet. The roof is 295 feet. The Lincoln Financial Center uses a 70-75 foot crown to pass the Wachovia Building for tallest in Greensboro. The Wachovia Building has the most usable floor space and the highest occupied floor in Greensboro. 305 at the Landmark Building in Greenville doesn't count the tall structure on the back side, though I'm guessing it is only around 330 feet and any floors enclosed in it wouldn't be counted as highest occupied floor, since they are mechanical? If all four are placed in the same city on level ground, Lincoln Financial Center would be the tallest and the Landmark Building would have the highest occupied floor, with the best view.

For many years Chicago used this as a way of saying the Sears Tower was the true tallest skyscraper and would lead to the creation of this emoticon: :tiasd: Most people use the measurement to the mechancial section on the Landmark Building and the top of the clock at the Lincoln Financial Center though. It is fun to talk about the other measurements though, since highest floor is the best view.

^^^Tru dat

Center Pointe condo tower is getting closer to being complete on the exterior

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3168/2319249745_8167678c84.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2293/2320062732_b43b13bab9.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2391/2320063818_0b62baee13.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2092/2319250907_94aa8dc05b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2168/2320064340_33f2230552.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3028/2320064904_9f27769808.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2362/2320066038_cdeb1b0b62.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2273/2320065576_2f5ae2e128.jpg

Such a beautiful blue hue. Thanks for sharing.

Yes, I like the shade of the glass, too :okay:

Does this go here: http://www.coreproperties.com/uploadpics/20073141129260.Union%20Cross%20Towne%20Centre%20Marketing%20Packet.pdf?ret_link=%2Flistings%5Fview%5Frental%2Easp&type=notLogged&PropertyID=49 :dunno:

Union Cross is in SE Forsyth County. its a small community between Kernersville and Winston-Salem.

Beautiful building--Greensboro is doing some great things. Probably already mentioned somewhere on this thread (haven't gone through to see), but the Proximity Hotel was featured in a magazine (Outside magazine perhaps?). I believe it's the first LEED certified hotel in the US. Absolutely beautiful building.

^^
Link to the mention in Outside
http://outside.away.com/outside/destinations/200803/eco-getaways-greensboro-north-carolina.html

^^
Link to the mention in Outside
http://outside.away.com/outside/destinations/200803/eco-getaways-greensboro-north-carolina.html

Its a wonderful hotel. Certainly there is nothing like it in North Carolina. It was developed by Dennis Quinetenance, who also built the neighboring O'Henry Hotel. While the hotel is located about 2 miles northwest of downtown, I still wish this had been built downtown. Over the past few months demand for hotel rooms in the center-city have increased so I wouldnt be surprised to see Dennis finally do something downtown. He'd better hurry because there are at least 3 hotel projects being considered for downtown by other developers.

^^We have a Hyatt. :D

^^We have a Hyatt. :D

We have a Hyatt Place:cheer:

^^We have a Hyatt Regency and a Hyatt Place. :cheer: :lol: We both want a Cheesecake Factory though. :master:

^^We have a Hyatt Regency and a Hyatt Place. :cheer: :lol: We both want a Cheesecake Factory though. :master:

The question is who will get a cheesecake factory first?:nocrook:

The question is who will get a cheesecake factory first?:nocrook:

Greenville. :D It's listed on the site plan: http://www.trustedpartner.com/docs/library/000054/properties/MagnoliaParkTowerCentersite%20plan.pdf The site plan is old but it's still coming according to people working on the project. However, Greensboro is getting the Apple first. :cheers: Mr. Greene has done it again. :cheer: If Greensboro would get another proposed project like the Shops at Friendly or MPTC here, then the developer should try their luck at getting CCF in that proposed development. The metro area is definitely big enough to support one. The company just needs the right development to go in. :yes:

Greensboro's metro is about 70,000-80,000 people larger than Greenville's so yes they could support one fo sho.

^^If Anderson and Spartanburg are put back in Greenville's MSA in 2010 then it won't be. ;)

^^If Anderson and Spartanburg are put back in Greenville's MSA in 2010 then it won't be. ;)

I Winston is put back in the MSA it will still be more.:bash:

I Winston is put back in the MSA it will still be more.:bash:

You're not Winston. You're Cityboi. :D :lol: :hug:

Totally unrelated, but I am in a good mood. I have four options for g-man's new avatar, which changes every 2 days:

http://www.thirdwayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/07/walmart.jpeg

http://www.businessweek.com/careers/managementiq/archives/wal-mart-image.jpg

http://www.demaction.org/dia/organizations/ruckus/images/wal-mart-never.jpg

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theblog/archive/walmart-movie-posters.jpg

There is one more, but g-man may find it distracting: The Wal Mart girls!!!

http://www.thirdwayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/wal-mart-girls.jpg

^^:rofl: The last one. :naughty: I have to change my avatar every two days. It gets boring. :D

You didn't ask for photos of the Apple store today :lol:

Greensboro Grasshoppers have one of the top best logos in minor league baseball. The contest will also crown the team with the best logo. Give the Grasshoppers a vote to help ensure Greensboro wins!! that inludes you to g.man


http://www.cnbc.com/id/23630579

two art chicks is better than a mellow mushroom. they should put it somewhere else.

My understanding is that the owner of Two Art Chicks decided to sell.

I believe Mellow Mushroom will be a positive to the area.

My understanding is that the owner of Two Art Chicks decided to sell.

I believe Mellow Mushroom will be a positive to the area.

Welcome to the forum! :) I think it will too. Its been very successful in Winston-Salem

Welcome to SSC, Why Not Elm!!!

oh, i think it will be good too. i just didn't want it to be in that particular spot. i think downtown needs more places like two art chicks that have bands play and hold art shows. i feel like there are plenty of other spots in that area that i would rather see go like all those antique stores. so when i said "they should put it somewhere else" i meant somewhere else like across the street.

BUT the girls in charge of two art chicks are opening Focal Points near the corner of elm and washington so everything worked out.

Happy 200th birthday, Greensboro: Greensboro celebrates its bicentennial (http://news14.com/content/top_stories/594183/greensboro-celebrates-its-bicentennial/Default.aspx)!!!

^^Damn that's old. Not as old as Tux but still old. :lol: Cityboi's favorite thread: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=598706 :D

Raleigh-NC, I know you're hungry but that is no reason to eat the frog. :bash: :rant: :hug:

The penguin needs to survive, somehow. BTW, that fish in your avatar looks tasty ;) You didn't ask cityboi about the Apple Store, or the Cheesecake Factory. What's wrong with you?

^^Touch my fish and see what happens to the highrises for Raleigh. :D How could I forget about CCF and Apple? What is the matter with me? :cry:

I have bad news for the triad area unfortunately. Recently Allegiant announced that all flights out of PTI would end on May 31. Today's news though was the worst. Skybus announced the whole chain has gone under and all flights out of all cities including PTI are cancelled: http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080404/NRSTAFF/867622618 The only thing on Skybus' website now is the announcement that they will cease all operations immediately: http://www.skybus.com/

Any of you Triad folks enjoy the weather????

I started me a new message board for NC Weather. Only poblem is I don't have any members! So if you try it out, there will not be anything going on. But as you know, it takes members to get a message board off the ground!

If you enjoy the weather....or not...stop by:

http://beffrey2.yuku.com/

Work will begin this month on the rehab of the Southeastern Building. the historic 9-story building will be converted to apartments.

The building will consist of 51 apartments, 20,000 square feet of office space, three retail spaces, a restaurant and a night club.

http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080407/NRSTAFF/737795075

The building will be returned to this look

http://www.tffarchitects.com/historic/image/Southeastern.gifhttp://BJimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Avis=BJ&Dato=20080407&Kategori=NRSTAFF&Lopenr=737795075&Ref=AR&MaxW=358&Border=0

Now if they can only do something with the Guilford Building. I remember there was talk of converting the Guilford building into apartments in the early 1990s and it never happened. The Guilford Building sits nest to Greensboro Court Apartments. Those apartments are in rehab commercial buildings and an old textile mill. I think the Guilford Building would be a great extension of the Greensboro Court Apartments.

I am a firm believer that these older mid-rises are ideal for conversion to residential buildings. They have character and offer the urban image that many of us like, and it is great to see these gorgeous buldings come to life 24/7. Such conversions would also create demand for office space, and therefore new office towers ;)

I am a firm believer that these older mid-rises are ideal for conversion to residential buildings. They have character and offer the urban image that many of us like, and it is great to see these gorgeous buldings come to life 24/7. Such conversions would also create demand for office space, and therefore new office towers ;)

apparently some developers are interested in office projects downtown. How tall they will be, nobody knows but I hope they are towers.

You know what g-man will say: "I hope they do not get built". :lol: Speaking for me, I hope there is enough demand to justify at least one new tower. DT Greensboro can certainly use something new, above 30 stories ;)

What happened to the frog and Greensboro? Did a nuclear bomb go off in the city or something? :dunno:

Save the frogs. Protect Cityboi from Raleigh-NC's penguin. :nocrook: :master:

Come on g-man, bring cityboi back... Where did you hide him? :lol:

Come on g-man, bring cityboi back... Where did you hide him? :lol:

I thought you ate him. I don't have him. :dunno: :lol:

IM HERE!!!! He had me in the trunk of his car.

Who is "He"? You ain't talking about me... I have stuffed the trunk of my car with many bodies... I meant many things... You wouldn't fit in there. Probably you meant to say that g-man had kidnapped you and you managed to escape :lol:

Who is "He"? You ain't talking about me... I have stuffed the trunk of my car with many bodies... I meant many things... You wouldn't fit in there. Probably you meant to say that g-man had kidnapped you and you managed to escape :lol:

you would be correct:lol:

Damn g-man :bash: You had cityboi imprisoned, all along. Your good side knew very well what your evil side did, and didn't do anything to free cityboi. You are in deep trouble, young man ;)

Welcome back, cityboi :)

:cry: I'm sorry. I had to seeing how he got rid of his frog.

Well, it's all right, you don't have to cry. Just take a look at TIME magazine's special issue... It is specifically published for confused people like you and Al Gore, and for [normal] penguins. I don't see any frogs, though.

http://www.strangepolitics.com/images/content/124690.gif

How come my fish doesn't get to be on the front page? :rant: Stupid penguin keeps hogging it all. :cry:

Because the fish is dead in the water due to global freezing :rofl: Now it is time for cityboi to step in and give us some nice updates... Any updates ;)

And where is my apple store he promised? :rant:

:hug: http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080511/NRSTAFF/732960744

As I predicted Roy Carroll is the downtown developer that is going to develope 4.5 acres of the 6 acre former Chevrolet dealership lots next to NewBridge Bank ballpark. Roy said the buildngs there will be no higher than 6-stories but he said something. Roy Caroll also owns the former Guilford County Tax building and lot. That lot is located at the corner of Eugene and Lindsay Street across the street from the ballpark. Roy say he envisions a building there that could range between 6 and 30 stories! We now know of 3 potential Highrises. Roy's visionary tower across from the ballpark, His plans on the lot next to Center Pointe, and a Charlotte developer's plans for a 12-story boutique hotel/condo highrise.

http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080511/NRSTAFF/732960744

http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080511/NRSTAFF/805110305


"Roy smiled and looked a little uncomfortable when asked about drawings he allegedly possesses of an even taller tower he'd love to build beside Center Pointe some day.

Yes, it exists, he conceded, sounding slightly embarrassed.

And maybe one day it might be more than an artist's creation"

Yes Roy we know it exists because we have the rendering too! Its the rendering of the first designs. The building may not look the rendering below but we know how tall Roy wants to go on the lot next door and the rendering shows a building twice as tall. That means the next tower would be between 30 and 34 stories.


http://greensboring.com/pod/park_central_plaza.jpg

I guess there is something in Roy's comments to keep us hopeful and enthusiastic :) Personally, I can't wait for the day he will come out with a solid plan, and I certainly want to see a new tallest in DT Greensboro.

I guess there is something in Roy's comments to keep us hopeful and enthusiastic :) Personally, I can't wait for the day he will come out with a solid plan, and I certainly want to see a new tallest in DT Greensboro.

Its good to see a local developer see the potential in downtown Greensboro and not have the "we can't" mindset. I use to think it would take an "outsider" to prove what can be done in downtown Greensboro. It appears the Center Pointe is only the beginning in his involvement in downtown Greensboro and I hope Greensboro will viewed as more of a big city in the not to distant future.

The three stooges are back. :horse: :hug:

http://greensboring.com/pod/park_central_plaza.jpg


Those towers would look great in DT Greensboro. Hope they will get built. :cheers:

The smaller tower is already there. It is the former Wachovia Bldg that is being renovated.

The smaller tower is already there. It is the former Wachovia Bldg that is being renovated.


You are right, but the smaller tower is still being built......and the top isn't on yet. Do we know if the second taller tower is "a go" for sure though? :dunno:

Well, the top you see in the above rendering isn't planned... at least for now. I think that the smaller tower's exterior is pretty much finished; maybe cityboi can confirm this for us ;) The plans for the second tower are still very fluid. Having seen the site, I'd say that the new tower should be at least 30 floors. That location deserves something like that, otherwise it will be a waste.

Well, the top you see in the above rendering isn't planned... at least for now. I think that the smaller tower's exterior is pretty much finished; maybe cityboi can confirm this for us ;) The plans for the second tower are still very fluid. Having seen the site, I'd say that the new tower should be at least 30 floors. That location deserves something like that, otherwise it will be a waste.

How would anything less be a waste? A 30 story office building does absolutely nothing for pedestrian activity.

http://greensboring.com/pod/park_central_plaza.jpg



NC needs something other than blue glass boxes built.

How would anything less be a waste?

Because that land is valuable. You want to maximize the square footage for such a prominent downtown site if at all possible.

A 30 story office building does absolutely nothing for pedestrian activity.

If it incorporates street level retail and/or restaurant space it can.

If it were Greenville, you'd say that a 30-story tower would generate massive amounts of pedestrian activity. :lol:

How would anything less be a waste? A 30 story office building does absolutely nothing for pedestrian activity.
Yes, you are right... Outside being the work area of 1500-2000 people, plus visitors, a 30-story tower would do nothing for pedestrian activity. A tower like this doesn't even have to include ground level destinations... The adjacent buildings can easily do so, and very successfully. A 30-story building can provide the customers for the surrounding retail.

Poor g-man, every city around you can't quit hogging it all :lol:

Yes, you are right... Outside being the work area of 1500-2000 people, plus visitors, a 30-story tower would do nothing for pedestrian activity. A tower like this doesn't even have to include ground level destinations... The adjacent buildings can easily do so, and very successfully. A 30-story building can provide the customers for the surrounding retail.

Poor g-man, every city around you can't quit hogging it all :lol:

Awww...that's so sweet. :hug: :cry:

How would anything less be a waste? A 30 story office building does absolutely nothing for pedestrian activity.

Greensboro tendrá un horizonte más grande

Greensboro tendrá un horizonte más grande

Look at what you caused Raleigh-NC. He's turned mexican on us. :cry: Deport him now. :D

no me deporte

g-man, you will be banned from viewing photos... Only red X's for you from this point on :lol:

You gotta feed these people, cityboi: General Assembly heading to Greensboro (http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1081441).

You gotta feed these people, cityboi: General Assembly heading to Greensboro (http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1081441.html).

Im too busying crying...this song makes me cry:ohno:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYdkXmFmE68

You gotta feed these people, cityboi: General Assembly heading to Greensboro (http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1081441.html).

Error...article cannot be found. :cry: Stupid frog ruins everything. :bash:

Error...article cannot be found. :cry: Stupid frog ruins everything. :bash:

Do I look like a frog to you?:lol:

Do I look like a frog to you?:lol:

Yes. A diseased one. :D

Sorry, I fixed the link and still gives me error :(

Sorry, I fixed the link and still gives me error :(

:cry: :bash: :rant:

^^
Much deserved, I must admit :(

Roy Carroll is expanding his interest in downtown by proposing a 200 resdential unit project on the old Chevrolet site north of the ballpark. (site that was originally proposed for Bellemeade Village)

President of DGI has said that three groups are eyeing downtown for a major hotel project as well. Its not known yet if its the Greensboro Triumph Center that had seemed to be put on hold or entirely new groups planning a big hotel. But the way the article reads, apparently there could be 3 hotels in the works. One of those is probabally the 12-story hotel/condo tower being proposed by a Charlotte developer. That project is suppose to be built at the corner of Friendly Ave and Davie Streets, diagonally from Center-City Park.

http://triad.bizjournals.com/triad/stories/2008/05/26/tidbits1.html?b=1211774400^1639262&page=1

200 units is a large project... Maybe I missed this, but was there any mention of the height, or nature of this proposal? Hopefully, it will be urban, because that location deserves no less.

200 units is a large project... Maybe I missed this, but was there any mention of the height, or nature of this proposal? Hopefully, it will be urban, because that location deserves no less.

no building in that proposal will be above 6 stories...also expect to see more apartments associated with this project. With the poor housing market, its difficult to see 200 condos being proposed, at least at one time. Thats more units that Center Pointe. The poor housing market has led to a hot demand for apartments. The success of CityView at Southside proves that. Personally I think there will be a mixture of townhomes, condos and mainly apartments.

:D :hug: I found cityboi's sister: http://www.greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=BS&Dato=20080601&Kategori=YOURUPSTATE05&Lopenr=806010803&Ref=PH

Poor g-man, it must have been tough on you asking her out :rofl:

It was. She didn't know how to speak english. :(

g-man, did you really have to do that (http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/2986844/)? If you were unable to communicate with cityboi's sister in English, did you have to take it on Greensboro (http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/2986844/)?

Dang it. You beat me to it. :cry: I was going to blame you for it. :lol: Don't worry. G-man is always prepared. What were you thinking Raleigh-NC: http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22%20049,23791992-5001021,00.html Were you bored or something?

Dude, I had nothing to do with it, I swear!!!

G-man

That story about the washers has to be fake. How could anyone fit one of those on their penis?

Man, this world is crazy!!! Everything is possible. Now, if we can get some developers to boost Greensboro's skyline with a few high-rises we will also be able to get back to the topic. Otherwise, cityboi will continue to fool g-man into believing that he would allow him to date his sister... g-man, that was cityboi's adopted orangutan you dated, not his sister :lol:

Man, this world is crazy!!! Everything is possible. Now, if we can get some developers to boost Greensboro's skyline with a few high-rises we will also be able to get back to the topic. Otherwise, cityboi will continue to fool g-man into believing that he would allow him to date his sister... g-man, that was cityboi's adopted orangutan you dated, not his sister :lol:

A frog is not an orangutan. Get your facts straight. :D Good question Tarheelsclub. How did you do it Raleigh-NC? :lol:

Ask cityboi... He is the one who doesn't post much lately. Maybe he knows about all these strange things that happen around the world. Without his photos and updates - show us the Apple Store, before g-man goes into comma - we are forced to keep this thread updated with non-sense posts... Something must be happening these days in Greensboro. how about some nice evening shots of the skyline from cityboi's new apartment ;)

free TV man. watch CNN, QVC and just about any channel online for FREE. Added bonus...FREE adult channels with NO age verification system

http://www.channelchooser.com/

Look at what you caused Raleigh-NC. He sent the above to me in a PM message. :cry: And where are my Apple Store pics? :rant:

Now you can watch the growth in Greensboro without having to drive around and waste gasoline... Also, you can watch all those porn movies for free :lol: You see? cityboi cares for you :lol:

Now you can watch the growth in Greensboro without having to drive around and waste gasoline... Also, you can watch all those porn movies for free :lol: You see? cityboi cares for you :lol:

Oh now I see. :naughty: :lol:

He sent me a new PM:


interesting fact of the day

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Did you know that apple seeds could kill you?

Apple seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides which is fatal. Although the amount found in most apples won't kill a person, with enough seeds, one could die from it


How do you pronounce cyanogenic glycosides? :cry:

Stop eating apples. Start drinking gasoline... It is cheaper.

Study backs downtown hotel By Donald W. Patterson
Staff Writer
Saturday, Jun. 7, 2008 3:00 am
GREENSBORO — A new study calls an upscale, full-service hotel a good fit for downtown, but a potential investor says a major question still must be answered: when, or if, the project will get off the drawing board.

The study says the hotel, which would be built at the southwest corner of Davie Street and February One Place, could include about 200 rooms and be 10 to 15 stories high.

No cost estimate could be determined.

"The feasibility study gives us further reason to believe that a hotel at that site downtown makes good economic sense," said Randall Kaplan, managing partner of the Elm Street Center, which houses the Empire Room, and the Regency Room and includes the parking deck behind it.

"We still have to get all the pieces in place in order to actually go forward with such a project."

The hotel would be built on the site of the privately owned Elm Street Center parking deck. It would use the Empire Room and the Recency Room as meeting and banquet space.

This is one of three hotels under consideration for downtown, but details about the other two projects remain sketchy. No possible locations, investment groups, or hotel brands have been made public.

Ed Wolverton, president and CEO of Downtown Greensboro Inc., said there's a need for more hotel rooms downtown.

He said the center city has more than 900 businesses, more than 20,000 workers and nearly 1,000 residential units. Plus, the downtown has the lowest vacancy rate of the six office markets in Guilford County, including Green Valley.

"The anecdotal evidence is pretty overwhelming," Wolverton said.

Concerning Kaplan's possible plans, he added, " I think it shows that downtown is continuing to emerge as a business and visitor center. As downtown has grown, so have the needs of travelers and people wanting to stay downtown."

The center city has about 400 rooms at three hotels: the Marriott Downtown, a full-service hotel at 304 N. Greene St.; the Biltmore Greensboro Hotel, a boutique property at 111 W. Washington St.; and the Greensboro Inn, a budget hotel at 135 Summit Ave.

Kaplan and about a dozen partners, including downtown developer Milton Kern and chef Brad Semon, revealed their interest in a new hotel last February. Since then, they've been awaiting the feasibility study.
Kaplan stressed that the hotel is far from a done deal, noting that he and his group must find the right development partner, secure financing, work out parking issues and determine what to do given the state of the economy.

"It is possible that this is not the right time," he said. "This could be two or three years down the road."

Under the best of circumstances, he said, his group probably won't know whether they'll proceed with their plans before the end of the year. If they do, construction would not start before this time next year and perhaps later.

Kaplan would not say how much the project might cost, which hotel developers he's talked with or what the building might look like.
He said initial plans call for a restaurant, swimming pool, exercise center, other upscale amenities and perhaps some retail space.

"Right now, I envision something along the lines of a Grandover," he said, referring to Grandover Resort and Conference Center off Business 85. "It's going to be a very nice hotel....We continue to be moving the project forward."

Sounds like a good project and a feasible one. 10-15 stories and 200 rooms isn't bad :okay:

A ten-to-fifteen storey hotel on Davie Street at February One Place? This sounds familiar?

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/9616/hotelgso1vm2.jpg

Because I drew plans for this a few months ago. :D

Now I have a professionally researched study to back my proposal and it confirms the site I selected as the best place for a new hotel. I wish I had the money to buy the property and build this. We should find investors and build this as an SSC project. :D Again, I wish I had the money to build this.

A ten-to-fifteen storey hotel on Davie Street at February One Place? This sounds familiar?

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/9616/hotelgso1vm2.jpg

Because I drew plans for this a few months ago. :D

Now I have a professionally researched study to back my proposal and it confirms the site I selected as the best place for a new hotel. I wish I had the money to buy the property and build this. We should find investors and build this as an SSC project. :D Again, I wish I had the money to build this.


nice plan! Do you have elevation drawings?

:lol: :nocrook: Bob Ellis has done his job once again: http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080613/NRSTAFF/854328658

GOOGLE STREETVIEW COMES TO THE TRIAD!!!

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=&layer=c&ie=UTF8&ll=36.028,-80.06218&spn=0.386496,0.662613&z=11

So does g-man :lol:

On a serious note, I was hoping to see more of downtown, particularly along and around Elm Street (to the East) and Southside... Hopefully, they will visit these areas soon ;)

So does g-man :lol:

On a serious note, I was hoping to see more of downtown, particularly along and around Elm Street (to the East) and Southside... Hopefully, they will visit these areas soon ;)

They will eventually add more streets im sure meanwhile here is a nice shot of Greensboro skyline from a differenet persepective.

downtown Greensboro skyline

http://www.downtownstadium.org/streetview08.jpg

Here is an interview with developer Roy Carroll on his Center Pointe Project.

http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=multimedia&pluid=2841

as of tommorow, Greensboro's population will grow by 10,000 people after the city annexes territory July 1st. Greensboro's population will roughly be 255,000. You know Greensboro has to add all those people before the next census in 2010 ;)Especially since after July forced annexation will likely be put on hold for about 9 months in North Carolina. Now if Greensboro can only have a skyline to reflect its population. :)

Now if Greensboro can only have a skyline to reflect its population. :)
You can always reduce the population to reflect the skyline, if it makes you feel better :rofl:

The City of Greenville has a population that is a little over 56,000 and yet people still complain our skyline isn't big enough. :nuts:

Yes, like certain people we know here ;) Thanks for replacing that stinkin' fish of yours with something more inspiring... Next time use Bob Ellis' picture as your avatar :lol:

Yes, like certain people we know here ;) Thanks for replacing that stinkin' fish of yours with something more inspiring... Next time use Bob Ellis' picture as your avatar :lol:

I had to replace my fish. Global warming killed it. :cry: There was a picture of him on the Ellis Group's website but it wouldn't let me save it. :(

I had to replace my fish. Global warming killed it. :cry: There was a picture of him on the Ellis Group's website but it wouldn't let me save it. :(
global warming killed the frog too!:hilarious

And Greensboro passed the quarter of a million mark today!!!!!!!!!! Now Greensboro is about 1/4th the size of Dallas. Greensboro is now bigger than Birmingham, AL we are moving on up!

Congrats!!!

Greensboro city leaders are concerned Winston-Salem will pass them. :lol: If Greenville (SC) was in North Carolina, it would be the state's third largest city. The growth is thanks to the annexation laws, passed in 1959. By other measures, Greenville is larger than Greensboro, Winston-Salem and Durham. Of the state's big cities all, except for Durham, have higher annexation population growth than urban population growth. Of the 27,000 new Greensboro residents since 2000, 20,000 are annexed. The city should annex as much land as possible, before the annexation laws change. Yes, I do think the years of high annexation growth are now behind us and the growth focus must change to urbanization. I wish Winston-Salem would've annexed the 10,000 cut from the last annexation. I am concerned when Winston-Salem is ready to annex again 2015, annexation may not be an option or it could be difficult to do. Annexation is good for the state's cities, but land rights are a big issue now. I view it as a way to force those living in places like The Cardinal, who think they can live outside the city to avoid taxes, but live close enough to jobs paid for with city incentives, use roads paid for by city taxes and use city parks and facilities without paying, to pay their share of the costs.

Greensboro city leaders are concerned Winston-Salem will pass them. :lol: If Greenville (SC) was in North Carolina, it would be the state's third largest city. The growth is thanks to the annexation laws, passed in 1959. By other measures, Greenville is larger than Greensboro, Winston-Salem and Durham. Of the state's big cities all, except for Durham, have higher annexation population growth than urban population growth. Of the 27,000 new Greensboro residents since 2000, 20,000 are annexed. The city should annex as much land as possible, before the annexation laws change. Yes, I do think the years of high annexation growth are now behind us and the growth focus must change to urbanization. I wish Winston-Salem would've annexed the 10,000 cut from the last annexation. I am concerned when Winston-Salem is ready to annex again 2015, annexation may not be an option or it could be difficult to do. Annexation is good for the state's cities, but land rights are a big issue now. I view it as a way to force those living in places like The Cardinal, who think they can live outside the city to avoid taxes, but live close enough to jobs paid for with city incentives, use roads paid for by city taxes and use city parks and facilities without paying, to pay their share of the costs.

I think if people on the fringes of the city use city services, then they should pay city taxes. That means they should be annexed. North Carolina's aggressive annexation laws is what keeps North Carolina cities financially healthy. It would choke the growth of cities if they werent allowd to annex by force. Many people say they dont want to be annexed because they want to enjoy country living. I say Bull. They just dont want to pay city taxes and thats what its all about.

Super G-Mart opens in Greensboro at Fanta City. Its the first international large supermarket in the state and at 76,000 square feet its larger than the Harris Teeter at Friendly which is the largest Harris Teeter in the nation. At Super G-Mart, you will be able to find difficult to find household international brands and foods so this market will likely attract people from as far away as Charlotte and Raleigh.

http://beta.news-record.com/content/2008/0...s_in_greensboro (http://beta.news-record.com/content/2008/06/26/article/super_g_mart_opens_in_greensboro)

http://mm.news-record.com/drupal/files/imagecache/zoom_view/files/Images/mart2.jpg

http://mm.news-record.com/drupal/files/imagecache/zoom_view/files/Images/mart1.jpg

Wait a minute... Are you telling me these water melons came from outside the U.S.? :lol: Seriously, though, what do they have that could attract buyers like me? Are they catering more to the Asian population? Personally, I am not interested in roasted eel, green coconuts, sea squirts or canned whelk, but I am sure g-man would be ecstatic to hear that these products will be available to him within a short driving distance.

[Note to g-man: you step into North Carolina and I will put you in the freezer with the sea squirts. You may visit North Carolina after Raleigh and Greensboro get 2-3 of 60+ story towers built.]

The Rumor Mill:

according to the downtown Greensboro Magezine "99 Blocks", there are "serious" discussions going on about a new office tower in downtown Greensboro. The magezine also confirmed that there are some hotels in the works for downtown, at least one of them being a high-rise but could be two if the Charlotte developer John Adox continues with his condo/hotel tower near Center-City Park. I will say its about time. With exception to the Wachovia Building renovation, Greensboro's skyline has not changed in 18 years.

If plans proceed with an office tower, I sure hope the architecture will be somthing e a little bold like the Hearst Tower in uptown Charlotte and not just a plain old ordinary office tower.



Here are some photos of the "tower homes" at Southside in downtown Greensboro. These townhomes have 3 floors plus a rooftop patio. The price is for a unit ($216,990). Each unit has two bedrooms and two baths. The living room and kitchen are set up in an open floor plan. But they are very interesting and unique.

http://www.downtownstadium.org/towerhomes08_1.jpg
http://www.downtownstadium.org/towerhomes08_2.jpg
http://www.downtownstadium.org/towerhomes08_3.jpg

I love those ceilings!
http://www.downtownstadium.org/towerhomes08_4.jpg
http://www.downtownstadium.org/towerhomes08_5.jpg
http://www.downtownstadium.org/towerhomes08_6.jpg
http://www.downtownstadium.org/towerhomes08_7.jpg
http://www.downtownstadium.org/towerhomes08_8.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/38/Towerhomesatsouthside.jpg

:rant: :cry: :bash:

:rant: :cry: :bash:

come on G.man you know I cant understand sign language say whats on your mind:lol:

come on G.man you know I cant understand sign language say whats on your mind:lol:

Quit hogging it all. :pet:

Not a big fan of the "tower homes" in terms of architecture, but they do look more attractive in real life. The interior looks gorgeous though, and you can't beat the price and location :okay:

As for the new "mystery" projects, I can only wish y'all the best... Hopefully, someone with vision and deep pockets an deliver the goods.

what's going on with the apple store?

what's going on with the apple store?

Its suppose to be built in the next phase of the Shops at Friendly. They havent started construction on the phase yet. The bad ecomony is just effecting everything.

Greensboro Police finally get Segways. They will be used primarily for downtown and two of them were donated to the police department by local developer Roy Carroll (developer of Center Pointe)

http://www.news-record.com/content/2008/07/23/article/greensboro_cops_stand_taller_on_segways

http://mm.news-record.com/drupal/files/imagecache/nrcom_article_image_landscape/files/Images/segwayphoto.jpg
http://mm.news-record.com/drupal/files/imagecache/zoom_view/files/Images/segway2photo.jpg

yeah, that sucks. i need that apple store to open.

cops on segways is stupid. it's not very fair. :ohno:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3071/2694812888_fb81ec007b_b.jpg

Shut your mouth cityboi. :ohno: Construction has started on the Apple Store: http://www.tuaw.com/2008/07/31/first-picture-of-the-greensboro-nc-apple-store-under-constructi/ You just don't want me to visit Greensboro when it opens, so you said it wasn't under construction yet when it really is. :D

Shut your mouth cityboi. :ohno: Construction has started on the Apple Store: http://www.tuaw.com/2008/07/31/first-picture-of-the-greensboro-nc-apple-store-under-constructi/ You just don't want me to visit Greensboro when it opens, so you said it wasn't under construction yet when it really is. :D

oh I didnt know! BTW G.man...what the hell are you doing up at 4 am? You're not looking at dirty pictures are you?:lol:

oh I didnt know! BTW G.man...what the hell are you doing up at 4 am? You're not looking at dirty pictures are you?:lol:

Shhh...you're not supposed to tell anybody. Let's just keep it our little secret. :D

Greensboro gets the first Lamborghini dealership in the Triad. Greensboro already has a high end dealership called Foreign Cars Italia where you can get Aston Martin, Maserati, Ferrari and Porsche. (http://www.foreigncarsitalia.com/)

Highend upscale dealers seem to be attracted to the Triad. High Point has a Bentley dealership and its the only one in the Carolinas. The dealership is called "Lamborghini Carolinas"

http://www.myfoxwghp.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=7108885&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1

Greensboro is a centralized location to Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham and Winston-Salem, by Interstate. If your research says the entire state market can support one of your store/dealership/business, its not a bad location. Someone with the money to buy a car like that will travel to buy it.

Police on Segways is a good idea. I remember photographing Atlanta's police department on them in 2003, when Segway Police was something to brag about for cities. Our law enforcement officers should have the ability to use all technology to improve their work, without concern over laws banning some equipment. If they feel it will improve their job, allow them to use them.

High Point and Greensboro are in a lucky situation, they are between Charlotte and Raleigh at the intersection of two major highways, so its only logical for them to get the highend car dealerships for now. That way they can reasonably serve both markets without having to built two dealerships.

(not trying to discount greensboro)
It also serves RTP, Greensboro, Winston Salem and Durham nicely!

Our law enforcement officers should have the ability to use all technology to improve their work, without concern over laws banning some equipment. If they feel it will improve their job, allow them to use them.

I disagree. Next thing you know we'll all be tazed for jaywalking.

Wow I cant believe I missed this. The Proximiyt hotel was featured on NBC's today show back in June. click on the video link on the website. Also check out all the other national media publications that have made comments on the Proximity. Fortune Magizine even pick the Proximity as being one of the top 50 business hotels in the world!

http://www.proximityhotel.com/media.htm

Proximity turned out to be a gem for Greensboro. I hope Dennis keeps his word builds similar luxury hotels in High Point and Winston.

Where is Greensboro's Westin and Hyatt at? Oh wait. :D

Roy Carroll, developer of the Center Pointe condo tower, owns part of the former North State Chevrolet property which is bound by Edgeworth St, Battleground Ave, Eugene St and Smith Street. The site is adjacent to NewBridge Bank Park and in a meeting Roy Carroll said he has plans for 200 apartment units on the site. This project will include no commercial space but the other part of North Chevrolet property across Smith Street and directly next to the ballpark will likely have commerical and retail space. Roy doesnt own that tract of land. Roy Carroll also mention that he has plans for an office tower on a small piece of land next to Center Pointe facing Center-City Park. This is why Roy decided not to add balconies on the northside of Center Pointe because that side of the building faces the office tower site. There was no mention of start dates for either of those two projects.

http://www.news-record.com/content/2008/08/15/article/five_new_stores_coming_to_friendly_center_and_shops
5 new stores

http://www.news-record.com/content/2008/08/18/article/banks_downtown_headquarters_to_open_soon

New Downtown office building 4 levels.

That's it? :cry: Where's the frog? :rant:

Did you kidnap Kermit, like you did in the past?

I thought it was Ms. Piggy. :dunno:

Im around Mr Penguin and Mr watchamacallit!!:lol:

Im around Mr Penguin and Mr watchamacallit!!:lol:

It's Bloo Q Kazoo. :D Google it. :nocrook:

Walmart hiring 350 in High Point
http://www.news-record.com/content/2008/08/19/article/new_high_point_walmart_to_hire_350

I saw on public access that the carousel project has been moved from that weird corner of church and summit and lindsey to a spot next the the children's museum.

renderings of the proposed renovated War Memorial Auditorium at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex.

http://www.gsoauditoriumbond.com/images/render1.jpg
http://www.gsoauditoriumbond.com/images/render2.jpg
http://www.gsoauditoriumbond.com/images/render3.jpg
http://www.gsoauditoriumbond.com/images/render4.jpg
http://www.gsoauditoriumbond.com/images/lobby1.jpg
http://www.gsoauditoriumbond.com/images/lobby2.jpg
http://www.gsoauditoriumbond.com/images/lobby3.jpg
http://www.gsoauditoriumbond.com/images/interior1.jpg
http://www.gsoauditoriumbond.com/images/interior2.jpg
http://www.gsoauditoriumbond.com/images/interior3.jpg
http://www.gsoauditoriumbond.com/images/arch_pic4.jpg

photos of the coliseum complex

http://www.downtownstadium.org/gborocoliseum3d2.jpg
http://www.downtownstadium.org/gborocoliseum3d1.jpg
http://www.greensborocoliseum.com/ae_files/venue_info/images/aerial.jpg

It's the frog. :hug: :banana: Yay, he's back. :D

wooh, that carpet is horrible hope they find somebody who's not color blind to handle that task.

$60 million dollar proposal unveiled for the South Elm/Lee Street in downtown Greensboro. The project consists of:

- a 200,000 square foot office building for Guilford County Schools administrative offices

- 60-70 residential units for mixed-income households

- retail space

- a parking deck for 550 vehicles

-a street level community park atop the parking deck which would be nestled within a hillside at the site

The main building will be a "green" building.

http://www.news-record.com/content/2008/10...east_greensboro (http://www.news-record.com/content/2008/10/15/article/60_million_proposal_unveiled_for_southeast_greensboro)

The project isnt as ambitious as I thought it would be. I think the site could be put to better use than a large school administration building because it is a gateway into downtown. I do like the residential and retail part of it and I also like the idea of a park on top of a parking deck. Its a very modest project but at least it well help revitalize that end of downtown.


http://www.news-record.com/content/2008/10/16/article/school_board_reviews_office_proposal


Here are the renderings fo the new school administration building to be built at South Elm/Lee Street. I still think the site could have been put to better use such as entertainment venues, movie theater, ect. But at least the project will help clean up a blighted area and include residential and retail.

It is a nice building though

http://mm.news-record.com/drupal/files/imagecache/zoom_view/files/Images/drawing.jpg
http://mm.news-record.com/drupal/files/imagecache/zoom_view/files/Images/newschlblding2.jpg
http://mm.news-record.com/drupal/files/imagecache/zoom_view/files/Images/newschlbdg3.jpg

South Elm, which is full of historic charm, character, and flair, deserves better than this.

South Elm, which is full of historic charm, character, and flair, deserves better than this.

I agree. I like the residential, retail and park minus this administration building which will create NO energy in that part of downtown. Its just a waste of real estate and it frustrates me how some city leaders dont have any real vision. On top of that even though the building looks nice, it doesnt transition well with the architecture on South Elm Street. I hope the boards vote against this.

You're absolutely right about the architecture. It's conservative, but still doesn't quite fit. And I don't think the use fits South Elm, as you've stated.

Gateway University Research Park is now open and the U.S. Department of Agriculture completes its move to G.U.R.P. The first building is open and it houses 100 scientist from the Dept of Agriculture. The next building to be built on the South Campus will be for UNCG and N.C. A&T’s Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering.

http://assets.bizjournals.com/db_image/296737-.jpg

http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/stories/2008/11/03/story10.html?b=1225688400^1725585

http://www.gatewayurp.com/

That's it? :dunno: Where's the downtown highrises? Where's the new shopping centers? Where's the massive economic development announcements? Where's the mixed use developments like Greensboro Triumph Center?

That's it? :dunno: Where's the downtown highrises? Where's the new shopping centers? Where's the massive economic development announcements? Where's the mixed use developments like Greensboro Triumph Center?

Oh I'll give you an announcement alright LOL:speech:

I knew you'd be happy. :hug: Don't worry. I'll send you development pictures from here. :D

does anyone know if red mike is going to stay open after that shooting?

That's it? :dunno: Where's the downtown highrises? Where's the new shopping centers? Where's the massive economic development announcements? Where's the mixed use developments like Greensboro Triumph Center?

LOL:lol::nuts::lol::nuts: Great Post

so i guess mellow mushroom is open downtown.

where'd everybody go?

No high-rise projects? :?

No high-rise projects? :?

With the type of economy we are in now! New houses are barely being built much less a new skyscraper.

How's the Triumph Center coming along ? ;)

How's the Triumph Center coming along ? ;)


Wipe that damn wink-smirk off your face:bash: In case you forgot, the economy isn't that good right now, you :weirdo:

Other cities still have projects under construction or planned even with the current state of the economy. If these things aren't getting built, it's because they weren't feasible to begin with.

Wipe that damn wink-smirk off your face:bash: In case you forgot, the economy isn't that good right now, you :weirdo:

Hehe, I know. Downtown Orlando had about 30 highrises planned. Roughly ten got built. And those ten are about half-empty.

Other cities still have projects under construction or planned even with the current state of the economy. If these things aren't getting built, it's because they weren't feasible to begin with.


Wow krazeeboi, you must be some kind of genius. I guess the current state of the economy has NO effect on things getting planned or built.:stupid:
Maybe, just maybe, some cities plan and build more than they can afford; they bite off more than they can chew. Inform yourself and take a look at Dale's post below yours.
And why the hell do YOU care what happens here in Greensboro anyways? You are a South Carolinian living in Charlotte....

well here is a photo update on Center Pointe condo tower in downtown Greensboro. The only high-rise development currently under construction in the city.

http://www.centerpointegreensboro.com/

The exterior is pretty much complete. A restaurant and coffee shop will occupy the first floor and the developer of the building and his family will move in the top unit. The penthouse unit is two stories and will feature a two-story water fall inside.

Christmas morning shots.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3267/3135729740_7d69ef1739_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3229/3134910751_8927712bce_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3134/3134911809_16811ecb25_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3235/3134914917_c96fcc1992_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3106/3134916017_ed10131b90_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3098/3135737052_7ea34e0720_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3283/3135738066_89c46d35c3_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3286/3135739132_2e5e608de1_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3296/3134920109_0f677e11e7_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3076/3135742432_7a38fab35c_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3207/3134924243_b5cec582f4_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3089/3135745438_baffda9c56_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3212/3135747410_9f6ca3d38b_b.jpg

inside renderings of Center Pointe

http://centerpointegreensboro.com/Center%20Pointe%203D%20Floorplans%20&%20Room%20Views_files/E_Room_View1_FINAL_THUMB.jpg
http://centerpointegreensboro.com/Center%20Pointe%203D%20Floorplans%20&%20Room%20Views_files/F_Room_View3_FINAL_THUMB.jpg
http://centerpointegreensboro.com/Center%20Pointe%203D%20Floorplans%20&%20Room%20Views_files/F_Room_View1_FINAL_THUMB.jpg
http://centerpointegreensboro.com/Center%20Pointe%203D%20Floorplans%20&%20Room%20Views_files/B_Room_View2_FINAL_THUMB.jpg
http://centerpointegreensboro.com/Center%20Pointe%203D%20Floorplans%20&%20Room%20Views_files/FB_Room_View1_FINAL_THUMB.jpg
http://centerpointegreensboro.com/Center%20Pointe%203D%20Floorplans%20&%20Room%20Views_files/FB_Room_View2_FINAL_THUMB.jpg
http://centerpointegreensboro.com/Center%20Pointe%203D%20Floorplans%20&%20Room%20Views_files/E_Room_View2_FINAL_THUMB.jpg
http://centerpointegreensboro.com/Center%20Pointe%203D%20Floorplans%20&%20Room%20Views_files/DE_Room_View1_FINAL_THUMB.jpg
http://centerpointegreensboro.com/Center%20Pointe%203D%20Floorplans%20&%20Room%20Views_files/DE_Room_View2_FINAL_THUMB.jpg

a few center-city park shots

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3224/3135733732_492eed5421_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3086/3134912883_c7e8e677ee_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3090/3134908747_d7ca4a4f8e_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3251/3135743430_feb443838b_b.jpg

The Center Pointe tower use to be the Wachovia Building. The building was completely gutted and nothing was left but the steel frame.

http://greensboring.com/pod/wachovia.jpg

Wow krazeeboi, you must be some kind of genius. I guess the current state of the economy has NO effect on things getting planned or built.:stupid:
Maybe, just maybe, some cities plan and build more than they can afford; they bite off more than they can chew. Inform yourself and take a look at Dale's post below yours.
And why the hell do YOU care what happens here in Greensboro anyways? You are a South Carolinian living in Charlotte....

And none of that changes the truth of my statement which didn't even come close to implying that the current state of the economy has no effect on projects getting proposed or built. My point was that it's not the ONLY factor. As it regards the proposed Triumph Center in particular, there already were questions surrounding its feasibility before the economy started going south.

I've been posting here in the Greensboro section for some time now, and all of a sudden you care that I'm posting here? Please. If you haven't realized (I don't think you have), I'm a fan of Greensboro--oftentimes finding myself defending Greensboro against other Triad residents--but I'm also a realist. And what does being a "South Carolinian living in Charlotte" have to do with anything? I can care about whatever city I wish to care about. Don't hate because I like to keep up with developments in several cities beyond my home state.

Cityboi, I'm loving the finished product; Center Pointe came out great. So what's the deal on the downtown carousel? Haven't heard anything about that lately.

Cityboi, I'm loving the finished product; Center Pointe came out great. So what's the deal on the downtown carousel? Haven't heard anything about that lately.

Its still a go. It will be a part of the Children's Museum expansion. But like everything else the economic situation has put things on hold. This is not a Greensboro problem, its really a national problem. This is the worst shape this country has been in since the depression in the 1920s. If construction on Center Pointe had been planned to start a year later, it too would have been put on hold. Thank God construction started before the economic down turn or we might be looking at that ugly empty Wachovia Building today. But things that have been planned havent been scrapped, just on hold. As far as the Greensboro Triumph Center, its probabally safe to say that project has been scrapped. There were just too many local leaders that did not think the project was feasible for Greensboro in my opinion so they didnt take the developer seriously. I think it was feasible, at least the small scale version. Downtown Greensboro has proven itself for such a project with its booming nightlife. However its possible at some point in the future the same developer could propose the project again with modified changes. That could very well be the case since local groups associated with the project still wont say anything about it. Projects in Greensboro have been scrapped and reproposed before. Another developer might even take the same concept of the Greensboro Triumph Center and propose something.

Its still a go. It will be a part of the Children's Museum expansion. But like everything else the economic situation has put things on hold. This is not a Greensboro problem, its really a national problem. This is the worst shape this country has been in since the depression in the 1920s.

Clearly. The credit markets are no joke right now. However, projects that are less of a risk or those being proposed by developers with deep pockets are having much less trouble getting approved and constructed. Even with the economy in the state that it's in, there are still several factors that go into a project getting constructed, delayed, or scrapped altogether; the economy by itself isn't always the sole deciding factor. I thought the Triumph Center was a bit too ambitious at this particular point in time, but something similar can work, especially as downtown becomes even more of a destination.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3207/3134924243_b5cec582f4.jpg


The Restaurant for Center Pointe condo tower in downtown Greensboro has be revealed. It will be an upscale restaurant called "Avenue" and will also have seating outside.

Avenue also provides what Chef Nicks calls residence service. Tenants can have a meal delivered to their condos by a waiter who will set their tables and come back later to take away the dishes.

Nicks called the feature a first for Greensboro.

http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/01/05/article/chef_developer_planning_ritzy_restaurant_downtown





Also and upscale Asian Bistro just opened in downtown Greensboro. Its a Japanese restaurant/sushi bar and they have exotic dishes such as Octopuss bowl

http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/01/05/article/new_restaurant_opens_in_downtown_greensboro

Center Pointe is just fantastic. What a wonderful job they did with this. Just glad it was far enough along that it wasn't held up because of the credit crunch.

http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/01/06/article/downtown_could_see_new_construction

Downtown could see new construction

Tuesday, January 6 ( updated 8:16 pm)

GREENSBORO - A local development group wants to erect a five-story, $3.6 million mixed-used building at 324 S. Elm St. in the heart of downtown's historic area.

The contemporary design project, which has raised concerns among some property owners and preservationists, would include two floors of restaurant space, two for offices and a top floor with two corporate apartments.

The developers, LindBrook Development Services, also want space in the adjacent public parking lot and a $100,000 forgivable loan from the city of Greensboro to make the project work financially.

"We're kind of putting a little toe in the water of downtown," said Jim Marshall, president of LindBrook, which has done a number of office building projects in Greensboro. "We're excited."

Marshall said the 25,000 square foot building could be under construction by spring.

The building, which would go up adjacent to the city's South Elm-McGee street parking lot, would be erected on a vacant lot that used to house the Mantelworks Restaurant. Mantelworks burned in 2003.

Downtown officials said the project would be one of the few new buildings to go up along South Elm in decades.

"It's great. It's outstanding," said Ed Wolverton, president and CEO of Downtown Greensboro Inc. "I think it speaks to the strength of the developer to be able to move a project forward in these times .... It's an extremely exciting project."

The developer is asking for a $100,000 forgivable loan from the city to help purchase a 3,600-square foot portion of the city parking lot. LindBrook will use the space for an outdoor dining area for the restaurant and pedestrian path.

Marshall declined to reveal what the restaurant will be.

If council approves the economic incentive requested by the developer, the city would forgive the loan once the developer invests $3.6 million in the property and the taxes paid on the property is equal to the loan.

The developers also want to rent an extra portion of the parking lot to provide off-street parking and Dumpster access for the building.

The economic incentive request was set to be heard Tuesday night, but was delayed until Jan. 21.

The developer is "designing from scratch" and will take into account the historic elements of Elm Street, Marshall said.

Wolverton acknowledged that the building's original design had raised some concerns but would not elaborate on what they were.

Drawings of the project that circulated Tuesday showed a modern-looking building rising two floors above its historic-looking neighbor to the north.

"I think the building doesn't necessarily match the architectural rules that have been established on South Elm for 125 years," said Benjamin Briggs, executive director of Preservation Greensboro. "There is a massing that is not appropriate."

Briggs and others have been working for months on a series of downtown development guidelines designed to protect the architectural integrity of the 100 through 600 blocks of South Elm.

"We need to try to work this out," said Milton Kern, a downtown property owner who has been involved in drawing up the guidelines. "They are good folks. They don't understand that downtown is not another office park. It is different. I want them down here."

Good news for downtown in these turbulent economic times. This sounds like a safe enough project so there might actually be some progress on this.

Good news for downtown in these turbulent economic times. This sounds like a safe enough project so there might actually be some progress on this.

here is the rendering..I dont know why preservationist are so worked up. This building has alot of historical elements. Its a very nice design.

http://preservationgreensboro.typepad.com/.a/6a00df351f49918833010536b7c77f970c-800wi

Oh that's really nice and it fits its context well. I could even see something like this going up in downtown Charleston. The preservationists in Greensboro need to chill. This would be a great infill project.

As for the restaurant in this building, I would love to see an upscale BBQ restaurant. Maybe it could serve Memphis style ribs. Thats one thing downtown Greensboro lacks is a BBQ restaurant.

wow. this is REALLY beautiful! again why are they making such a fuss? Ive seen some much worse projects proposed for historic districts. This one is great!

After reading the actual objections on Preservation Greensboro's blog, they actually make some valid points about the main entrance opening up to the lot on the side instead of at the front and the "inset" along the front which takes away from the consistent "wall" that the historic storefronts provide. They're only recommending slight changes to tweak the design, not a total overhaul.

here is WFMY news video link to the 5-story project

http://www.digtriad.com/video/default.aspx?storyid=117031&cat=216&aid=214430

:stupid: :D

CenterPointe turned out fantastic! I like the new proposed building as well. I hope that it gets built.

:old:

The International Civil Rights Museum in DT Greensboro to open in February 2010

The Museum will center around the sit-in movement that started in Greensboro at a downtown Woolworth lunch counter in 1960. Four students from NC A&T State University started what would become a national sit-in movement across the country. This event also started the civil rights movement of the 1960s. There will be other exihibits as well including a chair Martin Luther King Jr sat in after he was a arrested and a shard of glass from the Birmingham church bombing. The musuem will be associated with the Smithsionian which will allow major national exhibits to come to the museum. Museum organizers had planned to permanantly bring the actual Rosa Parks bus to the museum but realized they would not be able to get the bus in the old Woolworth building because there are no openings large enough for it. This museum will be a treasure for the city and the past several years buses from across the country have stopped by the museum even though its not open yet.

http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/01/31/article/civil_rights_museum_nears_the_finish_line

The five story development in downtown Greensboro gets the go ahead after controversy.

http://mm.news-record.com/drupal/files/imagecache/nrcom_article_image_landscape/files/Images/rendering.jpg

http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/02/03/article/elm_street_building_gets_the_go_ahead

excellent love it.

i'm excited about it.

Glad it got approved!

i went by the new apple store today. it was packed. here's some pictures from the news and record.

http://webmedia.news-record.com/legacy/indepth/09/02/apple_store_ss/

it's the largest apple store in the carolinas. does anyone have pictures of their own?

:rant: Quit hogging it all. :cry:

Well I have two iPod touches and a iPhone!!! :lol:

I think this was a smart move. The state is rerouting I-40 off the urban loop back onto Business 40. The urban loop will be known as I-840 and I-73 and Business 40 will return as I-40. Sounds good to me!

http://www.news-record.com/content/2008/09/12/article/dot_to_divert_i_40_from_urban_loop

The wait is nearly over and the first tenants will be moving in within the month!

http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/03...t_center_pointe (http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/03/12/article/the_wait_is_nearly_over_at_center_pointe)

http://mm.news-record.com/drupal/files/imagecache/zoom_view/Images/Centre%20Pointe%201%20010909.jpg

Carroll used Thursday’s talk to pitch some of Center Pointe’s features: valet parking, laundry service, cat-feeding and dog-walking services, grocery delivery, room service from the first-floor restaurant and a fitness center with personal trainers.

Carroll said the center will have a rock-climbing wall that operates on a conveyor belt for people who are afraid of heights."

a rock climbing wall on a conveyor belt?

a rock climbing wall on a conveyor belt?
I guess something like this...

http://elitechoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/treadwall1.jpg
http://outside.away.com/outside/magazine/1298/images/ggwall.jpg

oh ok. that makes more sense. i was thinking of the much more dangerous way.

in fact it is the "treadwall" which i posted above. Saw it on tv yesterday on te news

Memphis consultant proposes 300-room luxury hotel & conference center for downtown Greensboro

The hotel/conference center project is part of a larger development in downtown Greensboro that will include a new school administration building, residential and shops. The project is being proposed by Bridget Chisholm who is building a similar project in Memphis. ("Triangle Noir" development) The hotel in that project will be called "The Phoenix" and is being built next to the FedEx Forum.

here is the rendering of the proposed hotel in downtown Greensboro

http://mm.news-record.com/drupal/files/imagecache/zoom_view/Images/Greensboro_hotel_downtown.jpg

http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/06/30/article/group_could_lobby_for_stimulus_money_for_schools_office

http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/07/01/article/financing_a_hotel_is_a_tough_job

http://www.myfox8.com/wghp-story-gso-new-south-elm-development-090701,0,4058813.story

While I think downtown's hotel market definitely has room for more inventory, I wasn't expecting anything quite like this. I sure hope this one happens. I'd like to see a more detailed rendering though.

The proposal is going into high gear now, said Bridget Chisholm, because billions in redevelopment bonds were just released by the U.S. Department of the Treasury in June as part of the massive American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. This is how this project can get built in the current credit crisis. I think if Bridget can get redevelopment bond, this is going to get built. I think the project has a much better shot than the failed Greensboro Triumph Center which was even more ambitious. The developer already has a rendering of this hotel project. We do know this can happen because she is doing it in Memphis and the project is a go there. This is an amazing project for downtown Greensboro and the design has a lot of character to it. Clearly its not a dressed up Hampton Inn like what is being built any many downtowns going through revitialization.

here is the website for the group the developer put together for this project. You can see the experience involved and the kind of projects this group has already built

http://urbanhotelgroup.com/

^Hey, there's nothing wrong with a dressed up Hampton Inn:

http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/22/36/40/hampton-inn-downtown.jpg
Columbus, OH

http://images.hotel-rates.com/hotelimages/s/056000/056178A.jpg
Columbia

http://3547.voxcdn.com/photos/7/90/164715_l.jpg

http://www.hamptoninnandsuitesgreenville.com/images/cont_main.jpg
Greenville

:)

voters approved a bond for a major aquatic center at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex in Greensboro, NC. An addition construction will soon begin on the Atlantic Coast Conference Hall of Champions. Hall planners decided to go with the name "Hall of Champions" instead of "Hall of Fame". This should be a very popular attraction and will compliment the ACC Basketball Tournament and NCAA basketball tourney rounds at the coliseum.

Timeline:

Begin construction January 2010
ACC Hall of Champions Opening March 2011
Greensboro Aquatic Center Opening April 2011

http://www.downtownstadium.org/accrendering09.jpg
http://www.downtownstadium.org/accrendering092.jpg
http://www.downtownstadium.org/aquarendering09.jpg
http://www.downtownstadium.org/aquarendering209.jpg

more renderings shown on the link below.

http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/2BF2147E-2035-4FFF-8132-195DA5453DA4/0/AquaticCenterSeptember2009.pdf

aerial of the Greensboro Coliseum Complex

The complex consists of a 23,500 seat area, mini arena, convention/trade show space and a 2,500 seat auditorium that hosts musicals and broadway shows. City leaders want to renovate the auditorium and future projects will include the construction of a large banquet hall and an additional 2,000 seats to the main arena giving it a seating capacity of 25,500. The complex is state-of-the-art and many don't realize the complex was built back in the 1950s. Over the years its gone through two major additions and renovations and its a testament that cities don't have to destroy old arenas and build new ones.

Here is a photo of the coliseum complex October 25, 1959. At the time the coliseum only seated 9,000

http://www.greensborocoliseum.com/ae_files/venue_info/images/photo-war_memorial-1959.jpg

The complex today

http://www.greensborocoliseum.com/ae_files/venue_info/images/aerial.jpg
main arena
http://www.greensborocoliseum.com/ae_files/venue_info/images/acc_tournament04.jpg
mini arena
http://www.greensborocoliseum.com/movies/audlr.jpg


video link to aquatic center

http://www.digtriad.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=130713&catid=57

BTW here is a photo of the Atlantic Coast Conference headquarters located on the grounds of the Grandover Resort in Greensboro. They don't like to advertise exactly where the headquarters is located ;)


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3570/3401331827_8b938f7dca.jpg

The 5-story development on South Elm is now under construction. There has been some slight design changes to address concerns from Preservation Greensboro since this building is going in a historic district. The very first design (which I dont have a picture of) was very radical and was mostly of glass. That was the design that really got Preservation Greensboro up in arms.

The building will feature a restaurant on the first two floors, office on the next two and corporate apartments on the top floor.

http://www.myfox8.com/news/wghp-elm-st-bui...0,5504853.story (http://www.myfox8.com/news/wghp-elm-st-building-090928,0,5504853.story)

Old design
http://webmedia.news-record.com/drupal/files/imagecache/nrcom_article_image_landscape/Images/rendering.jpg

Final Design
http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/post-a5853-.html

I would still rather see the ACC Hall of Champions somewhere near downtown Greensboro rather than on High Point Road...it could be a major draw for downtown. I think most of the people who might visit a place like this would seek it out rather than just accidentally stumble onto it when attending something at the Coliseum. For example, I drove 2 hours from Chicago to visit the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend. :) I will definitely visit this one as well.

I was all for building the ACC Hall of Champions next to the downtown ballpark. To me that would make sense because it would help draw the ACC Baseball torunament to Greensboro more often. The ACC Baseball Tournament will be held in Greensboro for the first time next year.

200 room luxury hotel tower in the works for downtown Greensboro

If financing is secured, a luxury hotel could rise on Davie Street behind Elm Street Center in downtown Greensboro. The parking deck, above, would be razed, and a new parking deck would be built with a 200-room hotel tower on top.

Since July, Memphis developer Bridget Chisholm has been determined to bring a luxury hotel to downtown Greensboro — using federal stimulus funds. Since 2008, downtown investors Randall Kaplan and George House have been determined to build a luxury hotel adjacent to their meeting space on South Elm Street — but have been unable to line up financing.

Until last week, Chisholm didn’t know about Kaplan’s and House’s plans. Until last week, Kaplan and House didn’t know that federal stimulus funds could actually be leveraged to build a luxury hotel on Davie Street, behind their meeting space, called Elm Street Center.

That the two sides are now working together — trading knowledge of financing and hotel development for a prime location and the kind of credibility that only comes from well-regarded local businesspeople — illustrates the light-bulb moment of a critical middleman: Skip Alston, a real estate broker and chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners.

“It was 100 percent my idea” to put the two sides together, says Alston. As a result, the possibility of Greensboro getting a 200-room luxury hotel across the street from the soon-to-open International Civil Rights Center & Museum has taken a huge leap forward.

“The new location is certainly more conducive to making the project work, at least as publicly perceived,” says Andy Scott, Greensboro’s interim assistant city manager for economic development. “And having local partners with deep pockets certainly doesn’t hurt.”

Let’s back up a bit before explaining how the light bulb went off for Alston.

Kaplan and House, along with a variety of other prominent local investors, have spent more than $5 million in recent years to purchase an empty department store and turn it into Elm Street Center, with two 20,000-square-foot ballrooms, a martini and cigar bar and various other spaces. Just before the recession took hold, they paid for a feasibility study that concluded that downtown could support a 200-room upscale hotel with meeting space.

“We were excited about the possibilities and even talking with Wyndham,” says Kaplan of the national hotel chain, “but there was no financing, no place to get money.”

Alston, co-founder of the civil rights museum, has more than a passing interest in downtown’s future prosperity. He’s been friends with House, an attorney, for years and knew about the hotel plans behind Elm Street Center. Early last year, Alston represented a St. Louis hotel developer whom he put in touch with House. The out-of-town developer wanted the land on Davie Street, but wasn’t interested in partnering with House and Kaplan. No deal was struck.

Last summer and all the way through the fall, Kaplan followed Chisholm’s proposal to put a $45 million hotel and conference center on a brownfield site owned by the city a half-mile south of the center city on South Elm and Lee. The potential success of that project, he figured, would doom the plans for Elm Street Center.

Despite significant criticism and doubts about the location Chisholm selected for her hotel, she seemed determined to go forward with the project, assuming she could qualify for low-interest construction bonds made available from the federal government for so-called “recovery zones.” The Greensboro Redevelopment Commission even agreed to sell her the land she requested, despite research that suggested the project might not generate enough revenue to pay for the construction bonds.

But the financial projections didn’t bother Chisholm as much as the cost of the land — $1.1 million. She didn’t want to pay that much. Besides, it was clear that City Council, which needed to approve the land sale, wasn’t convinced of her project’s viability and wasn’t apt to lower the land price.

Alston, who has worked on other local projects with Chisholm, had been consulting with her on the hotel. He assumed the stimulus funds were only available for the Elm and Lee street location, but Chisholm explained that much of downtown has been designated a recovery zone. She asked Alston if he could find other possible locations for the hotel.

Just before Christmas, he showed her the city-owned parking lot between South Elm and McGree streets, and it was while trying to envision whether a hotel could fit there that Alston remembered his friend House and his hotel plans.

“I asked Bridget if I could call George for her,” Alston recalls, “and then I called George and said, ‘Look, you don’t know this lady, but she’s brilliant and you ought to sit down and hear her out.’ George said he was willing to listen.”

Over the course of two meetings on Dec. 28 and 29, Chisholm, whose Memphis-based Urban Hotel Group has already retained architects and investment bankers, met with House and Kaplan. It didn’t take long for both sides to see that their interests meshed and that partnering made sense.

Earlier this week, Kaplan was still sketchy on what exactly the ownership structure would look like and what the overall cost of the project would be. Because meeting space is already built and certain infrastructure needs are already in place on Davie Street, the hotel will likely cost less than the projected $45 million. A 200-room hotel is still envisioned, with an entrance on South Elm, and the city will still be asked to build a parking deck.

As for private equity, something Chisholm’s original planned lacked, Kaplan says the land on Davie as well as Elm Street Center will be folded into the proposal as equity. Questions about the hotel’s viability in a city that already has more than enough hotel rooms are likely to be raised when City Council is asked on Jan. 19 to recommend the project for stimulus funding.

Kaplan has an answer ready for that: “There’s no free money here, only low-interest government loans. The underwriters who buy the bonds and make the loans will decide whether or not this project is viable. If they don’t think it is, it’s not going to happen.”

http://triad.bizjournals.com/triad/stories/2010/01/11/tidbits1.html?b=1263186000%5E2690011

video link:

http://www.digtriad.com/news/gms/article.aspx?storyid=135497&catid=67

finally! an update!

The News & Record is reporting on city council accidently voting for the federal recovery bonds. Clearly this is an embarrassment to the mayor, city staff and city council because they voted on 3 bond issues with little to no information. There is wiggle room to take a project out if they don't like it but at this point, I dont think the votes are there to remove it. Also it appears the hotel will remain 8-stories based on the description of the new site. However the new rendering shows 9 stories. Apparently the city is considering building the deck on adjacent land instead of under the hotel. Clearly that would reduce the height of the hotel which means its not likely we are going to see a 15-story hotel as once believed. Instead of the deck being place beneath the hotel, there will be shops, restaurants, entertainment venues and even office space. So as it turns out this is a mixed-use development and not just a hotel located in the heart of downtown Greensboro and its restaurant/entertainment district. The luxury hotel will also be located across the street from the International Civil Rights Museum.

http://www.news-record.com/content/2010/01/18/article/city_council_may_have_mistakenly_approved_bond_projects

Hyatt Hammond will be the architect. The new rendering, even though its a rough sketch, looks MUCH better than the old rendering. The design fits in with the fabric of South Elm Street. It looks a lot like a luxury urban hotel in New York with the arch windows and flags on the front.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4285594863_0de0c0a009_o.jpg

all the information on the hotel.

http://mm.news-record.com/drupal/files/documents/Public_Records_Copy_of_Urban_Hotel_Group.pdf

Looney & Associates of Texas will be doing the interior work. Look at their hotel portfolio to get an idea of the quality we should expect inside this luxury hotel. Don't know If this means anything but most of the hotels they have dealt with are either Hyatt Regency or Ritz Carlton hotels (one of which is the Ritz Carlton Atlanta). They've also done a Westin. So who knows, its possible this could be a Hyatt Regency Hotel or maybe a downtown Wyndham. The Elm Street Center has had discussion before with Wyndham in past efforts to put a hotel on this site. But in the information package it says the group has already secured a letter of intent from 2 major hotel chains and has secured the commitment of an investment bank.

http://www.looney-associates.com/

The 10-story downtown hotel project cleared a major hurdle tonight. The county approved allocating investment bonds to build the hotel. The Vice President of Wyndham development confirmed the hotel will be called the "Wyndham Greensboro" and will be on par with its other upscale luxury hotels in major cities across the country. Wyndham makes further investment in Greensboro and it already sponsors the Wyndham Championship, the PGA event in Greensboro.

http://www.news-record.com/content/2010/09/16/article/commissioners_pass_downtown_hotel_project

It appears as though a $300 million mega project called the Greensboro Triumph Center is back on the table. Because of the economy nothing is likely to happen in the near future but the project's developer still wants to move forward with it. The anchor of the project would be a 4,000 seat performance art center/concert hall. Downtown Greensboro, Inc announced a few weeks ago that the focus will be on a downtown performance arts center.

http://www.greensborotriumphcenter.info/

http://exemptinc.com/Project_Specifications.html

Mixed Use Project:

PERFORMING ARTS CONCERT HALL:
4000 Seats
10,000 square feet Restaurant
10,000 square feet Retail

HOTEL TOWER : (Franchise to be determined)
300 Rooms
10,000 square feet Retail Shops

ENTERTAINMENT PAVILION:
200,000 square feet total
Bowling Lanes
Roller Skating Rink
8 Screens IMAX 3D Theater
Video Arcades
NASCAR simulators
childrens rides
double decker carousel
Shops and Food court

RESIDENTIAL MIXED USE TOWER
251 units
50,000 square feet Commercial space
50,000 square feet Retail space

CONVENTION CENTER:
100,000 square feet

http://www.acchallofchampions.net/sites/all/themes/acchoctheme/img/logo.png
http://www.digtriad.com/genthumb.ashx?e=1&h=285&w=380&i=/assetpool/images/110302112831_acc_hall_of_champions1.jpg
http://www.digtriad.com/genthumb.ashx?e=1&h=285&w=380&i=/assetpool/images/110302065315_400x300_acchallofchamps2.jpg

pictured ACC commissioner John Swofford and other dignitaries
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5093/5491702639_03a5cd7df7.jpg
large tv media screens may be placed in the large squares above the windows. The screens would show highlights of ACC games.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5136/5492248508_9c7cdeec2e_z.jpg

After 20 years since the idea was first brought up, the first hall of fame for a college sports conference opens today next to the Greensboro Coliseum Complex. The Hall of Champions will honor the history of the ACC which was founded in Greensboro in 1953 and will honor all ACC schools and sports legends like James Worthy and Michael Jordan. The hall is only phase one. There will be future expansion at a later date. Also the ACC headquarters is locate in a 3 story building at Grandover Resort in Greensboro.

ACC schools

Boston College
Clemson
Duke
Florida State
Georgia Tech
Maryland
University of Miami
North Carolina
NC State
Virginia
Virginia Tech
Wake Forest

http://www.acchallofchampions.net/

http://www.digtriad.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=163942&catid=57

http://www.news-record.com/content/2011/03/02/article/ribbon_cutting_this_morning_for_acc_hall_of_champions

Coliseum complex

http://www.acchallofchampions.net/sites/default/files/file-uploads/coliseum_venues.jpg

more photos from the ribbon cutting

http://www.digtriad.com/slideshows/acc_hall_of_champions/ACC_Hall_Of_Champions001.jpg
http://www.digtriad.com/slideshows/acc_hall_of_champions/ACC_Hall_Of_Champions002.jpg

Unique TV globe

http://www.digtriad.com/slideshows/acc_hall_of_champions/ACC_Hall_Of_Champions02.jpg
http://www.digtriad.com/slideshows/acc_hall_of_champions/ACC_Hall_Of_Champions03.jpg
http://www.digtriad.com/slideshows/acc_hall_of_champions/ACC_Hall_Of_Champions06.jpg
http://www.digtriad.com/slideshows/acc_hall_of_champions/ACC_Hall_Of_Champions07.jpg
http://www.digtriad.com/slideshows/acc_hall_of_champions/ACC_Hall_Of_Champions05.jpg

This thread is sticky once more!