cityboi

Topgolf Greensboro photo update

Finally!! Demolition begin on News and Record building. The Ryan companies backed out of their project but could something larger be in the works for the site by other developers? DGI president Zack Matheny said he is in serious discussions with developers and the project would likely require incentives for a project of its size. Clearly the news of the demolition has made the site even more attractive for developers. https://greensboro.com/news/local/business/development/greensboro-news-record-downtown/article_012d4a08-00ed-11ef-a8c3-d3e09bddf71b.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

Yes its unfortunate. Greensboro tends to put cost before creativity unlike a number of its peer cities. One example is the Tanger Center. I have mixed feelings about the design. The front facade looks great but the sides and back of the building looks unfinished to me. The city turned down a stunning design for the current one. I guess it would have added to the cost of the nearly $100 million performing arts center. One of the finalists for the design of the Tanger Center. Looks stunning This is what we got instead. The surface parking annoys me but I do understand the VIP parking is part of the funding mechanism for the Tanger Center. The city could have at least built a screened deck with ground level retail and restaurants and possibly set aside some of that land for a developer to build a hotel. My guess is that the city may one day expand the Tanger Center by attaching a multi-use venue with a smaller theater around 300 to 500 seats for smaller shows. The seats could be removed for different performing set ups such as standing concerts or be utilized for convention space. City leaders have been talking about the need for a small convention center downtown. Might be a great location for one especially being within walking distance to the parks and the retail and restaurants on Elm Street. Plus the Tanger parking lot is in close proximity to downtown's biggest hotels. The Marriott across the street on North Elm, the future Westin Hotel two blocks to the south and the Hyatt Place and future AC Hotels a few blocks to the west. The parking lot could easily fit a 75,000 to 100,000 square foot convention center. By comparison, the Benton Convention Center in downtown Winston-Salem has. 100,000 square feet and the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro off of I-40 has nearly 300,000 square feet. Because Greensboro already has a large convention center, I could see a more modest size venue downtown around 75,000 to 85,000 square feet. This location make more sense than the News and Record property which more than likely has contamination issues. The area around the Tanger Center is cleaner, nicer and already set up for surrounding pedestrian activity.

They are really making progress with the Top Golf construction. They are putting those tall net poles up. Part of the entertainment element in the development which is anchored by Top Golf, will likely be a Main Event which has a bowling alley, arcade and other attractions. The developer who is building it also built a Top Golf in Greenville, SC which includes a Main Event. There are several other Top Golf's around the country that has a Main Event on the properties.

Greensboro

Whataburger will rapidly be expanding into North Carolina. The first location will be Charlotte followed by Greensboro, then Fayetteville. The company just announced plans for a location on North Main Street in High Point. Charlotte and Greensboro will have two locations. The Greensboro locations will be: 4409 West Wendover Ave and 2700 Koury Blvd. The Koury Blvd location appears to be under construction now because there is a lot of prep digging going on at that site which is rumored to have a Starbucks as well. https://www.newsobserver.com/living/food-drink/article285198987.html

Greensboro

The old Guilford County jail in Greensboro coming down. Architecturally this is blahhh but I still hate a midrise structure is coming down for a 2 story sheriff's office. Would have been nice if they had renovated the way Roy Carroll turned the Wachovia Building into Center Pointe.

The Home Furnishings Market is in town this week. There has been much discussion about more hotels in downtown High Point to accommodate the market. The problem is the market is only held downtown one week twice a year. There is a new trend starting and they are called pop up hotels which are temporary accommodations for short term events in need of hotel rooms. This could be something High Point could look into because into. It keeps market goers in High Point so they are not spending their money in other cities. The city could provide entertainment after hours for those coming out of town. Pop up shops during the market is another idea. https://skift.com/2018/05/15/hotels-experiment-with-pop-ups-to-attract-new-audiences/

Yes for that very reason the Prime Minister's visit to the Triad and North Carolina in general is a really big deal on so many different levels. Certainly beneficial for the Triad because it is lesser known than the Triangle.

Prime Minister of Japan at HondaJet https://www.wral.com/video/japanese-prime-minister-visits-hondajet-in-burlington/21376847/

Greensboro Southern Loan & Trust Building Benbow Hotel Construction of the old First Union Building National Theater McAdoo Building Banner Building Greensboro Loan and Trust Company Greensboro Centennial Celebration in 1908. Clegg Hotel in 1899