cityboi

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

Economic Development projects in the Greensboro area. Boom Supersonic jet manufacturing facility at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro. It will eventually employ almost 2,000 workers. Toyota EV Battery Plant at the Greensboro-Randolph mega site which will employ over 5,000 workers Honda Aircraft Company world headquarters and jet manufacturing campus at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro. The company plans a major expansion to build larger jets. Marshall Aerospace going up at Piedmont Triad International Airport. Looks like PTI has become the defacto "NC Global Transpark" The Mid-Atlantic air cargo FedEx hub at Piedmont Triad International Airport which start the chain of development around the airport.

It is indeed Fujifilm. Over the past few years the Triad and Triangle have been seeing a lot of jobs announcements.

Plus I just don't see Publix opening up a downtown Greensboro location. The demographics are not there yet for that kind of supermarket chain.

The Prime Minister of Japan is making a historic trip to North Carolina Friday putting the state in the global economic spotlight. He will be touring the Toyota battery plant outside Greensboro and HondaJet in Greensboro. He will then have a luncheon with the governor in Raleigh along with a few stops there. President Biden announced the visit to North Carolina today during a press conference. Cooper said there will be another economic announcement in the state during the visit. https://www.wral.com/story/cooper-s-visit-with-japan-s-kishida-could-coincide-with-major-jobs-announcement/21371275/ More on the jobs announcement which will coincide with the Prime Minister's visit. A special meeting will be held Thursday for incentives for the unnamed company and no word where in the state it would expand. Its most likely a Japanese company. https://www.wral.com/amp/21371275/

I would love to see Publix there. Not sure if the site fits their demographics but that would be cool. Its amazing Greensboro proper doesn't already have a Publix. The only one is technically in Jamestown even though its a Greensboro address. In other downtown news, a multifamily developer purchased a lot in the north end of downtown between the Tanger Center and ballpark. No details have been revealed but its likely the vacant building on the lot would be demolished for new construction residential. The building is next to Carroll at Bellemeade on 311 Battleground Ave. https://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2024/04/10/evolve-buys-greensboro-downtown-office-building.html

Lidl backing out at South Elm and Gate City Blvd may have been a good thing. A developer wants to build a mixed use project there called South Gate which would include 6 story apartments, retail and space for a national grocery chain. The developer has been talking to Lidl as well. This is how an urban grocery store should be incorporated into downtown. Not a stand alone store with a large parking lot. https://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2024/04/09/south-elm-alexander-group-andy-zimmerman-retail.html

I-777 proposed for Triad. From I-40 in Winston-Salem through Yadkinville. https://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2024/04/08/future-insterstate-777-nc-carolina-core-forstyh.html

Historic photos of Greensboro between the 1920s and 1950s War Memorial Stadium (built in 1926 and still standing. home stadium for NC A&T State University and former home of Greensboro's minor league baseball team) The original O. Henry Hotel (built in 1919 and demolished in the late 70s) The Depot built in 1926 and is still used as Greensboro's train station today. Carolina Theatre built in 1926 . There was a lot of construction in downtown Greensboro that year (during the roaring 20s) which also included the King Cotton Hotel, the depot, the 15 story Greensboro National Bank, now the Guilford Building. The 17 story Jefferson Standard Building was built in 1923 and was the tallest building in the south at the time. The King Cotton Hotel built in 1926 and demolished in 1971. Carolina Theatre Old central fire station still standing today

factory hanger at Boom Supersonic and Marshall Aerospace hanger is now going up.

In years past it was all about a large seating capacity in arenas but by the late 1990s, many arenas reduced their seat and the new ones were built with about 17,000 to 18,000 seat for basketball. Before the old Charlotte Coliseum was demolished it had 500 more seats than the Greensboro Coliseum with 24,000 seats. But even today its amazing to think that a city the size of Greensboro has the largest seating capacity arena in the United States and the city doesn't even have a major league sports team.

Leaders said at the State of Downtown meeting this week that construction on the Westin will begin within 5 months.

The Greensboro Coliseum which opened back in 1958 has expanded twice in seating capacity with two exterior designs. The complex has served Greensboro very well and is the one big asset that puts Greensboro on the map. However the coliseum must always stay relevant and keep up with the competition. While I don't think the coliseum arena should expand anymore with seating the exterior design is now over 30 years old and has become stale by comparison of newer arenas. The mayor hinted that at the state of the city address. I think the exterior of the coliseum arena needs a major overhaul with a more modern look. I would love to see more glass. Also raise the roof a little to create something similar to a flat dome on top with a large wrap around LED message/graphic board . In addition I think the city should consider selling part of the coliseum property to a developer to build an on-site hotel with a number of restaurants. Create a "downtown" pedestrian experience with on-site entertainment venues. There is so much under utilized land on the complex and there is too much parking lot space. Develope that land and build a parking deck. If the coliseum wants to continue to host premiere world class events such as the U.S. figure skating championship and continue to host the ACC tournament and other events, the city can't become complacent with this valuable asset for our community. It doesn't take long for arenas to become outdated. One interesting fact. When the coliseum was first proposed in 1944, city officials were leaning towards a number of sites before they picked its current location. One site was near North Elm Street near Moses Cone Hopital but there were several sites downtown the city looked at. The only reason I can think of for it not being built downtown is because of NIMBYs. Keep in mind back in the late 40s and early 50s, downtown Greensboro was tiny by comparison to today. It was less developed and had more residential single family homes in close proximity so I can imagine residents of the day being in an uproar. There was not much development near the old fair grounds or residential at Lee Street and High Point Rd (Gate City Blvd) the current location of the coliseum was pretty much on the outskirts of town back then. Examples of more modern arenas. I'd like to see a redesigned exterior for the Greensboro Coliseum arena look similar. Imagine the coliseum having a flat dome top similar to the Seattle arena but covered with a wrap around LED board which could display event dates and motion graphic displays. Greensboro needs to sell the naming rights and get rid of "coliseum" in the name. Arenas these days are not being called coliseums anymore. That is so 1970s. They are called "centers" or "arenas". Toyota is investing heavily in the area. Maybe sell the naming rights to Toyota or even Honda since it has a big presence at PTI. The Greensboro Coliseum does top the list in one category in regards to arenas across the country! In regards to seating capacity its the largest in the United States.

So many different good angles!

A stroll down memory lane.

Big plans for the depot.....major food hall, restaurants, splash pad, plaza/ performance space and more. https://myfox8.com/news/north-carolina/greensboro/downtown-greensboro-inc-reveals-exciting-future-initiative-for-transportation-depot/

Through AI on my new Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra I was able to take old Greensboro black and white photos and accurate colorize them while increasing the resolution close to 4k. See Old Greensboro through the eyes of modern day color OHenry Hotel Interior of the OHenry Hotel Carolina Theatre under construction in 1925

Pura Vida Bar and Grill opening downtown in early April 221 S Elm Street

I agree, Alexander's plan is better and I also agree with Lidl. It was a horrible site plan for an urban grocery store. Alexander is looking to eventually attract a grocery store in his development and hopefully it will be done the right way. But it would be cool to see a hybrid of both plans.

Now that Lidl appears to be a no go, two developers have two different visions for that site at South Elm Street and Gate City Blvd. https://myfox8.com/news/north-carolina/greensboro/2-candidates-eager-to-revitalize-south-elm-street-in-greensboro/

Sports Business Journal has selected Greensboro as the nation’s No. 2 city for attracting and hosting sporting events that’s not the home of a major professional team in the top-five leagues. https://journalnow.com/tncms/asset/editorial/74803c84-e533-11ee-9f8a-7b75c473eb32/#tracking-source=home-top-story

Roy Carroll is taking some serious heat after purchasing a historic home in Irving Park built in the 1930s and tearing it down. I'm normally in support of what Roy Carroll does for the city of Greensboro but this is pretty sad. The house was perfectly structurally sound but because the layout didn't work for him he decided to tear it down and build from scratch. A $7 million historic home being torn down! https://myfox8.com/news/north-carolina/greensboro/historic-spencer-love-house-in-greensboro-torn-down-by-new-owner/ Many in the community are stunned. The house not only has architectural significance, it has historic significance as well. According to documents submitted to the National Register of Historic Places, the Spencer Love House was “one of the grandest classically informed houses in the city.” The home’s style is described as “Georgian Revival in its use of classical organization and ornamentation” with “a high hipped roof with segmental-arched dormers, a modillion block cornice, a scrolled pediment entrance, and decorative brick lintels and keystones.” According to Guilford County property records, the home sits on about 3 acres. The home has a living area of 10,834 square feet with five bedrooms, six full bathrooms and three half-baths. The house was built by Love, founder of the global textile leader Burlington Industries, in 1937. https://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2024/03/13/demolition-mansion-sold-between-business-leaders.html