Downtown Greensboro Area Strategic Plan

Walker Sanders Jul 15 2025 at 7:19AM on page 65

Need to plant trees. Like the idea of making downtown the greenest downtown in America

Walker Sanders Jul 15 2025 at 7:17AM on page 44

I doubt a soceeer stadium will go on the News and Record site unless there are data points to suggest; currently the investors on this sie do not support that idea. Where are the other possible locations? Need to do an economic analysis of the advantages/disadvantages of various sites. Also, perhaps we go all in on music and put sports at the Cooliseum. Not a popular idea but something to be discussed.

Walker Sanders Jul 15 2025 at 7:13AM on page 37

Need to include GCS' Eugene Street property, The City's Park and rec buidling, and the Weaver Foundation's property

Walker Sanders Jul 15 2025 at 7:10AM on page 24

The Downtown Greenway is the big idea; how its gets develops expands the downtwon footprint and puts GSO on the map. Major housing sites for development on it, what/where are they and potential economic impact; have a consultant mock up potential prjects on the school district projects. Bike tourism is big and when connect the Downtown to A/Y to Country Park we have something no other community has; this is huge

Walker Sanders Jul 15 2025 at 7:07AM on page 24

Suggestion to make bold moves connected to districts.What are teh major opportunities in each district; what specific sites are we targeting.

What are the incentives to power small business; we need to incororate an innovation cresent that rund from NCAT to Nussbaum; try to figure out how to connect to UNCG.

We can't talk about toursim in GSO without talking about the GSO Science Museum and GSO Coliseum. How to connect downtown to these assets? What are the big ideas for bringing tourism downtown: vibrant music scene? convention center? ferris wheel? Bike park? IMAX theater? expanded Children's Museum focus on Innovation and Technology? Build a new Cultural Center; renovate existing one into event/exhibit space for national touiring type of shows

Walker Sanders Jul 15 2025 at 6:59AM on page 12

Suggestion

Don't think LoFi and tracks districts fit. Life: Ballpark, cultural, Morehead, Depot and Southend. Would like to discuss neighborhoods and consider an over lay of an "innovation cresent going from NCAT, News and Record site to Nussbaum.

Susan Jul 2 2025 at 12:21PM on page 71

Is this to be completed by our August meeting?

Susan Jul 2 2025 at 12:20PM on page 68

Explain how best to connect sites.

Susan Jul 2 2025 at 12:19PM on page 68

Give examples. Be specific.

Susan Jul 2 2025 at 12:18PM on page 65

What does this mean? Please be specific.

Susan Jul 2 2025 at 12:16PM on page 61

I certainly support this. However, I suggest we look at what is already in place partnering with Action Greensboro and the City.

Susan Jul 2 2025 at 12:14PM on page 27

I suggest a highly visible, new-age, child care centerfor the Center City. It could be a model care center with leadership and participation from UNCG. Funding might come from the legislature, participating employers, and employees. It could focus on children ages 3 months through age 3, maybe 4; offer after school care in partnership with the Ys, Black Child Development, and Parks and Rec; take advantage of the library, the parks, the Children's Museum, and the GSO History Museum; and serve as a lab school for childcare workers in our community.

Susan Jul 2 2025 at 12:08PM on page 39

Concern

People, including me, will be highly interested in what is being suggested for the catalytic sites. Not just whatt, but how they might relate to each other or provide overall strategic development for the Center City. I think this section needs more specificity. The options need to be clear. Do we as a committee know what investments will provdie the most bang for the buck, have benefitted other communities, might be unique to Greensboro, what the market is interested in, etc.?

Susan Jul 2 2025 at 12:03PM on page 38

Are we missing an eighth site - the Mike Weaver/Weaver Foundation property? There are some environmental concerns. What is the highest and best use of the property?

Susan Jul 2 2025 at 12:01PM on page 35

This metric is important. I don't know that we have set goals in the past, kept track of this in the past, identified barriers in securing agreements, and addressed the barriers.

Susan Jul 2 2025 at 11:58AM on page 26

What is the ultimate housing goal? Is it 5% of the City's population? Is it 10%?

Do we want to identify the price ranges for housing? Does the market drive that? Do incentives help with ensuring there is "affordable" housing? or that there is "Middle" housing?

Susan Jul 2 2025 at 11:55AM on page 19

As was earlier stated, this district should include Deep Roots Market and Holy Trinity Church, both along the Greenway and both activators for downtown.

Susan Jul 2 2025 at 11:54AM on page 16

Fully activating Center City Park is dependent on several things:
1. Reducing or eliminating the problems of the unsheltered
2. Funding activities that are frequent, predictable, engaging, and fun
3. Activating the areas around the Park
a. reducing the number of parking decks or adding housing to the parking decks - on top or surrounding
b. renovating the Cultural Arts Center to make it more inviting bringing people into the gallery spaces, adding a cafe, etc. OR consider demolishing and putting housing in that spot and moving the cultural center elsewhere.
c. supporting the new Symphony Rehearsal Hall to help it draw people to downtown

Susan Jul 2 2025 at 11:45AM on page 30

I think this is one of the most important actions that could activate downtown and enhance its charm.

Susan Jul 2 2025 at 11:43AM on page 27

I am uncertain as to whether this overlay is the same as Design Guidelines. Can we look at the desinh guidelines developed some time ago, update, and have the City Council adopt them?

These would be useful for other development including upgrade of underused and unused buildings.

Susan Jul 2 2025 at 11:39AM on page 24

To bolster downtown as a destination site, we need creatives working together who do not have a vested interest in how their respective organizations benefit. This needs to be a team effort bringing together the variety of our assets.

Susan Jul 2 2025 at 11:35AM on page 21

Does the Blandwood site need to be folded into the Greensboro Historical Museum?

Susan Jul 2 2025 at 11:33AM on page 19

Instead of talking and talking about a grocery store needed for downtown, can we partner with Deep Roots to expand its mission and develop it into a grocery store that can serve many? Wouldn't it be easier for it to expand than for us to bring in another grocer?

Susan Jul 2 2025 at 11:32AM on page 19

This map needs to include Deep Roots Market and Holy Trinity Church.

Susan Jul 2 2025 at 11:31AM on page 18

There is more we can do along Bragg Street/The Downtown Greenway to make that area attractive and welcoming. Several concerns, though, are:
Investments in that area tend to be vandalized and/or misused.
The homeless problems can be significant along the Greenway's southern phase and need addressing just like those of other areas in the Center City.
We have got to lock up development in and around Union Square. A strong showing there would serve as a catalyst for development elsewhere. I wish the City and DGI would make this a priority . Are new tools needed to promote investmetn?

Susan Jul 2 2025 at 11:21AM on page 12

Concern

I am concerned about naming a district TRACKS. Can we think of another name?

Susan Jul 2 2025 at 10:58AM on page 15

Addressing the homeless issues downtown is a key element to securing additional and large investments in the Center City. The City in collaboration with the County must develop and share a short- and long-range plan before we can make significant headway.

Joe Rieke Jul 1 2025 at 12:23PM on page 44

Improvements or Changes

Adding convention space to this area is critical - if a soccer stadium is a focus for this area, it would be strengthened by convention and visitor infrastructure that can support small-to-medium sized conferences, especially when considering the amount of sports/athletics draw the city already has. Whether or not a tournament is being held at Bryan Park or a meet at the WAC, a downtown meeting space should be a necessary and incredible booking for affiliations, promoters and associated vendors as well as other professional or special interest groups.

Joe Rieke Jul 1 2025 at 12:13PM on page 33

Question

This could also be where "cultural offerings" come into play in order to drive tourism. Having the city and DGI focus on supporting entities/infrastructure that already has significant draw (Tanger, Children's Museum, Downtown Parks, Folk Fest, Cultural Center, Libraries, History Museum, Greenway etc.) in order for them to "attract local, regional, national, and international visitors" is a no brainer. What would the cultural district look like in 5-10 years with the right community investment to activate, enhance, and grow the space? Can tourism focused taxes, city bonds, or other creative fund-raising strategies be used to support?

Joe Rieke Jul 1 2025 at 11:57AM on page 33

Suggestion

3.C. - ...or updates to current storefronts.

Joe Rieke Jul 1 2025 at 11:53AM on page 9

Suggestion

Add Strategiy: Develop and sustain cultural offerings, institutions, and infrastructure that are regional destinations.

Joe Rieke Jul 1 2025 at 11:51AM on page 9

Suggestion

Additional Strategy addition: Develop and maintain regionally attractive cultural offerings, institutions, and infrastructure.

Joe Rieke Jul 1 2025 at 11:45AM on page 12

Suggestion

To reiterate a comment made in the last meeting, we need to lean into districts that are established or are driving near term Thrive 35 goals and initiatives and/or have the capacity to grow into larger footprints.

These would be South End, Historic Core (needs a better name "Historic Elm", "High Street District", etc.), Cultural District (again better name, NOCH [North Church] Cultural District??), LOFI, Ballpark.

Less established districts should be allowed to organically grow and reach definition as they become more established.

Joe Rieke Jul 1 2025 at 11:27AM on page 12

Question

DGI & Local business owners are starting to identify Elm St @ McGee as "The Square" and have been activating the space with programming for the past several months. How can this plan recognize and bolster the organic definition of this space and support its growth?

Cecelia Jun 25 2025 at 1:32PM on page 1

Overall I think it’s well done, strategic, comprehensive, and ambitious for a 10-year plan. I wonder if MIG has any suggestions on a proposed timeline for implementation. It would be nice to have a tiered timeline in phases, etc. What are things that need to be done first such as, regulatory change first? Or something else?

With such a small team, are there recommendations for DGI to build capacity? If so, what roles/skillsets are needed?

Cecelia Jun 25 2025 at 1:10PM on page 30

Greensboro Chamber/Launch Greensboro does this.

Cecelia Jun 25 2025 at 1:07PM on page 33

Add the Greensboro CVB and Sports Foundation?

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Downtown Greensboro Area Strategic Plan

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