Never mind that the City of Greensboro is in the redevelopment business. Never mind the process by which the city is acquiring land is described as “clumsy” and “not the right way at all.” Never mind that the city is adding insult to injury by lowballing property owners. Here’s what I found interesting:
Chris Dwiggins says his auto shop is booming because of downtown’s revival. So he can’t understand why a plan to revive South Elm may push him farther from his customers.
Dwiggins’ Automotive Connection is one of about 20 properties the city is trying to buy for its South Elm Street redevelopment plan. A few owners of those properties say the process is clumsy and the city’s offers are low.
The City Council will consider whether to approve the plan, which has been in the works for more than two years, this evening.
Many properties in the 11 acres south of Lee Street are vacant and blighted. But Dwiggins says he has strong business because his customers work or live downtown and it’s only a short ride or walk to his West Lee Street shop.
I’m sensitive to this issue because I’m one person lucky enough to have an automotive repair place in my neighborhood. I drop my car off in the morning and stroll home along the city’s fine network of sidewalks. If I continue to reduce the number of trans fats in my diet, I might not get too fat.
All part of the the perfect world city planners envision, right? But unfortunately automotive repair obviously isn’t part of the city’s concept of “mixed-use” development.
Meanwhile, officials are excited over plans to redevelop downtown High Point. A Herculean effort if there ever was one. I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a downtown area that has so little charm.
