The N&R reports on last night’s marathon discussion and debate by the Greensboro City Council on development for the rundown Bessemer Center shopping center on the east side of town.
The article notes the council went back and forth for four hours, and that should tell you pretty much what you need to know. In a nutshell, they were trying to decide whether to go with a bid from the Renaissance Community, under which the city would continue to own the shopping center and assist with establishing a co-op grocery store, which neighborhood residents insist is essential considering the fact that Phillips Avenue is a so-called ‘food desert.’
The other bid was from former Guilford County Commissioner Skip Alston, who told the council that —with a little help from the city, mind you — his group would go in and not only renovate the shopping center but fill it up as well. Alston’s bid did not necessarily exclude the co-op.
The council not only was split over which group to work with, but was also confused about the dollars involved. At one point Alston returned to the podium and told the council he did not mind if the they rejected his bid, but he did not want them to do so based on inaccurate figures.
I’m no expert on Robert’s Rules of Order, but I’ve watched enough government meetings to have a basic understanding, and Mayor Robbie Perkins pretty much broke every rule —I’m not saying that to cut on Perkins— as big a target as he is now— because he admitted as much later on. Best example is citizens who were not principals in either deal were allowed to speak after the public hearing was closed.
After all that, the council –you guessed it– tabled the issue until its June 4 meeting. While I hate to see so much debate and discussion come to no resolution, this was the best course of action.
