OK, I don’t feel so bad: Cone also appears to be a little confused about parallel consultants’ reports on downtown Greensboro development.

Hoggard straightens him out in the comments, noting that we are indeed talking about two different reports. The H. Blount Hunter report was commissioned by Downtown Greensboro Inc., while the HRA report proposing the Church Street “cultural mecca” was commissioned by the city. Note, though, that DGI figures prominently in the HRA report, especially in the recommendation for a “facade improvement program,” where it appears the city would be more than happy to step in and help businesses cover the cost. Note also the report mentions the Wichita Facade Improvement Program as a basis for comparison. What a coincidence, considering the fact that DGI president Ed Wolverton spent some time in Wichita.

I haven’t read the Hunter report , but no doubt it operates on the assumption that the city will have to step in to help carry out their recommendations. The HRA report is the one we really have to keep an eye on because it’s talking real money. And I have to ask again: How many consultant reports does a city need?