Something’s definitely up with the corner of South Elm and Lee here in Greensboro. The N&R reported on Friday that the redevelopment commission had decided to “would seek out a master developer to oversee the redevelopment,” a decision that “effectively dashed the plans of a Tennessee-based developer and the Ole Asheboro Neighborhood Association, which wanted the city commission to donate 4 acres of land on the site for a hotel.”
But Amanda Lehmert reports today that the commission will hold a public hearing to consider selling the land to the neighborhood association. The association, under the guidance of developer Bridget Chisholm, would leverage federal stimulus funds to complete the project, along with an $8 million subsidy from the city.
Note that Chisholm’s specialty is leveraging public funds for development. Note also that outgoing city council member Goldie Wells lobbied the commission to re-consider the neighborhood association’s proposal. Should anyone be comforted by the fact that tonight’s special meeting on the proposed aquatic center will be Wells’ last as a council member, remember that incoming District 2 council member Jim Kee is her hand-picked successor.
