The N&R’s Joe Killian writes in an update (not online yet) to yesterday’s story on new plans for a downtown Greensboro luxury hotel that the Ole Asheboro Street Neighborhood Association “is listed as part of the development team, but it is unclear whether the group has a financial stake.”
Interesting reaction to the new plan from editorial page editor Allen Johnson (my bold):
I still question whether they can weather the economy and compete effectively with all the other local hotels … including the formidable but often overlooked downtown Marriott.
I still wondered if Bridget Chisholm, whose brainchild this is, was smart and naive following a video interview with her and partner Randall Kaplan .
But I also still like the idea of something new and exciting not only for South Elm, but for Davie Street, which might as well be Siberia for all of the bleakness and lack of activity there.
And I disagree with Dennis Quaintance on one point: If they try and fail, I don’t expect it to become an eyesore.
It will simply be a new building where there was none. And some other purpose would be found for it … maybe condos.
That last sentence is not a comforting thought, given that the current condo bust “should provide a cautionary tale for developers, planners and the urban political class….”
Below is Johnson’s January interview with Chisholm and her partner Randall Kaplan.
