Developing Downtown
By Joe Scott, News & Record
April 16, 2012
In earlier decades, the trend of suburban development was bolstered by TV sitcoms like “Leave It To Beaver” and “The Brady Bunch,” which beamed images of idyllic small town life into living rooms across the country.
“That was the standard, the norm,” says Ed Wolverton, president and CEO of Downtown Greensboro, Inc. “But you flash forward to the 1990s, and the popular sitcoms were ‘Friends’ and ‘Seinfeld,’ which were about young adults living in urban settings, taking advantage of the services these places have to offer.”
With this trend of urban-based sitcoms maintaining popularity with current hits like “The Big Bang Theory” and “Two Broke Girls,” Wolverton perceives a cultural shift amongst Americans who are gradually migrating towards the amenities and convenience of downtown living. To keep up with this growing demand on the local front, a slew of property developers and entrepreneurs have invested millions of dollars into businesses, homes and apartment buildings slated for Downtown Greensboro.
“Culturally, I think we’re seeing more people who want to live in a downtown environment versus having to drive 30 minutes to get anywhere,” says Seth Coker, president of Signature Property Group.
Signature Property Group opened its first City View apartments on 307 King Street in 2009. Including the current expansion project, the apartment complex consists of seven buildings with 335 units that give tenants a splendid view of Downtown Greensboro’s cityscape. The complex also boasts a clubhouse with a heated pool and custom-built coffee bar, intended to stoke resident social interactions.
“If you’re there, you’re going to meet people,” Coker says. “It’s the natural effect of having so many people in a dense area, but we also put a lot of work into making social connections happen for people over there.”
Coker adds that while many of his residents either work downtown or attend classes at Elon Law School on Greene Street, others simply enjoy living in a place that is walking distance from restaurants and nightclubs Downtown.
And while they represent competition, Coker welcomes the construction of the Greenway at Fisher Park Apartments, which is being developed by Lomax Properties, LLC and Bellemeade Development. Located on a 1.5 acre tract on the corner of Battleground Avenue and Eugene Street, the complex will consist of five buildings and 196 units of high-end apartments, a rooftop terrace and bar and a saltwater pool. Most importantly, it will be along Greensboro’s Greenway, a $26 million “linear park” that will allow residents to walk or bike safely across the city.
“It will tie into the existing trail system that is already connecting the entire community,” Wolverton says. “And the trail system that is connecting the entire state is going to be ‘hubbed,’ if you will, with Downtown Greensboro being a piece of that.”
A major addition that all residents and commuters who work in Downtown Greensboro can look forward to is the relocation of Deep Roots Market, a grocery co-op that specializes in natural and organic foods. Founded in Greensboro in 1976, its planned 10,570-square-foot location on North Eugene Street will exceed the services it currently offers at its Spring Garden Street store, including a deli offering an array of hormone-free meats, a café with a fresh juice bar and a community center for public events.
Chris Kwong, president of Deep Roots Market’s board of directors, saw Downtown Greensboro’s demand for a grocery store as an opportunity.
“On the business side, we have the ability to go in and take care of the business needs of the people living downtown and the people working downtown,” Kwong says. “At the same time, we get to have the ability to reach out and really connect with the community.”
Some other projects on the horizon include a new restaurant, The Worx, which should open this summer, and Elon University Law School’s purchase of Downtown land for future expansion. The school will create some parking and park space as an interim use for some of the the property, which should be finished by the end of the year.
Over the next ten years, Wolverton hopes to see an expansion of Downtown Greensboro’s residential base, which he feels is underdeveloped. He also feels a Performing Arts Center could be a boon not only for downtown, but the city overall.
“For us to be a first class city, to compete with the Charlotte’s and the Raleigh’s, this is a critical asset that we have got to address, and we are undertaking that process right now,” Wolverton says. “A lot of people agree that needs to be downtown, so we’ve got to find a way to make that happen.”
About DGI
Founded in 1997, Downtown Greensboro Inc. (DGI) is an economic development organization focused on stimulating interest and investment in Downtown Greensboro.
Led by a 33-member Board of Directors and a staff of four people, DGI’s mission is to “lead the development of Downtown Greensboro as a prosperous and vibrant urban center, memorable and meaningful for those who choose to live, work play and invest here.”
DGI has taken a leading role in building the residential base in Downtown. In addition to helping make Downtown a true 24-hour destination, residents help support shops, restaurants and attractions. Over the past 8 years, the residential population Downtown has doubled, due in large part to DGI’s Residential Incentive Program, honored by the International Downtown Association in 2007.
Historically, some of DGI’s early initiatives included changing zoning ordinances that had restricted sidewalk dining and nightclubs on downtown streets. DGI’s most recent initiatives involve awarding grants for businesses focused on retail and façade improvements for downtown buildings. DGI also manages a Clean and Green team to help keep the streets beautiful.
For more information on DGI’s services, including a listing of restaurants, businesses and available properties, visit the website at www.downtowngreensboro.net.
(Click here to see the original source page.)
