City buying motel, plant
GREENSBORO - The city will soon own a low-cost motel and a former bottling plant.
On Tuesday night, the City Council approved the purchases of the Canada Dry and Coliseum Inn properties on High Point Road.
The City Council voted 5-3 to purchase the Canada Dry property for $3.2 million and the motel for $2.1 million.
Council members Mike Barber, Mary Rakestraw and Trudy Wade voted against both purchases. Mayor Yvonne Johnson was absent.
The City Council also approved a $255,000 economic development incentive for a local medical device manufacturer.
The city has explored buying the Canada Dry property for nearly 20 years to expand the adjacent Greensboro Coliseum Complex.
The property is owned by Susan Robinson, the wife of News & Record Editor John Robinson, and her brothers, W. Hardy Spence and Royall Spence III. The family, which owned Canada Dry of Greensboro, sold its franchise to distribute soft drinks in 1998.
The Coliseum Inn has more recently been on the city's radar, based on residents' concerns about crime on High Point Road.
The city plans to raze the motel.
Councilman Mike Barber urged council members to hold off on purchasing the Canada Dry property and the motel until next year, when they have a better idea about the city's financial future.
"This is just a matter of finances. I want to emphasize that," Barber said. "The High Point Road folks have our support, but I don't believe this council should spend this money today."
Barber and Councilwoman Trudy Wade said the city should explore using nuisance abatement laws to deal with problem businesses such as the Coliseum Inn and other motels.
"We need to address all the places, not just the Coliseum motel," Wade said.
Councilwoman T. Dianne Bellamy-Small said it was time for the city to make an investment in the area.
"As an elected body, sometimes we have to step out there and make decisions that will talk about a vision we may not be here to see," Bellamy-Small said. "But at least we started."
Residents, business leaders, sports council members and others urged the City Council to purchase the properties to expand the Coliseum Complex and to spur reinvestment in a blighted area.
"High Point Road has become an eyesore," said Richard Beard, chairman of the Greensboro Sports Council. "Something must be done to correct this."
Charles Coffey, president of the Lee Street Merchants Association, said the purchase of the Coliseum Inn would ease crime problems in the area.
"I care about my neighborhood and what has happened," said resident Laura Jackson. "I have lived in the neighborhood for 20 years and have seen it go downhill."
The City Council also approved a $255,000 economic incentive for the medical device manufacturer ConvaTec.
Councilwoman Trudy Wade voted against it, saying she was concerned that the international company could move jobs overseas.
The company plans to use the money to expand its Greensboro plant and add 30 new jobs.
The company also received an economic incentive package from Guilford County worth $152,000.
Contact Amanda Lehmert at 373-7075 or amanda.lehmert@news-record.com
The old Canada Dry plant beside the Greensboro Coliseum Complex.
File photo / News & RecordHERE'S WHAT CITY COUNCIL DID TUESDAY NIGHT
Inspection changes
The City Council unanimously voted to amend the city's rental unit certificate of occupancy statute, with an eye toward using city resources to address the worst rental properties. The new law will require city inspectors to conduct interior inspections of 2 percent of rentals annually. It also will allow tenants to be fined.
Residents speak out
A few residents expressed displeasure with former police Chief David Wray's departure, unfulfilled public record requests and the City Council's settlement negotiations in a discrimination case involving Greensboro police officers.
Greensboro resident Hans Roethinc put the blame for discrimination settlement discussions squarely on the city manager.
"This appears to be Greensboro's version of an economic stimulus package," he said.
City Council members and the manager remained mostly quiet throughout the public comment session, although Councilman Mike Barber pressed City Attorney Terry Wood to fulfill an outstanding public record request from local blogger Roch Smith of roch101.blogspot.com.
Rezoning withdrawn
Developer Kim Reittinger withdrew a request to rezone less than an acre at 1302 New Garden Road from single-family to multifamily residences. The zoning commission voted against the request, city staff recommended denial, and dozens of neighbors showed up Tuesday night to protest. Reittinger asked to withdraw after the council denied her request for a continuance.
