news-record.com

GREENSBORO - The City Council will consider buying the Canada Dry and Coliseum Inn properties near the Greensboro Coliseum despite a request from one member to halt major real estate purchases for the next eight months.

Councilman Mike Barber asked other council members Tuesday night to delay buying new properties, except for utilities, public safety or water/sewer projects, until July.

His motion failed 3 to 6, with Barber and Councilwomen Trudy Wade and Mary Rakestraw voting in favor.

Earlier this year the council directed the city manager to negotiate sales agreements for the Coliseum Inn and the former Canada Dry property on High Point Road.

The Canada Dry 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 council was scheduled to hold a hearing on the purchases in November.

Barber made his motion as the council prepared to set that hearing date.

He urged the council not to spend large amounts on real estate when the city is predicting a shortfall in sales-tax and building-fee revenue.

"The community needs to hear us take steps to manage money," Barber said.

Other council members said they didn't want to miss this opportunity to buy these properties - especially the motel, which the city plans to raze as nuisance abatement.

"That is just a terrible blight on the community around it and to High Point Road," Councilwoman Sandra Anderson Groat said.

Councilman Zack Matheny said council members must balance cutting costs and paying for necessary projects.

"We can't afford to shut the city down, as much as we need to save money," Matheny said.

Matheny urged Barber to wait until the hearing, to allow residents to tell the council whether the city should buy the properties.

The hearings on the proposed purchases will be held at the Nov. 18 council meeting.

Mayor Yvonne Johnson and Barber also asked council members to agree to delay selling city bonds on the fall ballot, if the bonds pass.

Council members voted 7 to 2 in favor of the recommendation. Councilwomen Goldie Wells and T. Dianne Bellamy-Small voted no.

Greensboro voters will be asked to approve $205 million worth of bond projects for a War Memorial Auditorium renovation, transportation projects, housing initiatives and parks and recreation projects.

"We will be responsible enough not to do anything with the bonds until the economy is right," Johnson said.

Barber asked council members to wait until the end of 2009, although the recommendation the council approved did not have a timeline.

Councilman Robbie Perkins said he believes the council should trust the city's financial experts to choose the best time to sell the bonds.

Contact Amanda Lehmert at 373-7075 or amanda.lehmert@news-record.com