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As former chairman of the War Memorial Commission, I know firsthand how instrumental the Greensboro Coliseum Complex is in generating economic impact in our community, while also providing entertainment events for our residents to enjoy.

Thus, I don’t understand why some are questioning using the former Canada Dry bottling plant property to host events and create additional revenues for our city.

The coliseum has overseen the transformation of what was once an overgrown, rat-infested community eyesore into a parking lot that has brought in extra revenues for more than 11 months, while the proposed outdoor pavilion area has the potential as a site for festival and music events.

As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Coliseum Complex, let’s not forget the vision our forefathers had in creating this multimillion-dollar-generating facility and its intended purposes — to host events and bring dollars to our city.

Supporting development of the Canada Dry property, and other projects such as the creation of the Greensboro Aquatic Center and ACC Hall of Champions, will bring more people and events to Greensboro and help spur revitalization of the High Point Road area.

We need to act now and invest in our community’s greatest asset so we can positively shape our city’s growth for the next 50 years.

W. Harrison Turner III
Greensboro