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GREENSBORO — Four months after the Greensboro Redevelopment Commission considered getting into the hotel business, the group is returning to its long-held plans for its South Elm Street mixed-use redevelopment.

But there is still tension among some members of the council-appointed board over the Ole Asheboro Hotel proposal and the return to plans to get a developer to take over the whole South Elm project.

Two of the commission’s longest-serving and most vocal members, Jerry Leimenstoll and Bob Mays, expressed concerns last week about whether the city management and the City Council would do what it takes — including offering the financial backing — to finish the project.

Leimenstoll said he would leave the commission if there did not seem to be a commitment to the project and more open communication between the elected leaders, city staff and the commission.

“The project we are working on is one that is very complicated. It can be a beautiful project … if city government and the City Council and everybody in town works together,” he said.

City Manager Rashad Young told the commission he couldn’t make the council members commit to anything, nor would he ask them to write a blank check for the redevelopment.

But he said his staff is committed to working on the project — and he believes the council would understand the benefit of redeveloping a crucial area of downtown.

Leimenstoll said he was feeling more optimistic about the prospects after Young’s assurances.

The staff has written a draft request for proposals to lure developers. The city may hire a consultant to help develop the final request.

Miller slams Davis over independent candidacy

Guilford County Commissioner Bruce Davis has ruffled his share of feathers over his decision to run as an independent candidate for state Senate in District 28.

Davis, a Democrat, did not file to run in his party’s primary because Democratic incumbent Katie Dorsett had filed to run. Dorsett scrapped her plans to run again on the last day of filing — but did not tell Davis or other Democrats. She did tip off friend Gladys Robinson, who got in under the wire and whose candidacy she supports.

Feeling snubbed but having missed the filing deadline, Davis is collecting signatures to get on the ballot as an independent. Some critics say he could end up splitting the Democratic vote and throwing the election to City Councilwoman Trudy Wade, a popular Republican running for the seat.

Robinson did not return calls seeking comment on the race last week, but Evelyn Miller, her only challenger in the Democratic primary, had plenty to say.

“The biggest threat to the Democratic victory in November is the write-in candidacy of a candidate who chose not to run and is now using scare tactics to get voters to elect him to the seat,” Miller said.

If Davis can get 5,000 signatures before June 25 he won’t technically be a write-in candidate — he’ll appear on the ballot as a candidate unaffiliated with either major party.

Miller said she is confident that voters will “make the right decision and keep the seat Democratic.”

Speakers still airing live on Channel 13

You might have heard that the City Council was planning to cut speakers from the floor from the televised portion of their bimonthly meetings.

The idea was floated to start airing the meetings on Channel 13 and online after the public comment period ended. But it didn’t go anywhere.

Jim Collins, who works for the city’s public affairs department and oversees the television operations, says there is no truth to the rumor the council is going for the off-air plan.

Channel 13 will continue to provide streaming video with closed captioning for the hearing impaired for the entire meeting, he wrote in an e-mail.

So be on notice: Be ready for prime time in your best outfit — unless you want the whole city to knows it’s laundry day at your house.

Speakers from the floor time begins promptly at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Staff writers Amanda Lehmert and Joe Killian contributed.