news-record.com

Counterpoint:

By Scott Kinsey, Mark O’Connor and Greg Brown

We represent our neighbors in the Friendly Coalition, a group united in opposition to additional commercial encroachment on Friendly Avenue.

This fight is not about Trader Joe’s. It is about a developer-driven project that would tear down homes and trees to put up 50,000 square feet of retail space in our neighborhood.

We do not want additional commercial development in our neighborhood, regardless of what it looks like or who has leased the space.

We are thinking about the long term. Fifty years from now, the promises made by the developer or their tenants won’t matter.

Too often, especially as it relates to commercial development, we seize an opportunity that appears good today, without considering the long-term implications. This approach will not serve our community well.

Sunday’s News & Record editorial (“Trader Joe’s ... here?”) conveniently leaves out very important facts about this proposed rezoning. Nowhere does it mention the traffic concerns. The developer’s initial report stated that the center would increase traffic by 3,000 unique visits a day.

Add to that the additional traffic that will be generated when Whole Foods Market opens nearby, and picture what that means for our neighborhood.     

The News & Record also left out the issue of trust with the city of Greensboro and Greensboro City Council. In 2004, when the Shops at Friendly were proposed, the city made a promise to the residents in that community that commercial expansion would not occur west of Hobbs Road. Council members who vote in favor of this development will eliminate trust in that elected body. 

And equally as important, the Connections 2025 Comprehensive Plan calls for the current residential lots between Hobbs and Holden to remain residential. Where are we as a community when plans and promises are broken?

We have received a strong show of support from neighborhoods in other parts of Greensboro: Westerwood, Sunset Hills, Lindley Park, the West Friendly/Guilford College Area Alliance, Kirkwood and Westridge Road.

Having fought their own battles against commercial encroachment, many of them are willing to help. This is an issue that impacts us all, not just a few hundred living along Friendly Avenue. 

We encourage other residents to unite with us. Help preserve the wonderful neighborhoods that make this such a great city in which to live. Visit www.friendlycoalition.com or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/FreindlyCoalition.

The writers are co-chairpersons of the Friendly Coalition.