Explore less-expensive options for arts center : News-Record.com : Greensboro & the Triad's most trusted source for local news and analysis

So we are back to the “arts center” thing, also known as the War Memorial Auditorium do-over. Some want $36 million; others $72 million. Whatever!

Remember the swim center and how its costs and ballot description were deceptively obscured. Coliseum Director Matt Brown wants $36 million, again, but when asked for details said, “It’s way too early to get that specific. We haven’t even designed it yet.”

Ever forward-looking Mayor Robbie Perkins said, “This project didn’t exist two weeks ago. … We are going to make it work.” And it must get done by November?

Please listen to Ed Wolverton of Downtown Greensboro Inc. saying, “Clarity is needed about all of this. ... This is very confusing.”

While many Greensboro residents are struggling, each resident is about to get tagged for $250 for some ill-conceived project. A special few will look down from their opera boxes at the rest of us picking up the tab.

Look at what a wonderful job UNCG did remodeling Aycock Auditorium for less than $20 million.

Why can’t Greensboro do that; or better yet, just make arrangements to use Aycock?

Bruce Raynor
Greensboro

rooster8786

February 2, 2012 - 10:00 am EST

Bruce - The reason Greensboro cannot do that is we have NO leaders. We have followers pretending to lead. These "leaders" are following other cities that, usually successfully, draw up a plan or develop an idea, and run with it. In Greensboro, our leaders want tangible assets so they can say "look at what we did", but usually go about planning and implementation all wrong. One only need look at the swimming hole (not as described AND millions over budget), or WSL (a money making operation for the city, closed without a viable long term waste disposal solution), or the myriad of "comprehensive planning studies" under taken, (look at the situation at Hobbs & Friendly) it goes against all the long range planning guides. When the voters, and residents of Greensboro start electing true "leaders", Greensboro will again start growing, leading, and stop following...

oh good grief

February 2, 2012 - 12:10 pm EST

And a good start for finding "good leaders" would be knowing if they and/or their "buddies" are members of the Sports Council (i.e., a "select" group that apparently thinks it can run G'boro due to their being lapdogs for Matt and all his shenanigans at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex).

Hey, Matt has never seen and will never see the need to do regular maintenance on any property at the Coliseum Complex IF all he has to do is tap into the old "vote for this bond and we promise we'll fill in the blanks later at OUR discretion of course" to accomplish what HE and his "buddies" want to do.

retiree

February 2, 2012 - 12:38 pm EST

The PAC will be built since the decision has already been made. It is not an idea to see if it feasible or not, the issue now is when, where, adn how much.

You see . . . .the current Council wants GBO to be like Charlotte and years ago in the 1980s Charlotte wanted to be like Atlanta. Well, Charlotte got their wish and they also got massive congestion and a high crime rate. Maybe that is what GBO will get too . . .if we are serious about being another Charlotte.

Would you like a wedge of cheese with your wine?

BillWright

February 2, 2012 - 1:50 pm EST

Again- if this was a good idea, the wealthy donors in this community would have jumped on the bandwagon. If Greensboro's elite believe that this will draw off surrounding communities, there needs to be a detailed market study by a neutral group of the probability of big name draws and not 3rd rate groups that would appeal to a small cross section of the community.

bbzeus14

February 2, 2012 - 2:14 pm EST

If we build a better mousetrap, the world will beat a path to our door! So they say. And I believe it.

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