149 replies to this topic

[krazeeboi]

suburban george3, on Mar 12 2008, 10:50 PM, said:

Greensboro/High Point/Winston-Salem should each focus on developing denser downtown cores and inner ring neighborhoods as energy prices are going to dictate new realities in how we plan our urban areas.

Absolutely.

[yadkinv]

Don't waste any more hard to find funds; put the money where it's really needed.

[CapeFearRiver10]

So when is construction?

[JerseyBoy]

CapeFearRiver10, on Mar 31 2008, 01:44 AM, said:

So when is construction?

I believe HOT is still in the planning stages. The goal of this is to create a master plan for the area so that the area doesn't turn into a mess of sprawl (which is technically what they'll end up encouraging anyway). Construction will not be carried out by the leaders of HOT, but by developers who propose projects that fit in with the guidelines HOT has set.

[ChiefJoJo]

Taking a quick look at the preferred master plan for HOT, I'm going to have to agree with transitman that this is not a very smart plan with respect to sustainability or strategic planning.  Of all the pages in the plan, very little is dedicated to transit... seemingly an afterthought.  They even contemplated a new freeway in this area--as if the Triad doesn't have enough freeways on the drawing board already.  I'm afraid this is business as usual planning when you develop several thousand acres with up tens of thousands of jobs and homes served by a single rail stop and a few bus routes thrown in for good measure.  This is not a smart plan at all.  I wish local planners would learn what not to do from RTP and instead focus on developing each of the downtowns, and connect them with transit service.  Building HOT will create unecessary competition for PTRP and the downtowns.  This massive greenfield development model does not makes sense in an era of $4+ gas and dwindling fiscal resources.

My recommendation would be to:
(1)limit development in this HOT area preserve some open space and greenfields that we'll be wishing we had in 30 years.  Why not a large preserve nature park or allow some wineries or farming to take place?  I know the Yadkin Valley is an emerging wine region... why not here?
(2)Develop TOD nodes near potential regional rail stations in between Greensboro and Winton-Salem.  This could actually help focus new development in areas that can handle it over the long term and potentially help fund the rail system through TIFs or MSDs (portion of tax revenue helps fund project).  The regional rail will also tie Winston, PTRP, & Kernersville into the SE high speed rail project at Galyon Depot, connecting the region to the virtually the entire east coast via rail.
(3)Focus more energy and efforts on marketing and developing the downtowns, which have a ton more character and potential anyway.

[twincity]

The new Winston-Salem area VA clinic will most likely be built in Kernersville instead of PTRP.  Two downtown sites were on the short list for the 280,000 sf facility, but were later ruled out for lack of land for future expansion if needed.   The Triad would gain 1,000 new jobs form the new clinic.  If the HOT initiactive still exsists, I guess this would be a major boost.

http://www.bizjourna...ikely-spot.html

[cityboi]

twincity, on 01 November 2011 - 10:01 AM, said:

The new Winston-Salem area VA clinic will most likely be built in Kernersville instead of PTRP.  Two downtown sites were on the short list for the 280,000 sf facility, but were later ruled out for lack of land for future expansion if needed.   The Triad would gain 1,000 new jobs form the new clinic.  If the HOT initiactive still exsists, I guess this would be a major boost.

http://www.bizjourna...ikely-spot.html

The problems I have with Triad leaders is that they have great ideas and concepts for the region but they sit on those concepts for like 30 years before they even begin to do something. Triad leaders are slow in implementing plans when compared to Charlotte leaders who find a way to make it happen. What worries me is that we may not see nothing happen with HOT until 2030 or 2040. By then it will be too late because urban sprawl will have taken over the center of the Triad. I know some people don't like the idea of HOT and would prefer downtown be the focus. But development is going to happen between Greensboro and Winston-Salem whether we like it or not and I would rather see a smart growth concept plan over urban sprawl.

Edited by cityboi, 01 November 2011 - 11:03 AM.

[winston's finest]

It would have been great if the new clinic would have been in Downtown W-S because it would have pushed for much new development.  The good thing, however, about the Kernersville location is that it will help develop that area quickly because like CityBoi said "development out there is going to happen whether we like it or not".  As an avid shopper and Winston resident I am always looking for potential places for retail development.  With 1000+ new jobs in K-Vegas I could definitely see a new lifestyle center popping up in the suburbs.  Maybe the "Union Cross Towne Center" that was proposed years ago and just disappeared.  Speaking of...A new hotel and restaurant is being sited for Union Cross according to the Triad Business Journal

http://www.bizjourna...ly-to-have.html
http://www.bizjourna...restaurant.html

[twincity]

^ Yeah, this is within the W-S limits.  Fox8 aired a story on this saying SE Forsyth is still one of the fastest growing areas of the Triad.

Its unfortunate that the VA prefers a more sprawling medical center instead of an urban one.  I really wanted this for PTRP.

[cityboi]

twincity, on 07 November 2011 - 09:04 AM, said:

^ Yeah, this is within the W-S limits.  Fox8 aired a story on this saying SE Forsyth is still one of the fastest growing areas of the Triad.

Its unfortunate that the VA prefers a more sprawling medical center instead of an urban one.  I really wanted this for PTRP.

hotel, restaurants.....the uncontrollable sprawl begins and no one is doing anything with the HOT plan.

Edited by cityboi, 07 November 2011 - 08:44 PM.