335 replies to this topic

[ncbrian]

intcvlcphlga, on Apr 19 2006, 10:57 AM, said:

I'm with Yadkin on this.  I think the center should be doubled in size.  It could be expanded onto the surface lots either across Sixth St or Marshall St.  And, if it's expanded, there's no reason why it couldn't compete with the Koury Center and the center in Raleigh.  The Benton CC has the advantage (at least as compared to Koury) of being downtown putting it close to the Arts District, the Steven's Center and within walking distance of Old Salem and West End.  Its location is a marketing advantage over Koury which is in a sea of parking adjacent to a mall whose tenants are the same tenants that the convention visitors would find in their own local mall.

There is no question that the location of the Benton Convention Center is an attractive one considering what is in the area now and what is being constructed and planned. But my concern is still the same, nearly every decently size city in the country has a convention center and far too many of them turned out to be white elephants for the communities that had them built in anticipation of bringing a sizeable convention business to their city. While the Benton CC is under the management of the Twin City Quarter group, I doubt anyone in the private sector would be willing to pay the expense of constructing a new center. The question then becomes whether the city and/or county is willing to put money into this expansion at the expense of other projects in the city. It is like those fantasy jobs projections of building new stadiums where proponents tout thousands of jobs and high revenues for the community but never turn out to be even close to what they say if it can be measured at all.

[transitman]

intcvlcphlga, on Apr 19 2006, 10:57 AM, said:

I'm with Yadkin on this.  I think the center should be doubled in size.  It could be expanded onto the surface lots either across Sixth St or Marshall St.  And, if it's expanded, there's no reason why it couldn't compete with the Koury Center and the center in Raleigh.  The Benton CC has the advantage (at least as compared to Koury) of being downtown putting it close to the Arts District, the Steven's Center and within walking distance of Old Salem and West End.  Its location is a marketing advantage over Koury which is in a sea of parking adjacent to a mall whose tenants are the same tenants that the convention visitors would find in their own local mall.

I couldn't disagree more.  There is a finite amount of Convention business out there, and Raleigh and Charlotte are already upgrading their digs downtown.  Greensboro's convention center is a fry-pit surrounded piece of crap on the Interstate.  For those who want to convene at such a place where easy auto access is the primary criterion, Koury wins hands-down.  

In Atlanta you have one of the three biggest convention destinations in the US (the others are Vegas and Orlando).  I struggle to see how expanding the W-S convention center is going to have that much of an impact on downtown.  Winston needs a stronger local economic base- a strategy that heavily banks on people arriving via fossil-fueled vehicles does not make sense in a time of rising energy prices.  

Frankly, I think completing the streetcar project would have a much bigger economic impact.

[yadkinv]

Still, when Noble acquired Adams Mark, and converted to Marriott and Embassy Suites (great move as we all know for W-S), I'm relative sure there was a quote (can't say where now) that Noble hoped to attract national conventions.  I guess I wonder how with the Benton Center the way it is now?

[kevinhiggins]

transitman, on Apr 18 2006, 02:48 PM, said:

Last Gateway Discussion with Chad Davis

I wanted to jump in here because I'm moving into the area and closely studying Washington Park. It is very sad that Chad's not posting on here anymore since it looked like he was a great first-hand source of information. Has another heard or read any additional information about what retail development is going into the Gateway? Their website doesn't seem to give many specifics.

I also wanted to know if anyone has heard (preferably read) that a Trader Joe's might be heading into that development. A friend I know who lives in WP said they'd heard this...speculation I know...

[krazeeboi]

transitman, on Apr 19 2006, 11:17 AM, said:

I couldn't disagree more.  There is a finite amount of Convention business out there, and Raleigh and Charlotte are already upgrading their digs downtown.  Greensboro's convention center is a fry-pit surrounded piece of crap on the Interstate.  For those who want to convene at such a place where easy auto access is the primary criterion, Koury wins hands-down.

Greensboro's convention center is certainly not urban, but the city does benefit from having the largest arena in the state--which would seem to factor into why it has been able to snag a good bit of conventions, especially those needing more space than a typical convention center is able to afford.

[transitman]

krazeeboi, on Apr 20 2006, 12:14 AM, said:

Greensboro's convention center is certainly not urban, but the city does benefit from having the largest arena in the state--which would seem to factor into why it has been able to snag a good bit of conventions, especially those needing more space than a typical convention center is able to afford.

How many conventions in Greensboro use both Koury and the Coliseum?  I can't imagine there are many.  If there is an actual market for this type of thing, Charlotte will soon steal all the business away because their convention center and arena will be a short walk or light-rail ride from each other.

[ncbrian]

transitman, on Apr 20 2006, 08:18 AM, said:

How many conventions in Greensboro use both Koury and the Coliseum?  I can't imagine there are many.  If there is an actual market for this type of thing, Charlotte will soon steal all the business away because their convention center and arena will be a short walk or light-rail ride from each other.

I agree. I have spent two weekends now in the Charlotte area I am impressed with their downtown as a place of commerce and living. Plenty of restaurants and hotels, densely packed together, I can see the attraction of the city in drawing any sizeable conventions in this region. Once they have a better handle on retail in downtown ( more shops and business hours in the evenings and weekends), I can not see how any other city can compete really.

[krazeeboi]

transitman, on Apr 20 2006, 08:18 AM, said:

How many conventions in Greensboro use both Koury and the Coliseum?  I can't imagine there are many.  If there is an actual market for this type of thing, Charlotte will soon steal all the business away because their convention center and arena will be a short walk or light-rail ride from each other.

I didn't mean to imply that most of the conventions in Greensboro utilize both the KCC and the Coliseum, but rather that many gatherings only use the Coliseum, and its size gives Greensboro an advantage in landing certain types of events, such as the NCAA tournament, national cheerleading competitions, and other such events. It is true that for conventions needing both a convention center and arena, Charlotte is about the best you'll get in NC.

[twincity]

back to the progress...

a few renderings of the first prebyterian church expansion.  bye-bye surface lot.

Attached Thumbnails

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[suburban george3]

Took a couple of pics of West End Village and Trader's Row today, here are the links...
Traders Row looking from 5th St.
Traders Row from 6th St.
Traders Row from 7th St.
West End Village
West End Village Townhomes
Hope you enjoy!

[twincity]

some highlights from the May 2006 DWSP newsletter...

BIOTECHNOLOGY Research Facility 1 will have its grand opening on May 16.  The 5-story, 200 s.f. building will be the newest and largest in the Piedmont Triad Research Park.

THE GALLERY LOFTS, a 77-unit residential project in the Goler Heights neighborhood on the north end of downtown, has opened a furnished model unit.  It is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1-5 p.m.  For more information call Mary Sloan at 788-7663.

THE MARSHALL STREET TOWNHOMES is a new project that has been announced by Old Salem on 2.5 acres of former Coca-Cola property on South Marshall Street.  Plans call for 23 bungalow-style townhouses facing Poplar Street and 22 federal-style brick townhouses facing Marshall Street.  Sizes will range from 1,400 s.f.-28,000 s.f.  The project will be marketed by Prudential Carolinas Realty.

FIVE & 40 will be the name of a new working space for artists, a gallery where visitors can buy art by emerging contemporary artists, and a meeting space for businesses and community organizations.  It will also serve as home base for A.G. Garland, Inc., The Marketing Company, owned and operated by Amy Garland.  Five & 40 will be in the building formerly occupied by ReAlis Gallery at 541 N. Trade Street in the Downtown Arts District. The anticipated opening date is July 1.

THE STROLLWAY IS BEING EXTENDED from Fourth Street to Northwest Boulevard, as called for in the Downtown Plan adopted by City Council in 2002.  A public input meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, May 18, from 6:15 – 7:30 p.m. at the Trade Street Partners Building, located at 635 N. Trade Street (corner of Trade and Seventh).  Stimmel and Associates will design the extension.  For information, call John Allen at 727-2741.

SALUTE! THE NORTH CAROLINA WINE CELEBRATION will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2006, from 12 noon until 6 pm on Fourth Street.  Downtown will come alive with music, food, and wine from twenty of North Carolina's finest wineries. The event will be held rain or shine.  A website, www.salutencwine.com, will be up in the coming days with additional information.  The Partnership needs volunteers for a variety of positions to work in two-hour shifts at the event.  To become a volunteer, email staff@dwsp.org.  

RECREATION BILLIARDS on Fourth Street has been undergoing extensive renovations and will reopen this month.  Flat panel televisions, fresh paint and furnishings, along with a wider selection of beverages are among the new features.  A special highlight of the project is the facelift of the facade, including the trademark 59-year old red and white sign.

HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES (HBCU) STORE will open this month at 227 W. Fifth Street.  The retail shop, operated by Shannon Fuller and Sean Grace, will carry college branded apparel and accessories.  Call 499-6921.

A RETAIL AND PARKING INVENTORY of downtown Winston-Salem bounded by Broad Street, Martin Luther King Blvd., Highway 52, and Business 40 has recently been completed by the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership.  The information is graphically represented in ArcView GIS data mapping software.  It is available currently in PDF format and will ultimately be on the DWSP website.  For information call Shane Bechtold at 354-1500.

THE NISSEN BUILDING is now 62% occupied according to HDR property manager, Suzy Baxter.  The apartments, which can be leased for six months up to 24 months, are attracting tenants not only locally, but from all across the United States.  Call 724-1108.

ERA PIEDMONT REALTY now has an office at 505 High Street.  The office is owned and managed by Tammy Watson.

CONGRATULATIONS TO BREWER, JAMIE BARTHOLOMAUS OF FOOTHILLS BREWING COMPANY for being recognized as a medalist in the 2006 Carolinas Championship of Beers. Over 130 beers from 27 breweries were entered in the competition.  Foothills Brewing Company was awarded eight medals overall in the competition.

[yadkinv]

Where is the DWSP Newsletter - at their website the latest version is and has been December 2005 since that date???

[twincity]

I subscribed to the newsletter. They stopped updating that website since Lyons Gray left.   Lazy.

[yadkinv]

Thanks

[DCMetroRaleigh]

Great pics TwinCity.

[twincity]

strollway expansion

click on proposed downtown strollway

Edited by twincity, 26 May 2006 - 08:43 AM.

[twincity]

Russell ad agency is moving downtown!

http://journalnow.co...d=1149188609862

[intcvlcphlga]

twincity, on Jun 20 2006, 05:29 PM, said:

Russell ad agency is moving downtown!

http://journalnow.co...d=1149188609862

That's great news and it's a great re-use of an existing property.  I hope some of their employees were wise enough to buy in West End Village.

[twincity]

New sports bar coming to Burke Street!

from Smitty's notes on journalnow.com

A new establishment is coming to the Burke Street district. It's called Sports on Burke - a restaurant, grill and sports bar rolled into one. The proprietor is leasing about 2,300 square feet of space in a building partially occupied by Morning Dew Coffee Roasters. The restaurant will have a 10-foot projection-screen TV and nine 42-inch plasma-screen TVs throughout, including the bathroom, so you won't have to miss a minute of your favorite sporting event. However, the emphasis will be on the food. The menu will feature a mix of breakfast items, burgers, wraps, salads, fish, chicken and beef entrees. Brunch is planned on Sunday. There will be seating for 100 patrons and there are plans for live music and stand-up comedy a couple of times a month. The owner said he hopes to open within the next few weeks, pending final inspections. Sports on Burke is at 1049 Burke St. The hours will be 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week. For more information, call 722-9986. As for Morning Dew Coffee Roasters, proprietor Jim Brady, who is also the building's owner, has seen a shift in his retail business over the past few years, with a decrease in sit-down coffee drinkers and more takeout customers. There has also been a large increase in Morning Dew's coffee-roasting business, which now accounts for most of his sales, so Brady decided the timing was right to lease the additional space to Sports on Burke. Morning Dew is still open for business next door at 1047 Burke St. There are just fewer places to sit down. For more information, call 723-5282.

[ncbrian]

Does anybody have a list of the bars, cafes, restaurants and similar places in the Burke St area?

I would probably define the area as including 4th street from Broad St to where 1st St meets up with Hawthorne, essentially most of the West End thus including places like the Filling Station and West Cafe but not places along West End Blvd.

Also, I see that I now have reached Whistle-Stop ranking. How many more posts before the next level?

Edited by ncbrian, 13 July 2006 - 10:15 AM.