Wednesday evening in the Coliseum Special Events center, representatives from UNCG met with Glenwood residents and citizens concerned about the university’s proposed expansion into the historic and eclectic neighborhood.
Mike Byers of UNCG Business Affairs led a power point presentation entitled, “Vision plan for University/ Glenwood Mixed-Use Village” that outlined the university’s ideas for the future of the neighborhood. He then opened the floor to questions from the public.
They want to annex the rectangular swatch of Glenwood bordered by Aycock, Haywood, Silver,
and Lee Streets to build multiple dorms with accompanying parking facilities, a new police station and shops on Lee Street, a new recreation center near the intersection of Lee and Glenwood, and a park alongside Haywood that would serve as a barrier — errr “transition” between the university’s new campus and what’s left of Glenwood. Initial construction could begin as early as next May.
Byers said that the total budget for such a project was unknown, though it's estimated at $500 million — a figure he says would primarily be covered through student housing fees; though the origin of the front-end payment for costs of displacement of current residents and construction was unclear.
Byers said the university already spoke with the 13 owner-occupiers in the affected area, and only one indicated that they would not sell and vacate, though a significant portion of the residents are renters.
Not all Glenwood residents oppose the plan.Some who live and own property just outside of the affected area look forward to the university’s presence, which could higher property values and increased police presence to the neighborhood. But renters voiced concern that higher property values would price them out of the neighborhood they call home.
And the issue of the new police station and increased law enforcement presence in the area was not viewed favorably by all, usually dependent on age.
When asked directly if the meeting was a charade, and UNCG had every intention of moving into Glenwood despite local concern and outrage, Byers said, “I could see us going somewhere else if we see an overwhelming response from the neighborhood.”
More than 150 people were present at the outset of the meeting though the crowd thinned out over the two-hour duration.
Byers continually emphasized that “this is the beginning,” and with this meeting the university was “asking” Glenwood residents for their input in regards to “the plan.” But with their layout plans and simulated photographs of the new Glenwood, it seems that the university began this process a long time ago. And with eminent domain at their backs, they don’t even need to ask.
Joey - You call this reporting? Byers repeated multiple times how the student housing would be paid for, but I'm assuming you are the one that continued to ask the question over and over again which might just reveal your naivete about how this works. UNCG sells bonds to raise money. People and investor buy the bonds. UNCG uses this money to purchase and construct the residences. UNCG pays the money on the bonds by receiving rents from students living in the residences. Students would not be priced out of the area. Aycock, College Hill, Lindley Park are all neighborhoods with student populations with home values almost double what Glenwoods currently are. There is little risk that students will be priced out of Glenwood. And you're right UNCG doesn't have to ask, but they are asking - and that makes them evil? For your future reports you may want to try the correct spelling of eminent domain. Does this writer have an editor? UNCG also does not have to pay to relocate renters. If your landlord were to sell your house tomorrow, your lease could be terminated and you would have to seek new housing. Why hold UNCG to a different standard than any other purchaser of a home? And technically, Mike Byers is with Campus Enterprises which is a division within Business Affairs. I would think that you should be glad that UNCG has put some thought into this effort?
ReplyDeleteBrian:
ReplyDeleteYou're right -- I did not edit this before it went up. It's a blog.
Thanks for giving it the once over, and thanks for your input on this controversial issue.
And we're inclined to give Joe a break. He's new.
Fair enough Brian, but it is a blog with the Yes Weekly name attached. Other reporters, including yourself, have set a higher standard.
ReplyDeleteI think Brian is correct about the financing. In North Carolina, Universities are authorized to issue bonds in order to build dormitories, power plants, water and sewer lines and treatment plants, etc. Joey may be right, though, to at least wonder aloud about how much weight the University will give to the feelings and wishes of the homeowners of Glenwood. First, the University has not always been seen (rightly or wrongly) as beneficent to the surrounding community in the past. Second, both the City and the University have ignored the needs of Glenwood for decades, accelerating the neighborhood's decline. Why this sudden change of heart? Something tells me that it has to do with the University's calculation that the fees the dorms will generate will exceed the payments they will have to make on the bonds, and by a wide margin, given that construction costs, interest rates, and property acquisition costs are all depressed at the moment.
ReplyDelete