Ed Wolverton out at Downtown Greensboro, Inc.

This just came in. Read the full press release below:

Downtown Greensboro Charts New Direction to Encourage Growth

GREENSBORO, NC – Dawn S. Chaney, Chair of the Board of Directors of Downtown Greensboro, Inc., announced today the decision that Ed Wolverton, currently serving as DGI President, will depart from employment at DGI on an amicable basis at the end of his contract term, July 1, 2013.  Subsequently, he will assist the organization for a 90-day transition period by focusing attention on special initiatives, year-end reports, mandatory fillings, annual meeting and other projects as needed during a transition phase expected to be 90 days.
    This action comes after recent discussions about the need for enhanced economic development efforts and increased programming for Downtown.  A six-member task force made up of leaders from both the City and DGI was created to explore new directions and responsibilities in an enhanced collaboration.
    “For the task force to have complete freedom to consider all alternatives and options moving forward, I will not seek an extension of my current employment contract,” said Wolverton.  “As Downtown is a leading economic engine for the community with a value of over $700 million, this decision will allow the task force to recommend any steps that could further grow the local economy or improve services for the center city,” he said.
    Wolverton thanked Board members, volunteers, City officials and staff for their leadership during the past five years; he pledged to help the organization move forward.  He remains optimistic about the future of Downtown and noted that over $200 million of new projects are in the pipeline.
    Chaney noted that, “Ed’s accomplishments, especially with regard to improving the overall environment downtown and his dedication to the vitality of Downtown and to DGI are sincerely appreciated.”
    “At this critical juncture, the DGI Board is ready to move forward in a new direction,” continued Chaney.  “Our emphasis as an organization will change from one of maintaining and managing the downtown environment towards becoming a major force in growing our Downtown.  We intend to restructure our Board, action groups and volunteer advisors in order for DGI, working in collaboration with the City, to be a catalyst and lead agent for growth, job creation and economic prosperity.”
    In partnership with the City Council, entrepreneurs, investors, and civic leaders, DGI has attracted over $260 million in new investment in the past five years.  “With persistence and hard work, the vitality of Downtown has been increased by the addition of a long-sought full-service grocery store, a veterinary practice, medical services, attractive residential space and expanding retail to complement the traditional downtown office population,” said Sam Simpson, incoming board chair.   “We are moving in a new direction with added responsibilities.  In doing so we are re-thinking all areas of our organization – leadership, board, and committees.”

City and Downtown Greensboro Inc reach agreement

YES! Weekly just received this press release from the City of Greensboro. This comes a week after city council voted 9-0 to explore other options for some of the funds the city gives to Downtown Greensboro Inc. annually. Read more about it in our cover story, coming out tomorrow morning!

GREENSBORO, NC (February 26, 2013) – Representatives from the City of Greensboro and Downtown Greensboro Incorporated (DGI) have reached an agreement on continuing their partnership in promoting and improving the downtown area. As part of the agreement, a working group will be established to better define the partnership between the City and DGI.

The group will be a subset of representatives from the two groups. The team will spend the next three months reviewing how the partnership has worked in the past and will recommend changes and improvements for the future.

City representatives included in reaching the agreement were Greensboro Mayor Robbie Perkins, Councilmembers Yvonne Johnson, Zack Matheny and Nancy Vaughan, and City Manager Denise Turner Roth. DGI was represented by members of its executive committee, including Chair Dawn Chaney.

DGI's Ed Wolverton responds to curfew criticism

Wolverton

Today’s YES! Weekly editorial takes Greensboro’s new under-18, downtown curfew to task for attempting “to place blame — or at least punish — a cohort that has little to do with downtown’s woes but has little recourse against it because they cannot vote. And, judging by our Pop Quiz this week, our elected officials are well aware of the fact that the three weapons offenses that grabbed headlines recently have been committed by people well over the age of 18.

I asked readers yesterday in live social media coverage of a city council briefing if they had any questions. The first came from Dave McLean, who asked, “Since no teenagers were involved in the recent weapons incidents, why did the council choose to ban teenagers downtown?” Twenty-one comments on that thread and at least five statements during the speakers from the floor segment of the briefing from people who unanimously opposed the curfew provides ample evidence that the council’s recent vote has generated plenty of controversy.

I put the question to Ed Wolverton, president of Downtown Greensboro Inc., which has advocated for the measure and represents many of the downtown property owners who have been its most vocal proponents.

Wolverton responds:

DGI has endorsed several new programs to improve public safety in Downtown, especially for the late night customers and workers. The proposals were based on two themes 1) Better managing sidewalks and public space and 2) Increasing bar owner and patron responsibilities. City Council has acted on the first issue and will be considering strategies for the second phase at an upcoming meeting.


Managing the sidewalks and public space is critical to public safety. Perhaps the best way to discuss the issue is with a real, every night example.

Anyone who has walked along Elm Street during the late night hours knows that sidewalks can become quite crowded. Sidewalk cafes bring life and activity, but they also remove space from pedestrians. Lines of patrons waiting to get into restaurants and clubs also limit the sidewalk area. When you further consider space used by trash containers, newspaper boxes, bike racks and other street furniture, sidewalk space often gets very limited. Space narrows down even more when push cart vendors set up on the sidewalks.

Now, include in this mix people hanging out on the sidewalks. In some cases, these people are too young to get into a club or restaurant. In other cases, they prefer to hang outside and "people watch" even though they could go inside a business. As people see friends, more people start congregating to be part of the scene and sidewalk space is further limited.

Soon, someone makes a comment to a passerby that could be seen as crude or offensive. Or, a pedestrian in a hurry tells loiterers to get out of the way. Add in effects of alcohol consumption, and, what may have been a harmless comment instead becomes a spark that leads to a fight. The fight could happen then or later in the evening as the paths of the people involved cross again in a club, restaurant or on the sidewalk.

The pilot curfew to prohibit unsupervised youth in Downtown after 11 p.m. along with the loitering ordinance changes are preventive measures. They are designed to proactively open-up more space on crowded sidewalks for late night pedestrians. This will reduce the chances of a conflict and minimize an innocent bystander being harmed by a nearby incident or becoming a crime victim.

No one supporting the curfew said that the recent incidents were caused by teenagers. Nor did anyone blame teenagers. The major reason for the curfew is that minors under 18 years old cannot legally get into a club. While a few restaurants are open late night, most are closed after 11 p.m. That leaves hanging around on the sidewalk as the most likely place for most unsupervised minors after this time of night.

For loitering, public safety is improved by making sure that people are a distance away from doorways to allow business patrons the ability to easily enter and exit. As many people use the City parking decks, the other loitering change is designed to prevent tailgate parties from occurring in the garage. Some use the decks to load up on alcohol and avoid detection of over-consumption within a club. Some tailgate and hang out with no intention of visiting a club. This can create an intimidating environment in the garage and escalate the chances of an incident.

The changes approved by City Council so far are geared to help prevent and diffuse incidents from occurring by minimizing conflicts from happening on sidewalks and in parking decks. Also, the City Council voted to end the loitering law after one year to examine its impact. As noted above, DGI approved a two-step approach and we are working with stakeholders to bring forward changes to improve management practices of club operators and patrons. Combined, these refinements will improve late night public safety for the entire community.

Unfortunately, there is no easy and simple solution. Improving safety will require a number a strategies that work together. That is the approach DGI is endorsing.

I appreciate Wolverton’s willingness to engage in open dialogue on a topic in which many people on both sides have strong feelings.