The City of Greensboro desperately wants to finish the revitalization of the Ole Asheboro neighborhood on the south side of downtown. Finding the money to do so — especially during an economic downturn — is a totally different matter.
Community development organizers and residents of historic Ole Asheboro brought a funding proposal to the City Council during an April meeting. They proposed using two-thirds bonds to provide $2.9 million in funding to help revitalize the neighborhood. The bonds would go toward housing subsidies, housing rehabilitation, and construction of moderate-income housing.
“We don’t lack skills. We lack support. We lack funding,” said Nettie Coad, an Ole Asheboro community activist for whom an apartment development on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive is named. “We’re asking you, after 30 years, to bring some closure to this.”
Bob Mays, a local businessman who serves on the city’s Redevelopment Commission, told council members that city involvement in redeveloping Ole Asheboro would spur private development.
“This is a concept that is a very innovative approach to private development,” Mays said. “It is easily leveraged with private money.”
One citizen however, spoke of the city’s obligation to the neighborhood. “I think it’s time the city fulfilled its responsibility to its residents,” said Donnell Moody.
The Ole Asheboro Street Neighborhood Association first registered with the city in 1979 to preserve and enhance the quality of life in the historic neighborhood, which is bordered by Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
But progress was slow, and the neighborhood descended into an area marked by run-down houses, drugs, and prostitution. An amended Ole Asheboro redevelopment plan was adopted in 2004, but progress has not occurred as rapidly despite some new construction. Mayor Yvonne Johnson also reminded the council that a 2006 bond to revitalize the neighborhood further failed.
There have been signs of hope, however. New Zion Missionary Church has announced plans to build a housing development, a shopping and restaurant district, a new sanctuary, and an education and family life center.
With New Zion’s development in mind, city officials want to close a freeway-style exit ramp off Lee Street onto Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. The city says the ramp is one of the last hindrances to rebuilding the neighborhood.
Indeed, the private sector has invested in the south side of Greensboro’s downtown area, but not without help from taxpayers.
In 1990 citizens approved $5 million in bonds to help finance the Southside redevelopment. A redevelopment plan was passed three years later.
So far, Southside has been a successful development and has been credited with helping revive downtown. It has also received recognition as a model of Smart Growth, winning the National Award for Smart Growth Achievement from the Environmental Protection Agency. Southside did show a crack, however, when its anchor gathering spot, The Press Wine Bar, announced it was closing down. (New owners did step in with plans to keep The Press open, however.)
Coad reminded the council that Ole Asheboro community organizers were the ones who “spearheaded” Southside.
“We’ve been in everybody’s court trying to play ball,” Coad said. “We’re asking you, after 30 years, to bring some closure to this.”
But funding is problematic, especially during an economic downturn that has local governments struggling to fill budget gaps. Greensboro is certainly no exception as it hopes to close a $7.5 million budget gap for next fiscal year.
The city also took on considerable debt last November after voters approved bonds totaling $156 million, including a $134 million transportation bond.
Almost immediately, inquiries were made about using federal stimulus money to help with Ole Asheboro’s redevelopment.
“I believe, after 30 years, that we’re shovel-ready,” council member Trudy Wade said.
Assistant City Manager Denise Turner said she wasn’t sure how federal stimulus money would be allocated at this time, but that revitalization might fit under the federal Neighborhood Stabilization program. Acting Housing Director Dan Curry added that indeed there was discussion of federal funds going toward neighborhood revitalization projects, although he did not specify Ole Asheboro as one of the possible projects.
Council member Robbie Perkins interjected a dose of reality to the situation, introducing a motion to have city staff members look at different funding options before reporting back to the council in a few weeks.
“Clearly, there is something lacking. The job hasn’t been finished, but we don’t know where the funding sources are,” Perkins said. “This is community redevelopment, and when you get into it, you often find there’s a lot more to it.”
Perkins’ motion passed unanimously.
Sam A. Hieb is a contributor to Carolina Journal.