Category / New Construction

by Leo Suarez

Glenwood South Ripe For Hotels


Corner of Jones and West Street

When you talk about nightlife in downtown, the conversation must include the five or so blocks of Glenwood Avenue that make up Glenwood South. The mistress of downtown really gets lively on the weekends and if anyone has walked down her sidewalks on a nice Saturday night, then you know what I mean by lively. To me, there is a lot of energy in the air when the streets are crowded with cars and people are walking around, enjoying themselves in this entertainment district. Fayetteville Street is real nice and I have fun in that area but the crowds and traffic really do hover around Glenwood; you can’t deny it! With all this traffic, car and foot, it is good that hotel developments are in the works. The convention center helps drive this as I’ve seen many times convention goers riding the R-Line through Glenwood South. A hotel that is right in the middle of so much activity would be very appealing to those visiting the city.

Recently, there have been reports that two hotels are to be built in Glenwood South but no real work has begun yet. We await the start of the 10-story Powerhouse Plaza located on Jones and West Streets. Right now, the lot has been cleared and a sign has been placed out front letting people know what the future will be. The rendering looks promising and plans for ground floor retail are included. This would be a great addition to an already busy pedestrian intersection at Jones and West.

A Hampton Inn hotel is said to be in the works at the corner of Glenwood and Johnson Street. The initial reaction of the online peanut gallery has not been favorable to ‘just a Hampton Inn’. I believe we should wait and see what is proposed rather then speculate off very little information. It’ll be interesting to see what happens to the rest of the houses on the 600 block of Glenwood as the area becomes more popular and more traffic moves down it over the years.

Source – News & Observer, Glenwood South Hotel Proposed


Corner of Glenwood and Johnson Street

by Leo Suarez

Council amends project agreement – Business – News & Observer

The vote eliminates from the agreement a requirement that the developer begin construction 10 months after completing a 550-space parking deck under the site.

The parking deck is expected to be finished by the end of the month, but the developers have thus far been unable to get financing for two towers that are to be built on top of the 1.75-acre site.

via Council amends project agreement – Business – News & Observer.

by Leo Suarez

City Plaza to crown downtown – Local & State – News & Observer


City officials are also trying to figure out what to do in the near-term with the slab of concrete directly south of the Bank of America building. That is the future site of Charter Square, a two-tower project that has been delayed by the credit crunch…………..

Diaz wants to turn a portion of the Charter Square site into an ice rink for two months this winter. He’s hoping to find corporate sponsorship to cover two-thirds of the cost, a tough task in this economic climate.

via City Plaza to crown downtown – Local & State – News & Observer.

by Leo Suarez

Pic of the Week

Assembly of the four City Plaza light towers is underway. From the city’s press release:

The 50-foot light towers are the centerpiece art work for City Plaza, that also serve a practical application. Created by renowned Greensboro artist Jim Gallucci, the light towers will allow for varying levels of lights for a myriad of uses in the City’s celebration plaza.

The tower design integrates LED lights, stainless steel oak leaves and a hidden area at the base of the towers that contain electrical panels to be used for various plaza events. The towers also offer a granite bumper seat to accommodate visitors to the plaza in need of a break.