Historic College Hill District vs. Student Housing , Zoning Battle in Greensboro Heats Up

The Historic College Hill district of Greensboro, North Carolina and it's neighborhood association are getting prepared for a huge rezoning battle . Below in red typeface is some information being sent around from the College Hill Neighborhood Association and also a website dedicated to this as well CLICKHERE

A student housing complex made up of 233 units (over 750 beds) proposed by out of state developer, Edwards Communities CLICKHERE, for Newman Machine and other industrial properties along Spring Garden Street from South Mendenhall to the railroad tracks, and Fulton and Houston Streets all bordering the College Hill
Historic District.

What are the issues?
· Quality of life in College Hill – the scale and quiet residential nature of our architecturally rich
neighborhood

· Property Values – tremendous gains have been made in the values of the restored single family homes

· 30 years of public and private investment to return rental houses to single family owner occupied
houses, one house at a time

· Parking – the development only plans to include parking for 90% of their tenants

· Traffic – over 750 additional residents depending on existing narrow roadways coming and going

· Loss of potential to develop a key property – this is a gateway to College Hill from downtown, with a great view of downtown Greensboro . It could be refurbished similarly to Wafco or Revolution Mills, or made into another Southside or something that could attract more committed long term residents

Need more information?
Visit: www.savecollegehill.org or
http://preservationgreensboro.typepad.com/weblog/2009/09/index.html

Come to the next College Hill Neighborhood Association meeting Monday, December 7th, 7:30 pm Presbyterian Church of the Covenant Fellowship Hall.
If you choose to do so, you can you help these College Hill residents in the following ways:
· Buttons and yard signs are now available. Wear the buttons, place signs in your yard to show your support for the preservation College Hill
· Attend the December 14th Zoning Commission meeting in Council Chambers, Melvin Municipal Building. Meet at 4:30, wear black and your Save College Hill button – now available!
· Save the Date to attend the January 11th 2010 Zoning Commission meeting.
· Save the Date to attend the City Council meeting January 5th or 19th
· Call, write or email Zoning Commission members – make your voice heard; tell everyone how detrimental this development is to Historic College Hill
· Call, write or email City Council Members – make your voice heard; tell everyone how detrimental this development is to Historic College Hill
· Make a Donation - Tax deductible contributions are greatly appreciated to help defray costs. Make checks payable to CHNA, place defense fund in the memo field and bring to the Dec 7th meeting .

This will be a very interesting zoning case with the newly elected Greensboro City Council getting sworm into office in december and this pitting the neighborhood against student housing needs of the universities in the area. If you would like to see a overall view of the property in question CLICKHERE , this is from the Preservation Greensboro blog with a title of the post"Large Project Concerns Historic District". This is a tough call because if you have ever traveled down spring garden street or cut through on fulton street to get to lee street you will see this huge eyesore of buildings called newman machinery. Eventually something was going to happen with this property in question but to see the density of over 700 students living in this area would make for a huge change in the neighborhood.

We have seen another neighborhood near the UNC-Greensboro campus get contacted about selling their properties in the glenwood area here is that post CLICKHERE , with a title "The Skeen Group's Puzzling Development Approach".

We also have a great student housing project that went up on the old Cotton Mill Square area called Spring Place CLICKHERE which is near the merritt drive and spring garden area of Greensboro. There is also a renewal of places on lee street where they are putting up student housing as well.Student housing is becoming very big business and we are seeing that with these out of town developers coming into Greensboro trying to make a difference.

Where does the universities stand on all of these student housing projects? Are they for or against it ? We just found out this week that the university police departments have the jurisdiction to patrol other areas surrounding their campuses. Will developments like these stretch the university police departments thin or will they be able to handle more problems that housing of this magnitude will produce.

This rezoning case will be one to take a hard look at when it comes to density of a project and the ramifications of this project right next to a historic district of Greensboro.

Will Edwards Communities hire King Zoning Stud Lawyer Henry Isaacson?

Will political guru Bill Burckley who lives near the properties has something to say about this zoning case?

Will we see a Protest Petition being filed by the neighbors who abut this property?

These are questions that will get answered in the future but with a case of this magnitude , we will probably see a few delays in this process for all sides to hash out their positions for and against this project before it goes to council for a vote.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING SARAH PALIN STYLE

HAPPY THANKSGIVING SARAH PALIN STYLE

N.C. Minority Leader Phil Berger Has Some Explaining To Do To The N.C. Board Of Elections

North Carolina State Senator and Minority Leader Republican Phil Berger was given a audit letter from the North Carolina Board of Elections on November 20, 2009. The audit letter is below.There are some serious allegations in the audit letter when it relates to lobbyist giving contributions during a period of time when the legislature is in session.There are also other problems with his campaign forms where the North Carolina Board of Elections says the following.

"While these bulleted items are required by law to be disclosed, we realize that a significant amnount of time has passed since the reports in question were filed. Therefore we will not require reports to be amended to disclose the above mentioned items unless requested by members of the public, but you should strive to make sure all reports filed in the future include all required information."

The bulleted items are in the documents below and it sure does want someone to say to the North Carolina Board of Elections to request that State Senator Phil Berger amend your campaign contribution forms . Triadwatch might just be that person from the public to request that the State Senator amend his returns.

Berger Ncboe Audit 2009

Governor Perdue Time For A Little Ethics Cleansing, Open Letter from Concerned Citizen

Below is a open letter for North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue from Joe Sinsheimer who is a campaign finance reformer and was awarded by the N.C. Press Association back in 2007 with the William C. Lassiter First Amendment Award, which is given annually to a non-journalist who has worked for open government and free speech.


With permission from Joe Sinsheimer here is his open letter to the Governor of North Carolina Beverly Perdue.


November 18, 2009
Governor Bev Perdue
Office of the Governor
20301 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-0301

Dear Governor Perdue,

The recent State Board of Election hearings on Governor Easley and his alleged
campaign activities, as well as the Verizon contracting scandal, have once again shaken confidence in our state government. These repeated scandals are damaging our state’s reputation for honest government and demand executive leadership. While we all hope the General Assembly will take on the call of reform in the 2010 session, there are a number of positive and immediate steps you could take as governor to help restore confidence in state government:

First, ask Ruffin Poole to resign from the Board of Directors of the Golden
LEAF foundation. Mr. Poole’s decision to refuse/fight a subpoena by the State Board of Elections demands this action. While Mr. Poole has a constitutional right against selfincrimination, it is disgraceful that a state appointee to a board as important as Golden LEAF would refuse to answer questions from another state board. Having already spent close to $400 million of state money and with another half a billion in its accounts, Golden LEAF should play a forceful role in the state’s economic future without North Carolinians worrying about unseemly corruptive influence. Golden LEAF’s work should be held to the highest ethical standards. Recent testimony from the State Board of Elections indicates that Mr. Poole does not meet those standards. While you may lack
legal grounds to demand Mr. Poole’s resignation, the governor does command a bully pulpit and you would send a strong message of your expectations of those servings in state government if you asked Mr. Poole to resign immediately.

Second, release all the investigative reports on the missing 2005 State
Highway patrol records including those from the special investigative panel you
formed in August and the patrol’s internal affairs unit. In May 2009, the News and Observer first reported Capt. Melvin’s February 2009 visit to the Easley personal residence to deliver what Capt. Melvin has since described as a “personal” hard drive. Six months later, we still do not have answers to what Capt. Melvin delivered, nor do we have answers to the important question of whether the Highway Patrol has been engaged in a political cover-up. To date, the only report that has been issued from your administration is a four-page document which could be generously described as “amateurish.” On August 26, 2009, N.C. Crime Control Secretary Reuben Young told reporters: “Governor Perdue and I are determined to do everything in our power to find
the answers regarding the 2005 records.” It is now time for you to honor that commitment and release all of the investigative reports in this matter including those produced by the patrol’s internal affairs unit.

Third, impose a 90-day freeze on the environmental permitting process for
Titan Cement and ask Attorney General Roy Cooper to conduct an investigation
into whether any undue political pressure has been involved in the permitting
process to date. The Attorney General’s investigation should focus on actions taken by the Easley Administration to exempt Titan from the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) as well as the state senate’s abrupt decision to kill legislation on this matter this year without a vote. Three recent events have diminished public confidence in the state’s
environmental permitting process. These events include 1) the federal bribery convictions of a NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) official and two corporate executives in the Agri-Ethanol case; 2) testimony during the State Board of Elections hearings that top Easley administration officials were helping a coastal developer with a permitting issue at the same time they were soliciting a $50,000 contribution from that same developer; and 3) federal officials recently serving DENR with a half dozen subpoenas that indicate that they are probing whether anyone made payoffs or offered gratuities to state officials during the permitting process. The people of
North Carolina, especially those living in southeast North Carolina near the proposed plant, have to know with 100% certainty that the Titan case has been handled fairly. Given recent events, that can’t be said right now. That is why I am asking you take this extraordinary extra step in this controversial case.

Three years ago, just months before Jim Black pled guilty to three separate
felonies, I sent Governor Easley a similar letter that included this paragraph: “Too many North Carolinians still believe that government service is an opportunity to enrich themselves or protect their industry’s economic interests. Gubernatorial leadership, as well as further changes to our state’s campaign finance laws, will help alleviate this problem.” Governor Easley never responded to the letter, an action I believe spoke volumes about his interest in honest government. I hope and trust you will choose a different path.

Sincerely,


Joe Sinsheimer

Greensboro City Council Member Robbie Perkins Recuses Himself Again and Again

Greensboro City Council member Robbie Perkins recuses himself from matters coming in front of council.Time to document just how often this happens.

On the agenda for 11-17-2009 Robbie Perkins recused himself from this case in front of council.

41. Resolution authorizing City Participation in Upsized Water & Sewer Lines for Brittway II Investments, LLC not to exceed $418,406. (roll call vote) (Attachment #41 to Councilmembers

Who is Britway II Investments? It looks like the manager is Al Leonard COO who is also with surprise surprise Carroll Companies .If you want to see some history of local developer Roy Carroll and Greensboro City Council member Robbie Perkins CLICKHERE

Also on 11-17-2009 Robbie Perkins has to recuse himself from these items as well on the agenda because he owns 12.5% of the houses.

11. Ordinance amending Chapter 30, Section 30-1-10, Relation to the Comprehensive Plan, to consider an amendment to the Connections 2025 Comprehensive Plan Generalized Future Land Use Map (Figure 4-2) from the Low Residential and Mixed Use Commercial land use classifications to the Moderate Residential land use classification for property located in the northwest quadrant of the intersection of W. Cornwallis Road and N. Elm Street. (Attachment #11 (CP-09-02) to Councilmembers) (roll call vote) (THIS ITEM WAS CONTINUED FROM THE NOVEMBER 10TH MEETING OF COUNCIL WITHOUT FURTHER ADVERTISING)

12. Ordinance rezoning classification from RS-12 (Residential-Single Family) to CD-RM-12 (Conditional District-Residential Multi-Family property located at 2207-2209 North Elm Street and 106-108 West Cornwallis Drive, generally described as north of West Cornwallis Drive and west of North Elm Street. (Attachment #12 (PL(Z)09-14) to Councilmembers) (roll call vote) (THIS ITEM WAS CONTINUED FROM THE NOVEMBER 10TH MEETING OF COUNCIL WITHOUT FURTHER ADVERTISING) (A VALID PROTEST PETITION WAS RECEIVED BY THE CLERK AND DELIVERED TO PLANNING ON 11.11.09 AT 11:48 A.M.)

Handmade Sign from Cardinal Area of Greensboro Did It Help Mayor Bill Knight?

YES IT DID HELP MAYOR BILL KNIGHT win the election.

The above picture was taken at the entrance of the River Hills sub division out in the area of Greensboro called The Cardinal. This was the first time the newly annexed citizens had the opportunity to vote in a municipal election. If you can see from the above hand made sign it seems like they wanted everyone to know who voted to annex you into the City of Greensboro and vote accordingly.

FM 94.5 Will Be The New Radio Station for Rush Limbaugh in 2010 in the Triad Area of North Carolina

The Winston Salem Journal CLICKHERE along with the Triad Business Journal CLICKHERE are reporting that Rush Limbaugh will be moving from the AM station of 600 AM and 1200 AM WSJS to the Clear Channel Station of 94.5 FM which was the spainish channel in 2010.

Here is what was said in the Winston Salem Journal

"Rush Limbaugh is changing channels. Starting Jan. 1, Limbaugh's hit radio show will move from WSJS 600-AM, where it has been the station's highest-rated program, to 94.5 WGBT-FM in Greensboro.

WGBT is currently La Preciosa, a Spanish-language station. It will change to Rush Radio 94.5, a conservative news/talk format on Jan. 1.
Some programming from La Preciosa will continue to be broadcast online and on HD radio, station representatives said.

"We've known about this for some time," Tom Hamilton, the general manager of WSJS, said of Limbaugh's move.
"They did not renew their agreement, and we were not asked to be part of the conversation."

Limbaugh's show is produced by Clear Channel Communications, the company that owns WGBT and its sister stations WMAG, WTQR, WMKS and WVBZ.
WGBT will air The Rush Limbaugh Show from noon to 3 p.m. weekdays, and The Glenn Beck Program from 9 a.m. to noon.
The station will also have local news, traffic and weather.
Moving Limbaugh from an AM to an FM station will expand the reach of the show, said Kim Pyle, the vice president and market manager of Clear Channel's Greensboro station group.

It also looks like Sean Hannity will also be a part of this program in the near future because the web site for the local station 94.5 CLICKHERE has the 3-6 pm. time slot with Sean Hannity Encore. The encore will probably be live once he can get out of contracts with ABC, just speculation on Triadwatch's part.

It will be interesting to see the ratings for this new format with a conservative talk show getting a bigger audience and a FM station in the Triad area of North Carolina.

On a side note did the Greensboro News & Record cover this story this past week? If so please tell me where they did publish this story for their subscribers.Just curious.

PORKER OF THE MONTH GOES TO SENATOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON

Citizens Against Government Waste has a new member of the Porker of the Month Club and it goes to Republican Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. CLICKHERE

Below is a few paragraphs from this post on being a Porker of the Month.

Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) has named Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) Porker of the Month for loading up her goodie bag just before Halloween as she prepares to leave the Senate to run for governor of Texas. While claiming to be a fiscal conservative, the four-term senator requested 149 pork-barrel projects costing $1.6 billion in authorization and appropriations bills for fiscal year 2010. On September 28, 2009, she told the Austin American-Statesman, “I’m proud of being able to garner Texans’ fair share of their tax dollars.” “Sen. Hutchison is repeating the same old insidious quackery about the earmarking process: that it can be made accountable and that it somehow levels the spending playing field,” said CAGW President Tom Schatz. “The only fair way to distribute the taxpayers’ money is to eliminate the practice altogether and instead work to ensure that every dime of taxpayer money is spent using the budget laws and rules that [members of Congress] themselves established.” For personifying the tiresome hypocrisy of some members of Congress who want to claim the badge of fiscal conservatism while continuing to abscond with billions of dollars in wasteful pork projects, CAGW names Sen. Hutchison the October Porker of the Month. Read more about the Porker of the Month.

Bill Knight Mayor of Greensboro N.C. Congrats

Below is some of the overall numbers from the Greensboro municipal elections of 2009

Registered Voters:
219,066
Ballots Cast:
39,542
Voter Turnout:
18.05 %

Bill Knight 51.31% 17,624

Yvonne Johnson 48.59% 16,689
Write-In 0.10% 34
TOTAL= 34,347

Congrats to Bill Knight who had a campaign war chest of around $23,000 according to the pre election campaign report. The Mayor of Greensboro Yvonne Johnson had a war chest of around $38,000 according to the pre election report.

One aspect of this election that happened is that one developer has been defeated in Sandra Anderson Groat in the at large race but another developer has now been brought on to be a part of council in Jim Kee in district #2. It will be interesting to see if the make up of the new council will be more aligned with hearing from the citizens of Greensboro or be a rubber stamp for King Zoning Stud Henry Isaacson in regards to zoning cases being brought to the Greensboro City Council. Since we know that Henry Isaacson in a news and record article on Sunday before the elections had this to say had this to say about mayor Yvonne Johnson, "Here’s a woman who has had a tremendous amount of experience in city government,” said Henry Isaacson, an attorney and Johnson supporter. “She knows this city north, south, east and west. That is my yardstick for a mayoral candidate.”

Henry Isaacson's yardstick is counting votes and it looks to me that it might be a little bit harder for the zoning stud lawyer to get his way like he has been getting away with in the past. Look forward to the video of council meeting for the next few years to see if there is any difference.

It might also be time to bring some real ethics reform to the Greensboro City Council because we have seen companies like the Koury Coproration have a rezoning case come in front of council and have the president and other members of the irrevocable trust of joseph koury give around $500.00 to the Mayor Johnson campaign on around 6/1/2009 right before the rezoning case came in front of council. This is called the pay to play aspect of local governments and it needs to stop.ETHICS, ETHICS , and ETHICS time for a change.

Brenda Bowers E mail is a Hoax don't click on the link

If anyone got this message from Brenda Bowers it is a hoax. She is in Greensboro not Sheffield, England . Here is the email

I hope you receive my message? And is very urgent. I could bearly think straight at this point. I had a trip here in United Kingdom on a mission. I am presently in Sheffield and I am having some difficulties. I misplaced my bag on my way to the hotel where other valuable things were kept along with my passport. I feel so ashamed because i am so stranded and idle. I will like you to help me with a loan of 1000pounds to pay my hotel bills and also return back home. I will refund the money to you as soon as I get back, I have spoken to the embassy here but they are not responding to the matter effectively I currently have limited access to emails for now.

She feels bad this has happened to her and to all the people who got the email she is locked out of her yahoo account at this time. So don't send any money and don't click on the link in the email.