Lee Street could benefit from UNCG expansion
As a UNCG alumna, and someone who lived, worked and voted in Greensboro after college, I heartily second the Oct. 31 News & Record editorial suggesting that UNCG focus its expansion on the Lee Street/High Point Road corridor.
The College Park and Sunset Hills neighborhoods should retain their character. They are among the parts of the city that would convince me to move back. UNCG should expand towards Lee Street, with care for student safety and security — and in partnership with the city to create a truly welcoming corridor.
When I come to Greensboro as a visitor now, I enter along Lee Street, and I see the same shabby road that gave my parents pause when they dropped me off at college years ago.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if Lee Street/High Point Road showcased both Greensboro's university community and Greensboro's vibrant downtown character?
What if someday "Lee Street" sounded like "Tate Street"?
Caroline Ring
Durham
Comments (6)
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I agree with this letter. Toward Lee Street is the logical place for UNCG to expand. There are two problems, however, one of which is gracefully implied in the letter. "With care for student safety and security" names the problem, and I suspect the university will be reluctant to go on the "wrong side of the tracks" for precisely that reason. The other problem is the tracks, which create a pedestrian barrier.
Posted on November 7, 2007 1:13 PM
Couldn't have said it better myself, Brian.
As an alumni of that university, I remember at one time being able to cross those tracks.
As a matter of safety, UNCG (or the city) installed a tall chain link fence that runs the entire perimeter between UNCG and the railroad track.
Therefore, you can only get through to campus via Aycock or Tate Street.
There are numerous pedestrian challenges crossing at either of those intersections with Lee Street. I'd love to see multiple bridges over those tracks but I don't think the railroad would ever allow it.
Posted on November 7, 2007 3:47 PM
BTW, the 'matter of safety' was something UNCG stated, not me.
I don't remember any UNCG students being killed crossing the tracks during my time there.
Posted on November 7, 2007 3:49 PM
Before the fence was put up, there was a man cut in half trying to cross the railroad tracks. The fence and the trimming of the brush cut down on car break-ins by 75%. That was the main reason the fence was put up.
Posted on November 8, 2007 9:29 AM
snap,
thanks for the info. Car break-ins makes sense to putting up a fence.
Man being cut in half? Not really. First, was he a student? Have we put fences beside all railroad tracks where someone has been killed?
Nah. The main reason, IMO, was to keep the unsavory from crossing the tracks onto UNCG (and to prevent them from pillaging and vandalizing). A secondary reason, IMO, was to persuade students to pay for parking and housing instead of using city streets to park or walking from their homes.
My cynical bone is showing again.
Posted on November 8, 2007 2:34 PM
I was one of the officers who responded to the man cut in half. I saw him take his last breath. It was also in the paper, so it really did happen (you don't ever forget seeing someone cut in half). He was not a student but a man who was carrying scrap metal to the old metal works. He tried crawling under a stopped train and it started rolling again.
The sole reason the fence was put up and the shrubbery was cut down was for student safety. Parking and the other stuff had nothing to do with it. Also, walking on the railroad tracks is trespassing so having it as a pedestrian alternative is unsafe and illegal.
Posted on November 9, 2007 9:46 AM