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Do we need another "white elephant" on Lee Street? I think not!! When we are in a recession, drought and our infrastructure is crumbling, why would we even consider such an expenditure? Come on, City Council, first things first!!

It is becoming increasingly apparent that the bulk of the city council has not yet been affected by the current economy. It is not reasonable to use public money at this time to purchase land unless immediate financial return is available. I believe we have an opportunity for private/public development for this property if incentives are used wisely. I also believe Perkins has his best interest at heart regarding this property.

Let's see, (1) the property is way over priced, (2) we will be paying interest on these bonds,which will make the final cost even higher, (3) these bonds are suppose to be used to lure jobs to the area, Perkins (or any of the city council who voted for this) can't tell us exactly how many jobs this will bring to Greensboro. (4) There are no specifc plans as to how this property will be used or why it is needed, other than to "protect our "crown jewel" the coliseum".
Oh yeah, this sounds like a great idea.

I watched Robbie Perkins last night at the council meeting. If the Coliseum is the engine he says it is then why hasn't the more efficient private sector scooped up this property ? Part of the reason is that the site is polluted. And yes polluted sites are bought and sold everyday. However any attorney will tell you, you can never really close on a polluted property even with / without remediation. The EPA / Fed Govt (forever) takes precedence over any agreement / litigation on a polluted property. The former and current owner are on the hook forever both civilly and financially. Ten years from now Mrs. JR and the city could get a $750 k bill from the EPA

The HP Rd. corridor is not hinging or waiting on the development of this property. I found Mr. Perkins argument in part, self serving. I'm glad others on the council were not asleep at the wheel on this one.

All said and done in my opinion the city could assume all the liabilities for the property but for less than the current appraisal. For 1.5 M the city should buy it.

Has Mr. Perkins every met an expenditure he did not like. What is wrong with not spending the money. This is one of the things that drives me crazy about our leaders. Just because you have the money does not mean you have to spend it. I also found his demeanor and attitude at the meeting to be totally self serving. As a previous comment was made, if this is such a primo spot and ripe for expansion, then why has one of the entertainment or lodging companies not snatched it up. This is just another reason why I did not vote for Mr. Perkins in his last run for city council.

With all the economic uncertainty, police and school needs, and now $26M greenway cost, it is ludicrous to consider the purchase of the Canada Dry site. If there are contamination issues, it could be a significant drain of the city's finances. Let's face it, the former owners won't be jumping at the request to pay up. If the abatement isn't too costly, why wouldn't the sellers take care of it now - to enhance the saleabilty of the property?

The question is what's in it for the council-members Perkins, Barber, Y.Johnson, Matheny, etc. As Greensboro has no water, no police, substandard bridges, high crime, high pollution, the council-members and mayor have concentrated on their personal deals with developers. Look for change when these crooks are out of leadership.

Robbie, you are so out of touch with the citizens
of Greensboro. W don't give a rat's a-- about
the Canada Dry property or any of your other
pet properties. We have no capable manager,
a corrupted police department, fictitious lawsuits, no water, missing files, blue light
policemen, police opening halfway houses without approval, police running unauthorized
checks on citizens, etc. and you won't to buy
contaminated property. Robbie start addressing the concerns of the citizens (I gave you a few to consider) and stop being so self-centered and greedy. May they build a Wal-Mart in your backyard.

Any idiot should know now is not the time to be buying real estate. The prices are going to continue to fall. You could lose 25 percent over the next two years. and, the way this city operates we will lose 200 percent. If they are such brilliant real estate and business investors, why don't/can't they sell the coliseum to a private corporation?

Look at the greenway that was mentioned. The council adopted a plan put together by Action Greensboro. They were lied to about how the greenway would be one long park, parts of it are just a street. They were lied to about security on the greenway (though even those idiots had to know that), I dare any of them to walk the route alone at dusk. They were lied to about the cost. Like Center City Park (Action Greensboro's Park) the City will have to maintain it. At a rate equal to what the park cost that will be 800 thousand per year, remember this is a linear park. They screwed up and actually adopted this bicentennial greenway (idea) plan a year ago, before they knew if it was feasible. They just pay a firm to produce some pretty pictures and believe it can be done. And, it will be done without regard to cost. I'm sure it will be great when it's done and will be maintained as well as the other trails, parks and greenways. If they really cared about the history of Greensboro they would have adopted a plan to preserve some of what they have let go to hell.

I can't stop now. How the hell does the city manager recommend cutting personnel to make funds available then suggest increasing his staff? He is an idiot and those who listen to him are idiots.

Evidently, Mr. Perkins, has forgotten that in the 2006 Bond Referendums, the voters of Greensboro, voted against the War Memorial
Renovations. The vote, 27,86l to 24, 802. That's 3,059 voters that said NO, to the coliseum.

In another Bond Referendum initiative, where Mr. Perkins, proposes that the money to purchase the Canada Dry property, come from the economic development bond of $10 million.
Which the vote was 26,925 to 25,340. It really squeaked by with 1,395 votes for economic development.

Take a good look at both these bond issues back in 2006. The bond issue for the economic development, to me, was not meant to be spent for the coliseum. It was proposed as a economic development bond, and not an economic "incentive" bond. I don't understand, that why isn't the 12 member ACC group hasn't given any public thought, as well as their funding for the purchase of this property, along with all the other interested parties who want to be a part of this building.

Remember, Mr. Perkins profession is a devloper/broker?/realtor. We all know that it will somehow benefit his pockets, as well as those who live in zip codes; 27408,27409,27410,27455; and the menial paying jobs will going to those living in zip codes; 27405,27406, 27407 (part).

At a recent Action Greensboro, Phase II meeting, some staff members from the coliseum, suggested a one cent tax on restaurants. The same way they tried to do it back in 1997? for the baseball stadium. The one that would bring the Minnesota Twins here.
That failed. Because the voters of this county and the other eleven counties, said NO!

Should there be a proposal to initiate a one cent tax for restaurants. I will definite lead the campaign to fight that proposal.

Coliseum officials must show us valid reasons why we should keep pouring money into this
facility, where we always seem to be in the red?

Keep us posted on the ongoings of what the management of the coliseum is planning on doing. And, let's keep a watch on how the City Council will try to pull the wool over our eyes, should Mr. Perkins, gets his way.

We need to leave the $10 million dollar bond alone, and insure that it goes to the right programs that affects the whole city. Not just pet projects for the council, and the city manager.

No. Taking property off the tax books in a time of recession is not a good idea. Noone else wants this property at anywhere near the price that the City will pony up. The joint parking lot with UNCG provides all the parking we will need. Gov't officials don't pay for what they want. That is why they want so much.