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The beauty of the Bellemeade plan is not only the promise it holds for bringing more residents downtown, but the lesson it can teach in high-density development. Remember, Bellemeade Village calls for 330 condos and apartments, a "boutique-style" hotel, shops and offices on 6 acres.

Lots of people around here still think they need that much space for one house.

The ideal target for the residences might seem to be young professionals, but the graying population might also produce another lucrative market for urban living: empty-nesters looking to downsize.

Problem is, Roy Carroll II has designs on the same demographic. Carroll will decide by the fall if it's feasible to refit the 16-story Wachovia tower downtown for offices, retail space and 150 condominiums and apartments.

The old Wachovia high-rise is scarcely 100 feet from the edge of the Bellemeade property. If you think downtown's stirring to life now, imagine what would happen if both projects succeeded.

Developers have complained for years that downtown lacks "critical mass" for profitable projects.

Nearly 500 new residences could change that math in a hurry.
Of course, I'll feel better about this deal -- whose price tag approaches $85 million, or twice the cost of the ballpark and the renovation of the old Wachovia building combined -- once the bulldozers roll in and start turning some dirt. So would Steve Jones.

"We've gotten a lot of positive response," he said Friday, "but we're long from breaking ground. That's for sure."

The Joneses, like Carroll, grew up here and are as emotionally invested in their plans for downtown as they are financially. "I remember what it was," Jones said of "uptown" Greensboro in its heyday. "I can remember when it was a vital hub of the community. To be a part of bringing that back ... I don't know of anything that's more satisfying or exciting."

Steve Jones said Friday that he has not spoken with Carroll about the two mixed-use proposals. "But I would love to sit down with him."

Jones also said he believes both projects can and should succeed side by side. "There's been a demand for downtown housing and basically no supply."

Jones noted the recent success of urban residential projects as Southside, Governor's Court, Smothers Place and now 411 West.

Carroll agrees. "I don't see it as competition," he said of Bellemeade Village Friday. "I see it as complementary to what we're doing."

Meanwhile, City Manager Ed Kitchen said Friday that the city has had conversations with the Joneses and Carroll and is looking for ways to help, especially with parking. The Bellemeade plan also calls for major alterations to Smith Street. They won't come cheaply.

One idea the city ought to consider for downtown projects is partnerships with the county, which benefits from such development through increased property tax revenues.

Kitchen, a man who tends to keep his emotions to himself, sounded (for him, at least) almost giddy at the prospect of figuring out how best to help two massive downtown projects find their way.

"I think it's awfully nice to have these problems," he said.

Contact Allen Johnson at ajohnson@news-record.com or visit his blog at http//blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud