High-rise development in the works for Downtown Greensboro? (Charlotte, Raleigh: apartment, condo)

[gsoboi]

The Rumor Mill:

according to the downtown Greensboro Magezine "99 Blocks", there are "serious" discussions going on about a new office tower in downtown Greensboro. The magezine also confirmed that there are some hotels in the works for downtown, at least one of them being a high-rise but could be two if the Charlotte developer John Adox continues with his condo/hotel tower near Center-City Park. I will say its about time. With exception to the Wachovia Building renovation, Greensboro's skyline has not changed in 18 years.

If plans proceed with an office tower, I sure hope the architecture will be something a little bold like the Hearst Tower in uptown Charlotte and not just a plain old ordinary office tower.

[Jamie40829]

thats great. I hope this happens. Greensboro's skyline could use a face lift.

[gsoboi]

Originally Posted by Jamie40829

thats great. I hope this happens. Greensboro's skyline could use a face lift.

It sure could. It will generate a little more enthusiasm for downtown especially if the architecture is interesting and bold. I live downtown so Greensboro's skyline is clearly visible from my apartment patio door. I would live to just sit and watch the progress from week to week of a tower under construction I also would like to see a building downtown thats around 30-stories. Its seems like most of the tall buildings downtown are around 20-stories which makes Greensboro's skyline look a little flat. One person not from Greensboro even asked me if the city had a height ordinance because he noticed that the tallest buildings were about the same height. I want to see more variation in height. Thats what makes a great skyline. Greensboro could have a 35-story building without it looking too weird but a couple of 25-story buildings along with it would make it look better. Greensboro's skyline also need more smaller towers to help fill in between the taller buildings for good density (buildings between 8 and 15 stories).

To help with that density Greensboro's skyline should begin to grow from east to west. Greensboro has a "linear" skyline and only grows on a north to south axis. All the buildings seem to be located along Elm Street. There should be some towers along Church Street and there should be some towers along Eugene Street and Edgeworth Street. Thats really key in Greensboro having a GREAT skyline. Downtown is much bigger than Elm Street. One of the reasons Winston-Salem has a better skyline than Greensboro is that their skyline grows in all direction and the tallest buildings are farther apart making downtown Winston-Salem look bigger than downtown Greensboro.

[the 7 oh 4]

As far as buildings are concerned...downtown Winston-Salem is bigger & nicer to look at than Greensboro. Winston-Salem has the 2nd best skyline in NC behind Charlotte. You would think Raleigh would have a nice skyline...but it doesn't.

W-S has more residential areas in & near downtown compared to GSO. And with the addition of the new downtown W-S baseball stadium...that will bring more shops & residential to the area too. Greensboro downtown is growing though.