WINSTON-SALEM | Development Guide

[DCMetroWinston]

Originally Posted by yadkin

“Looks like it's a done deal.”

The last major headquarters leaves. I reckon W-S’s new nickname will have to be the Incubator City.

Maybe Algernon Cash was right about this. The City needs a radical new industry recruitment strategy.

[Robinhood]

Originally Posted by DCMetroWinston

Maybe Algernon Cash was right about this. The City needs a radical new industry recruitment strategy.

If you never stop talking, you're bound to be right about something.

I think some of our city's "thought leaders" should do more to aid the hard work of governing and running consumer-facing businesses, rather than just providing a never-ending stream of commentary.

[Winstonwalker]

Originally Posted by Robinhood

I think some of our city's "thought leaders" should do more to aid the hard work of governing and running consumer-facing businesses, rather than just providing a never-ending stream of commentary.

AMEN!!

The energy I’m seeing devoted by NIMBYs on the amphitheater is great evidence of this phenomenon.

Local government is incredibly accessible here… they’re eager for input and brainstorming. One of the great joys of living in a city like this is that it’s easy to be an active citizen.

Everyone, of course, has fun being a backseat driver but I share Robinhood’s frustration when folk don’t show up and put their butts in seats at downtown businesses or put in their own public comments to local government and staff.

[DCMetroWinston]

In June 2024, the city collected $4,322. One year later, that amount increased to $24,700, which city officials attribute to the rate hike (duh), equipment that works (the app) and an expanded enforcement area (replacing old meters).

https://journalnow.com/opinion/column/ar...175bc62.html#tracking-source=mp-homepage

[DCMetroWinston]

Another video from The Grounds:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNWe_g4PJce/?igsh=ZXl1MWUzZDV1bzVx

[DCMetroWinston]

Originally Posted by Winstonwalker

AMEN!!

The energy I’m seeing devoted by NIMBYs on the amphitheater is great evidence of this phenomenon.

Local government is incredibly accessible here… they’re eager for input and brainstorming. One of the great joys of living in a city like this is that it’s easy to be an active citizen.

Everyone, of course, has fun being a backseat driver but I share Robinhood’s frustration when folk don’t show up and put their butts in seats at downtown businesses or put in their own public comments to local government and staff.

Yeah, I really don’t get the loud amphitheater opposition. The City is not having to come out of pocket to develop a barren lot in center city for an entertainment venue that benefits the region.

[Matthew]

The opposition to the amphitheatre will show-up in big numbers, with signs, and will sign-up to speak. They are organized, like a union. If you support the amphitheatre, you need to show-up for the meeting, sign-up to speak (if you can), ARRIVE EARLY, have a sign supporting it, try to outnumber the opposition, and tell other supporters to do the same. The first people to show-up will get-in to the meeting room. Send the opponents into a secondary room by showing-up early!

A big part of this project is adding amenities to attract/retain talent, startups, and headquarters. It will attract out-of-town weekend visitors. This is also something that can help bring bigger crowds downtown for restaurants/retail/hotels. It's an important project and a great amenity. It may also help with attracting developers for the two buildings along Second Street. This is information you could use in your speech before council. Show-up for the meeting, arrive early, sign-up to speak (if you can), and bring a sign.

Worth noting: That stretch of Marshall Street isn't suitable for residential development. Marshall Street is one-way and is like a highway there (air pollution, noise, and high-speed traffic). A big substation is right at the site. It's across the street from the fire department (lights & sirens at any time of the day/night). The site is separated from the park and I doubt anything would happen there without this proposal.

[DCMetroWinston]

Originally Posted by Matthew

The opposition to the amphitheatre will show-up in big numbers, with signs, and will sign-up to speak. They are organized, like a union. If you support the amphitheatre, you need to show-up for the meeting, sign-up to speak (if you can), ARRIVE EARLY, have a sign supporting it, try to outnumber the opposition, and tell other supporters to do the same. The first people to show-up will get-in to the meeting room. Send the opponents into a secondary room by showing-up early!

A big part of this project is adding amenities to attract/retain talent, startups, and headquarters. It will attract out-of-town weekend visitors. This is also something that can help bring bigger crowds downtown for restaurants/retail/hotels. It's an important project and a great amenity. It may also help with attracting developers for the two buildings along Second Street. This is information you could use in your speech before council. Show-up for the meeting, arrive early, sign-up to speak (if you can), and bring a sign.

Worth noting: That stretch of Marshall Street isn't suitable for residential development. Marshall Street is one-way and is like a highway there (air pollution, noise, and high-speed traffic). A big substation is right at the site. It's across the street from the fire department (lights & sirens at any time of the day/night). The site is separated from the park and I doubt anything would happen there without this proposal.

Thanks for this. The NIMBYS and anti-development forces smell blood in the water and are massively represented on social media. YIMBYS need to show up and speak out much more.

[Native Camel]

Matthew - Are the Prism Tower and 200 West First Street Mixed-use building (20 stories) projects completely dead? I just went back and looked at the renderings of those projects on the first page.

[Matthew]

I don't think those projects are happening (don't get excited about them) and we haven't heard anything on them in a long time, but they aren't "officially" cancelled. I have removed projects that weren't officially cancelled and had to add them back, when those projects reemerged. When I delete projects from the list, I don't save the information on them, which leads to having to find that information, again. It's best to just leave them until they are officially cancelled. I think this site's technical term, for projects like these, is Stale Proposal?

[DCMetroWinston]

Opponents, meanwhile, characterized the proposed $1-per-month lease for an acre of city-owned land as a sweetheart deal for a politically connected business leader. Developers say the acre is needed for the project. They also argued that hundreds of residents at the Crystal Towers public housing complex – just northwest of the proposed site – were an afterthought in the planning process for the project.

https://journalnow.com/news/local/govern...352e.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

[DCMetroWinston]

Okay Coffee opens at 505 North Cherry Street

[DCMetroWinston]

Algernon Cash continues to sound the alarm on the state of the City, but what are his ideas for solutions? Maybe he has a point here

Winston-Salem’s mayor doesn’t vote on city council decisions unless there is a tie, which undermines citywide leadership and weakens accountability. Our council structure favors a ward-heavy format with no at-large representation, making it harder to advance central business district initiatives that benefit the entire city. No other urban city in the state is structured this way, and it’s now time for Raleigh lawmakers to restructure our city council.

https://www.carolinajournal.com/opinion/...KZv5tSTpBhL9w_aem_s1Y9QCw7BEDRLfGImEno6w

[smain]

I was strolling through Old Salem two days ago and notice that there was a food menu posted on The Tavern. It appears Bread of Heaven Soul Food Restaurant will be taking over the building. I peaked inside and they had "Now Hiring" signs sitting on one of the tables.

https://breadofheavensoulfoodrestaurant.com/

I was surprised by the hours. They will be open for breakfast most days of the week including M-F. The hours for M-F were something like 7am-10pm. Not sure if they're open on Sundays. Also, didn't catch if they will be serving alcoholic beverages.

I always wanted that space to be a German restaurant with an awesome biergarten out back. But regardless it's a shame that space has been closed for so long.

[yadkin]

It's nice a restaurant is opening there, but does that type of food fit the theme of an 18th century German village? Agree a German restaurant would be a better fit if Old Salem is meant to be a tourist destination. W-S just seems to be off kilter on most things, that is, different from the success of other cities.

[DCMetroWinston]

Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist pitches a $33 million freestanding emergency department near The Grounds project site in Winston-Salem.

Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Health has proposed a freestanding emergency room at 2710 University Parkway in Winston-Salem, a site owned by an LLC connected to auto dealer Don Flow that has been a Honda dealership.


https://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2...tanding-emergency-department-w-s-nc.html

[DCMetroWinston]

Originally Posted by yadkin

It's nice a restaurant is opening there, but does that type of food fit the theme of an 18th century German village? Agree a German restaurant would be a better fit if Old Salem is meant to be a tourist destination. W-S just seems to be off kilter on most things, that is, different from the success of other cities.

Yeah, and as a lover of soul food, this menu looks beyond mainstream soul food. Fat back as a side and chitterlings as an entry aren’t found at your ordinary pedestrian soul food restaurant. Is that area lively enough for a restaurant that closes late in the evening?

[DCMetroWinston]

An absolute outrage

Hundreds of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools employees are bracing for layoffs after the district’s Board of Education approved a major round of staff cuts Tuesday night.

The 6-3 vote follows weeks of emotional pleas from teachers, parents and community members urging the Board to reconsider the reduction in force plan. In all, 343 positions will be eliminated, including current vacancies. Most of the cuts will hit the exceptional children’s department, which officials say is overstaffed according to state standards. Dozens of assistant principals and support staff members will also be let go.

https://www.wfdd.org/education/2025-08-1...ools-will-eliminate-nearly-350-positions

[DCMetroWinston]

We are very lucky 4th and Green got under construction post pandemic. Otherwise, it’s been a sad new residential construction drought downtown.

[DCMetroWinston]