WINSTON-SALEM | Development Guide

[DCMetroWinston]

Tuscani opens in the IQ on Tuesday

[B-V-R]

Don't think I saw this posted yet. Millennium Center to undergo $2 million renovation to create conference center:

https://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2...enddate=2025-08-27&utm_term=ep4&empos=p4

"The conference center will have a general assembly space in what was formerly the courtroom, a dining room, 15 breakout rooms, or alternative rooms for different meetings and Internet access points in every room in the building.

In addition to developing the new conference center, the center has also added an expanded catering kitchen, professional-grade sound and LED wall systems, and updated event furnishings, including new tables, chairs, linens, china, silverware, and glassware."

Article states the renovations will take place on the second floor while the main floor will continue to host events.

[Native Camel]

The courtroom is the coolest thing about that building. Hope they don't destroy it.

[DCMetroWinston]

Originally Posted by B-V-R

Don't think I saw this posted yet. Millennium Center to undergo $2 million renovation to create conference center:

https://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2...enddate=2025-08-27&utm_term=ep4&empos=p4

"The conference center will have a general assembly space in what was formerly the courtroom, a dining room, 15 breakout rooms, or alternative rooms for different meetings and Internet access points in every room in the building.

In addition to developing the new conference center, the center has also added an expanded catering kitchen, professional-grade sound and LED wall systems, and updated event furnishings, including new tables, chairs, linens, china, silverware, and glassware."

Article states the renovations will take place on the second floor while the main floor will continue to host events.

Great to hear. It’s such a great asset for downtown.

[yadkin]

I am not that familiar with the Millennium Center’s interior. So, why is there a courtroom in what was formerly the downtown post office?

[DCMetroWinston]

The developers of the $515 million The Grounds mixed-use development near Wake Forest University are making another financial request of Winston-Salem City Council.

This time, The Grounds is requesting the council’s assistance in securing up to $80 million in public finance authority lease revenue bonds.

The bonds would go toward financing the construction of a 130,500-square-foot Wake Forest University administrative office building project on campus and a parking area.

A public hearing is scheduled for city council’s 6 p.m. meeting on Sept. 15.

https://journalnow.com/news/local/busine...2918.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

[zalo]

Originally Posted by DCMetroWinston

I agree. A project that is approaching a quarter billion should not need to beg for $8 million.

A shortfall of this nature should be best handled as a loan. Even given the tariff induced inflationary pressures, unsure how they would find themselves this short. Most of this should have been covered under contingency funds incorporated as part of the original budget.

[zalo]

Originally Posted by yadkin

I am not that familiar with the Millennium Center’s interior. So, why is there a courtroom in what was formerly the downtown post office?

It was the Federal Courthouse as well as the Post Office. During the timeline of this building’s construction, this was a standard practice in most cities around the country.

[zalo]

Originally Posted by B-V-R

Don't think I saw this posted yet. Millennium Center to undergo $2 million renovation to create conference center:

https://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2...enddate=2025-08-27&utm_term=ep4&empos=p4

"The conference center will have a general assembly space in what was formerly the courtroom, a dining room, 15 breakout rooms, or alternative rooms for different meetings and Internet access points in every room in the building.

In addition to developing the new conference center, the center has also added an expanded catering kitchen, professional-grade sound and LED wall systems, and updated event furnishings, including new tables, chairs, linens, china, silverware, and glassware."

Article states the renovations will take place on the second floor while the main floor will continue to host events.

This sounds great! This facility could be incorporated into collaborative meeting events withthe Benton Convention Center down the street. Although isn’t Greg Carlyle getting up in age to be taking on a project of this size?

[zalo]

Originally Posted by DCMetroWinston

Don Flow, et al won the battle, but his good will with the community is bruised



https://journalnow.com/opinion/editorial...efb1.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

Crystal Towers as a 10 story tower is ill suited to house elderly residents with multiple medical needs. When HAWS considered selling the worn out building to a private developer a few years ago, the same “advocates” raised H*ll that the Downtown powers that be were trying to run out poor & elderly people out of downtown and were adamant that they should stay & be apart of the diversity of the central city. Well congratulations, this is part & parcel of being a part of downtown.

Flow & the City are acutely aware of what the sentiments of the C.T. Residents and will address their concerns within reason. Bottom line the is the building should have been sold and proceeds used to resettle the residents elsewhere.
Hopefully, another opportunity to unload that property & get it back in the tax roles will come along sooner rather than later.

[DCMetroWinston]

Originally Posted by zalo

Crystal Towers as a 10 story tower is ill suited to house elderly residents with multiple medical needs. When HAWS considered selling the worn out building to a private developer a few years ago, the same “advocates” raised H*ll that the Downtown powers that be were trying to run out poor & elderly people out of downtown and were adamant that they should stay & be apart of the diversity of the central city. Well congratulations, this is part & parcel of being a part of downtown.

Flow & the City are acutely aware of what the sentiments of the C.T. Residents and will address their concerns within reason. Bottom line the is the building should have been sold and proceeds used to resettle the residents elsewhere.
Hopefully, another opportunity to unload that property & get it back in the tax roles will come along sooner rather than later.

I agree with you. At root, Crystal Towers is an antiquated, drab, deteriorating high rise eye sore. The high cost just to maintain it as a minimally safe and functioning residence is not worth it when we can resettle residents into modem, safer more pleasant residences. Same for Sunrise Towers.

[Matthew]

The mistake made: HAWS didn't build replacement housing for the 201-units they proposed eliminating, by selling the building. If they would've built a 215-unit, 6-storey building, in roughly the same part of downtown, to replace Crystal Towers; moved Crystal Towers' residents into the new building; and then tried to sell Crystal Towers, I don't think you would've seen as much opposition. They would've increased the amount of housing in the deal and moved residents into much nicer housing. They (Crystal Towers' residents) were mistreated, as if they were an afterthought or something in-the-way of their deal.

[Matthew]

Originally Posted by yadkin

I am not that familiar with the Millennium Center’s interior. So, why is there a courtroom in what was formerly the downtown post office?

The Millennium Center was built during a time when Winston-Salem was the big city in North Carolina. It was home to many federal offices for the state, such as the U.S. Customs office, FBI office, U.S. Attorney's office, U.S. Marshal's office, the IRS office, Prohibition Enforcement office, the Draft Board, and it also had a local post office and multiple Military Enlistment offices. Greg did a great job reusing the building, while preserving its history. It has post office boxes, courtrooms, offices, and even a jail in the basement.

[B-V-R]

Originally Posted by zalo

This sounds great! This facility could be incorporated into collaborative meeting events withthe Benton Convention Center down the street. Although isn’t Greg Carlyle getting up in age to be taking on a project of this size?

There is a pretty inspirational quote from Greg in the article that addresses your question:

“I think I got to a point when I was approaching 30 years, is it time for me to sell the sell the building and retire, or do I turn up the gas and might make another push? And I think my conclusion was, I'm going to turn up the gas and make the push,” Carlyle said. “So, we've had a good time, and I'm trying to be optimistic, you know, and keep pushing forward.”

[DCMetroWinston]

Greater Winston-Salem Inc. is pleased to announce the launch of the BioNest Fund, a strategic initiative designed to attract and grow life sciences companies in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County.

Greater Winston-Salem Inc. has partnered with the Whitaker Park Development Authority to launch and fund the program. The BioNest Fund will provide up to $25,000 per company to support growth-stage, innovative life sciences companies relocating to or expanding in Winston-Salem. With a pool of $200,000, the fund aims to fill a critical gap for early-stage life sciences companies that often do not qualify for traditional publicly funded economic development incentives due to smaller job creation or investment thresholds.

https://www.winstonsalem.com/2025/09/bio...y4yOpwjfgeAPA_aem_T1koF5QBMbd9HdDtE6gVoA

[DCMetroWinston]

[SpikedCoffee]

Per WFMY, I have been advocating for this a long time. There is no reason to need to go from Southside, to DTWS, to get to the mall. Direct routes with mid route transfers.

Winston-Salem plans bus system overhaul for efficiency

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Winston-Salem is considering an overhaul of its bus system to move away from the decades-old hub-and-spoke model that requires most riders to travel downtown before reaching their destinations, Mayor J. Allen Joines announced Thursday.

The Winston-Salem Transit Authority has long funneled routes through the Clark Campbell Transit Center. Joines said the system creates unnecessary delays and no longer reflects where people work, shop and seek medical care.

“Given today’s dispersed employment centers and major destinations, it seems reasonable to also change the way the system operates,” Joines said in a news release. He added that direct, cross-city routes could shorten commutes, boost ridership and reduce the city’s carbon emissions.

City staff are studying whether such a redesign is financially and operationally feasible. If adopted, Joines said the plan could replace the downtown transit hub with a network of smaller satellite centers across the city.

[DCMetroWinston]

Pickleball center coming to Hanes Mall

[Native Camel]

Was it necessary to take out all the trees between the Grounds and the stadium parking lot? If anyone has been to a game over there, you'll see a giant dust bowl beside the area designated for the entertainment district. It is almost shocking to see how much they've changed the landscape. Looks like it was done to feature the creek. I was all for what they're doing over there but I wish they would have left that stand of trees.

[B-V-R]

Originally Posted by Native Camel

Was it necessary to take out all the trees between the Grounds and the stadium parking lot? If anyone has been to a game over there, you'll see a giant dust bowl beside the area designated for the entertainment district. It is almost shocking to see how much they've changed the landscape. Looks like it was done to feature the creek. Dumb. I was all for what they're doing over there but I wish they would have left that stand of trees.

Here is a rendering of the creek area between the new apartments and the Grounds proper. It shows a mix of trees along the banks of the creek. My guess is they had to remove the existing trees to do the shore stabilization work that was required. I think it's a good decision to feature the creek as part of the development, but I do agree they need to landscape the banks with trees as shown in the renderings.