WINSTON-SALEM | Development Guide

[DCMetroWinston]

Industrial fan-maker Ziehl-Abegg Inc. is expanding its Winston-Salem hub by opening it's first U.S.-based research and development unit here.

https://journalnow.com/news/local/busine...8328.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

[DCMetroWinston]

Originally Posted by Matthew

Thank you for the photograph updates on The Grounds. It looks even better from street level views.

I was surprised last week when I went to The Grounds to observe construction progress. That area already feels so much more vibrant and modern than it did before, and there is still a lot of construction to go. Traveling south on University, I was struck by how the cleared land provides a nice backdrop that showcases the massive dark glass Pepsi complex at Whitaker Park, with the huge Pepsi logo on one edge of the building, and the “WF” emblem on the other end. It looks great! One suggestion I have is to make the WF letters lighter because they are sort of drowned out on the dark building.

I am excited for construction to begin on the commercial complex. Imagine how energetic this area will be by 2028!

[DCMetroWinston]

Dandelions debut this spring in Winston









Photography by Dale Briggs

[yadkin]

Yuck

[Robinhood]

Had my doubts, but the dandelions look great in person, especially the large one closest to the Dash Stadium.

If you dislike them from photos alone, it's worth seeing them in person.

[AtlantaProf]

Originally Posted by Robinhood

Had my doubts, but the dandelions look great in person, especially the large one closest to the Dash Stadium.

If you dislike them from photos alone, it's worth seeing them in person.

I agree-- from photos on here and on various social media, they turned out better than I had imagined. I haven't seen them in person but I'll be back in Winston visiting family next week and will be sure to drive by.

[resprink]

Yes, the single large dandelion is impressive. The smaller stand alone one, across the Parkway, is barely visible and would be more admirable were it significantly larger. The matching smaller bridge mounted pair are nice designs but again, underwhelming b/c of size AND location - one of them is hardly viewable from the parkway as you are exiting the downtown. Perhaps they were primarily intended to view from the bridge itself... IDK.
I think I would have spent the $$$ on a single, bigger, bolder sculpture (like the one nearest the Dash Ballpark).
Did W-S/ NC/ Creative Corridors Coalition get their money's worth on this whole project? $1+ million...? Time will tell. I believe all the funds were privately provided and NOT taxpayer funds. Someone please confirm?

[WashingtonParker]

I drove by yesterday and I love the dandelion It's whimsical and certainly original -- I've never seen an outdoor sculpture like it anywhere. It's highly visible from both directions, though it's best seen when traveling west-bound on Salem Parkway.
The smaller sculptures on the bridge are nice, too, although (as resprink points out) when traveling east-bound, the dandelions are hard to see until you're right under them; they are obscured by the previous bridge.
BTW, the money for this project came from voters approving a bond referendum, a portion of which was dedicated to public art.

[WSBornNBred]

Per TBJ, the Grounds retail village is 65% leased and they expect to start construction late this month.

[DCMetroWinston]

Originally Posted by WSBornNBred

Per TBJ, the Grounds retail village is 65% leased and they expect to start construction late this month.

I’m So stoked. Are there plans for an additional phase. The purchase of the hotel across the Parkeay may hint at additional development .

[DCMetroWinston]

$700.9 Million Budget Adopted for 2026-2027 💰

Mayor Joines and City Council adopted the FY26–27 budget, which allocates $546.4 million for operations, $49.7 million for debt service, and $104.8 million for capital improvements.

Highlights:
☑️ The property tax rate will increase by 2.2 cents per $100 of value (3.9%), meaning a $4.51/month increase for a median-valued home.

☑️ Water and sewer fees average 5% increase beginning July 1, 2026, meaning a $5.89 bimonthly increase for the average customer. Stormwater fees 4% increase on Jan. 1, 2027.

☑️ Winston-Salem Transit Authority fixed-route bus changes designed to increase ridership and reduce headways starting August 2026. Two new microtransit zones will begin service in January 2027.

☑️ Major cost drivers include public safety technology enhancements, information technology security and software upgrades, inflation for general supplies and services, employee compensation (3% merit increases for eligible employees) and rising benefits costs.

[DCMetroWinston]

Hobby Lobby buys bulk of Hanes' former HQ for $8M; developer plans mixed-use project on rest of site

https://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2...nesbrands-tony-alford-winston-salem.html

[B-V-R]

Originally Posted by DCMetroWinston

https://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2...nesbrands-tony-alford-winston-salem.html

This is interesting. What could Hobby Lobby be planning for that suburban office building? It's a pretty beautiful campus and it looks like part of it will be developed with some commercial and residential, but I'm really curious what Hobby Lobby plans for the office complex.

[DCMetroWinston]

Originally Posted by B-V-R

This is interesting. What could Hobby Lobby be planning for that suburban office building? It's a pretty beautiful campus and it looks like part of it will be developed with some commercial and residential, but I'm really curious what Hobby Lobby plans for the office complex.

I’m really curious too. What would motivate a major company headquartered in OKC to buy major office property way across the country like this?

[WSBornNBred]

I can’t imagine they bought simply as an investment, knowing the struggle in the office space especially in a mid-sized city like Winston. I would think they have plans.

[zalo]

Originally Posted by resprink

Yes, the single large dandelion is impressive. The smaller stand alone one, across the Parkway, is barely visible and would be more admirable were it significantly larger. The matching smaller bridge mounted pair are nice designs but again, underwhelming b/c of size AND location - one of them is hardly viewable from the parkway as you are exiting the downtown. Perhaps they were primarily intended to view from the bridge itself... IDK.
I think I would have spent the $$$ on a single, bigger, bolder sculpture (like the one nearest the Dash Ballpark).
Did W-S/ NC/ Creative Corridors Coalition get their money's worth on this whole project? $1+ million...? Time will tell. I believe all the funds were privately provided and NOT taxpayer funds. Someone please confirm?

I agree with your observations. The bridge sculptures and the secondary sculpture should have been larger in scale in order to make greater visual impact. This project was included in the 2018 bond referendum. Other enhancements on the Parkway were privately funded.

[yadkin]

“This project was included in the 2018 bond referendum.”

Was the wording in the referendum generic for artwork along this corridor, or was the subject, that is these dandelions, mentioned and described specifically?

[DCMetroWinston]

Developer Tony Alford retained approximately 75 acres of the surrounding Hanesbrand property to develop a mix of apartments, homes, and offices. Does anyone know anything about Alford to evaluate whether his plans are likely to come to fruition?

[DCMetroWinston]

Downtown Grille in Winston-Salem retains top spot on upscale Triad restaurant List….. For the second straight year, Winston-Salem’s Downtown Grille takes the top spot in Triad Business Journal ranking of the region’s highest-rated upscale restaurants as rated by Yelp reviewers.
Downtown Grille is owned by the Parry Restaurant Group and run by executive chef Harrison Littell and executive sous chef Giovanni Brown. The restuarant, located at 500 W. 5th St., offers “a sophisticated dining experience” with the “finest regional meats and seafood alongside a carefully curated wine list.”

https://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2...upscale-restaurants-downtown-grille.html

[DCMetroWinston]

Doug Rice Photography