Projects & Construction:
I want to thank the photographers and local businesses, sharing updates on projects, who make this thread possible. Without you, these updates won't happen. I don't make any money from this and these updates are to share, with both locals and out-of-towners, what is happening in the city they love. Many people reading this are far-away and this allows them to see the projects. If you can, please support any local businesses or follow social pages sharing photographs and thank them.
A short and fast update, without all of the extras! 
Williams Auditorium:
The 1,600-seat Williams Auditorium was granted and additional $14.65 million for renovations. Previously, State lawmakers gave $5.7 million in the 2021-22 budget and $14.2 million in the 2022-23 budget for this $57 million renovation project. State Senator Paul Lowe said, the venue needs "dramatic updating to get the best use out of it for performances and as an economic engine."
Eller Hall Renovation:
Eller Hall was granted $1.81 million in the State Budget for renovations and additions. This project is estimated to cost $10.8 million.
N.C. Museum of Art - Downtown Winston-Salem: Built! 
This project is now completed! Enjoy the new State art museum, downtown.
A look at the State of North Carolina's new downtown art museum on Fourth Street:
Credit: NCMA Winston-Salem
Credit: NCMA Winston-Salem
Credit: Secretary Pam Cashwell
Credit: Secretary Pam Cashwell
Credit: Secretary Pam Cashwell
Credit: Secretary Pam Cashwell
Credit: Secretary Pam Cashwell
Credit: DWSP
Credit: DWSP
Credit: DWSP
Credit: DWSP
Stevens Center Renovation:
The State has granted an additional $10.2 million in the State Budget toward the last phase of work at the Stevens Center, which is scheduled to start in February 2027. With this latest grant in the State Budget, the State has paid for $98 million of the estimated $100 million project.
N.C. Museum of Art - Winston-Salem Renovation:
This is the main campus and not the downtown location reported on earlier. The State has granted $4.4 million in the State Budget to renovate the N.C. Museum of Art's Main Winston-Salem campus.
505 North Liberty Street:
505 North Liberty Street was sold to real estate investor Nutao Lin for $550,000. You may remember this building as the proposed location for the never-built Olympic Cycling Center, where Team USA Cycling would train. It's good to see someone buy it who may renovate it and lease it.
Davidson-Davie Energy Complex:
This multi-billion-dollar project will produce enough electricity to serve 2 million homes and it now has an official name: Davidson-Davie Energy Complex. The main power plant will be located in Davie County, with a proposed interconnection system to Duke Energy's main transmission lines. This power plant will have two combined-cycle units that will use water from the Yadkin River and return warm water back to the river. On the Davidson County side, Duke Energy will build a gas storage facility, with the ability to store tens of millions of gallons of natural gas converted to liquid form by cooling it to -260 degrees. This compresses the gas, allowing the site to store 600 times more fuel. A Transco Pipeline passes-through this (Davidson County) site. It is worth noting: Underground gas lines, buried deep beneath the river, will connect the two sites. Duke Energy will start the state regulatory review process near the end of this year. Construction could start on the power plant in 2028, with first unit starting-up in early-2032 and the second unit in 2033. Davidson County's gas storage facility could start construction in early-2032.
The Grounds:
The retail village will have five buildings with 12 retail spaces for lease. The buildings will be 1-4 storeys in height. As we can see at the construction site, the retail village is connected to multi-use trails, with a beautiful view of the restored waterway. Workers are currently working on landscaping along the waterway. Demolition of the Best Western Plus will happen in the next few weeks. The hotel could be replaced with restaurants, retailers or maybe a grocery store? They are in talks for an upscale hotel in the development, to be built in partnership with another developer. Interestingly, the developers are saying the completed development will generate $1.3 billion in economic impact in its first 10 years, while adding 600 new jobs and $44 million to the City and County tax bases.
Sandbox VR Downtown: Built!
This project is now completed:
Credit: AC Hengler
Cone Hospital - Winston-Salem:
Cone's proposed hospital would sit on 91 acres and open with 105 employees, increasing to 312 employees over the next three years. As for neighboring development, Freeman Commercial just listed 31.5 acres on the proposed hospital's western side for $1.47 million and Avision Young listed 59.62 acres on the proposed hospital's eastern side for $2.98 million. Cone Health has an option to buy the site (0 Cole Road), but hasn't purchased it at this time.
Carolina Corridor Industrial Center:
Front Street is working on the Winston-Salem MSA's next mega site. An 848.8-acre development at Junior Order Home and Old Linwood roads that will be called Carolina Corridor Industrial Center. Front Street views this as a key component of "the Carolina Corridor - The Southeast’s next major hub for economic growth.” Carolina Corridor Industrial Center will become a master-planned industrial center with Norfolk Southern rail access for modern advanced manufacturing, logistics, and corporate investment. at full build-out it could reach 8.4 million-square-feet in possibly 15 buildings, ranging in size from 80,000-to-2 million-square-feet.
The Academy Hotel:
This proposed adaptive-reuse luxury boutique hotel & conference center project seems stalled-out?
Credit: Azael Valdez
Linden Center Biotech:
Jason Kaplan said potential regenerative medicine and gene therapy tenants are inquiring about the 190,000-square-foot Linden Center (401 North Research Parkway). This space is expected to provide an affordable price point for lab space and clean rooms. Advocate Health will also lease space in the building for "clinical needs."
New Jobs:
Shanghai Baolong Automotive and Luftride will move into the space at 126 Quality Dr.,. They are expected to make a $15 million investment into the building, where they will launch their North American air suspension manufacturing operation.
Innovation Quarter Phase II:
Before any work can begin on Phase II, the Innovation Quarter must hire a master developer. They are looking for a developer that can build on spec. The next phase could include a 180-key hotel and 330-408 apartment units. The document sent to prospective developers includes a 50,000-square-foot grocery store at East Third Street and North Research Parkway. It's (downtown grocery store) viewed as in high demand, but also a very difficult request for a downtown. They want a master developer who can help make this happen. Construction is scheduled to start in 2029 on the tallest and largest building (labeled Life Sciences), with Wake Forest University School of Medicine as the pre-leased anchor tenant in the 300,000+ square-foot building. Advocate Health will provide financial backing for the development and would like to have all of Phase II built-out by 2040. Note there is some flexibility on the uses of the last two buildings to be constructed, which could help the developer in reaching that 2040 goal. The first buildings, to start in 2029, will be the Life Sciences Building, Hotel, and Parking Deck with Sports Amenities (pickleball, tennis, running track, rock climbing wall, etc.).
Credit: WFIQ
New Tenants/Leases:
According to Carroll Leggett, Tuscani Italian Steakhouse in downtown Winston-Salem’s Innovation Quarter hired a chef "with international, celebrity credentials." Chef Renato Mekolli from the TV show Hell’s Kitchen Albania. He was also a judge on Master Chef Albania and owned the restaurant Unami, which won “Best Chef” and the “Toque D' Or” award. He previously worked at the award-winning Key Biscayne Ritz Carleton. Look for a new menu in the Fall, with "Mediterranean cuisine inspired by his Greek and Turkish grandmothers, creative seafood dishes and emphasis on seasonal ingredients."
Bobo's Deli & Grill will open a second location, with drive-through, at Pfafftown Center (4697 Yadkinville Road). This will be new ground-up construction on the empty lot behind the Post Office.
A Chipotle will replace the KFC at 2390 Lewisville-Clemmons Road, in Clemmons.
Someone is interested in the former Bar Pina space, at 770 Liberty View Court (Suite 200). If they decide to move forward with their plans, the space would become a cocktail lounge.
Fifth Third Bank will construct a 2,397-square-foot de novo branch at 5619 Robin Lark Circle, in the West Edge Shopping Center.
A bar called "The Yard" will open at 915 Brookstown Avenue. Tony Stevens is the bar owner.
Azami is interested in the 2040 Village Link Road space in The Village at Robinhood. If they move forward with this space, they will use a local GC from Mount Airy.
Cigar and vape store, The Smoke Factory, is interested in opening at 219 North Main Street in Kernersville.
Steadfast Health is interested in the 1493 space at Eastway Plaza Shopping Center.
The former Rock Outdoors, in the Stratford Galleria Shopping Center, will be replaced with Happy Feet Planet, an indoor playground. LMI Builders is the general contractor for this upfit.
MSM Communications will construct a new 1,500-square-foot office building at 16 Plaza Station Court. It's required to fit-in with the neighborhood, which is residential.
Data Center (Project Delta):
According to the town of Walnut Cove, they don't the have the authority to approve or deny the data center. That decision will be made by the Stokes County commissioners.
WFBH Eye Institute:
The Eye Institute's new proposed opening date is December 2026.
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