Projects & Construction:
Bailey Power Plant Entertainment Center:
Workers have returned to the site and construction has started. Forum members at WSTB are reporting a Raleigh-area developer has acquired most of the brick building, for a massive entertainment complex that could include a bowling alley, theatre, sports bar, and restaurant.
Credit: STITCH Design Shop
Credit: Bob Jones
500 West Fifth Street:
A third developer has emerged in the Center City West Parking Deck Property bidding war. Grubb Properties is currently talking with this developer about a possible partnership or deal.
Aviation College:
Forsyth County is considering $16.6 million in bonds to help create an aviation / aerospace college, across the street from Smith Reynolds Airport. The college is considering adaptive reuse of a hangar (built in 1961) and an adjacent former credit union building (built in 1955) to provide classroom, shop, and lab space for technology education and training in the aviation and aerospace industries. #CityOfAdaptiveReuse
Buildings at Smith Reynolds Airport to be used in adaptive reuse project:
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Credit: David Rolfe | JournalNow
Buildings at Smith Reynolds Airport to be used in adaptive reuse project:
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Credit: David Rolfe | JournalNow
527 North Liberty Office Building:
This project was officially announced, yesterday. Workers will convert the abandoned building, built in 1922, into office space, with ground-level retail/restaurant space. The retail/restaurant space is leased to Crafted: The Art of the Taco. "Kris Fuller challenges herself to create new takes on the taco. Flavor combinations include beef brisket, grilled pineapple and Asian mustard, and falafel and pickled cucumbers." I haven't heard who leased the office space? I'm guessing it's a tech company? Depending on who the office tenant is, we may or may not follow this project here. With an exception for the Liberty Street office windows, this will be an historic restoration.
Winston-Salem Region VA Hospital: Built!
The $130 million, 400,000 square foot, VA facility is finally open! Sections of the building are designated with the names of Winston-Salem and North Carolina landmarks. The building is designed to allow as much natural light to enter, as possible. It also includes a green roof and outdoor gardens. This is a research VA Hospital. The third research hospital facility in the Winston-Salem / Forsyth County area. The VA hospital is expanding its affiliation with Wake Forest University and their university medical center and downtown Winston-Salem's Innovation Quarter (IQ District). This will also connect the VA hospital with downtown Winston-Salem's Armed Forces Institute for Regenerative Medicine. A government funded biotech research center. This VA Hospital will be a training ground for students from Wake Forest University's School of Medicine and new residents at the medical center. If you are looking for a job, this hospital is hiring hundreds of people.
Credit: Owen Covington / TBJ
Quarry Park:
Yes, Quarry Park is now under construction! This is expected to be a major tourist attraction for both Winston-Salem and North Carolina. Look at the elevation of this site! You can look down on much of the city from here. Also, the lake is in a deep geographic depression and the lake itself is very deep. I think The lake is 150 feet (46 meters) deep and rising. Rising very quickly! 30 years ago, the lake didn't exist. I seem to remember hearing the volcanic rock cliffs are 150 feet (46 meters) tall in some places? Amazing! The ridges, that give Winston-Salem its interesting terrain, are the remnants of volcanic islands and this is one of the best places to see these volcanic rock formations. The first phase of this multi-phase project will add an observation pier (with lake and skyline views), overlooks (taking advantage of the site's high elevation), and a natural auditorium & stage. It also includes a greenway connector. The lake is known for it's remarkable clarity, large fish, and fresh water jellyfish. There are scientists studying the site and the unusual ecosystem.
Future phases will add a hotel & conference center, a railroad around the lake, a train station and retail village (around a village green), glass-bottom boats, a botanical garden, disk golf, different skill level trails, an interpretive center, and much more.
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Credit: David Rolfe | JournalNow
The water is rising quickly:
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Credit: David Rolfe | JournalNow
The rising water is actually drowning the trees. That explains the dead trees.
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Credit: David Rolfe | JournalNow
The rock under Winston-Salem is different from the rock found under other parts of the state. According to the North Carolina Geological Survey, the rocky cliffs are the 460 million year old Milton Terrane. It's a band of rock under most of Winston-Salem that was once a chain of volcanic islands!
Volcanic Island Rock:
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Credit: David Rolfe | JournalNow
City Council at Groundbreaking - Notice the high elevation:
Credit: Fifth Letter
The Skyline View with the Lake:
Credit: Joe Dominguez
Movies are sometimes filmed at Quarry Park. This is from the 1990s (look for the rocky cliff lake):
• Video Link
Electric Pyramid Studios - Artist Collective: Built!
This was a fun project we didn't really talk much about, since I couldn't find many updates on it. I apologize for that. Electric Pyramid Studios is the newest artist collective in Winston-Salem. Their building is a former funeral home with a former embalming room in the basement. The artists say their building is haunted and they are having fun with it!
Historic design features include a ramp for moving coffins. This project may reappear on our construction list, as they expand. #CityOfAdaptiveReuse
Credit: Kait Neely
Intelligent Business Solutions Headquarters:
An update on the software tech company's headquarters and luxury condos. The exterior will remain the same and most of the construction is indoors.
Credit: Emily Sale
SciWorks Downtown:
The merged museum is seeking $25 million in bond money. Forsyth County Commissioners must approve offering the bonds before anyone can vote on them. Commissioners also must approve giving the former Sheriff's Department Building to SciWorks.
New FTCC Library:
The historic Piedmont Building could be demolished to construct a new community college library and a new central campus. This project requires approval of a $70 million bond for the community college. The new library will have student meeting rooms, study space, maker spaces, and more. I'm guessing they will expand with a quad and future buildings, centered on the library? I'm not a local and don't really know much about FTCC or their long range plans.
It's sad to lose such an interesting old building. Can't they reuse it for an interesting and unique library, no other community college has? Think of the massive windows and beautiful spaces. It's a great building to build around.
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Credit: David Rolfe | JournalNow
Forsyth County Courthouse:
A new 12-14 storey downtown courthouse would cost $120 million. Commissioners are considering offering bond money for this project or to renovate the existing building and build new at a later date. The county will have to take formal action in June and July to prepare for a November bond referendum. The county could also use limited-obligation bonds that do not require voter approval. Since the county is looking at around $550 million in bond projects, don't be surprised if the county decides to spread-out these projects over a few years, to minimize tax increases. The county is still waiting on an April report, for the final cost numbers.
WSPD South District Station - Former Nissen Wagon Works:
Could this become a mixed-use project? The remaining space, in this massive historic complex, could be donated to the Winston-Salem / Forsyth County Public Library System for use as a new Southeast Library. This idea is still in the early stages, but those behind it are really pushing it forward, right now. Keep in mind: The county pays for library branches and they are looking at massive bond proposals, right now. James Taylor may have to look for grants or start a fundraiser, even with the city donating space and the possible use of historic rehabilitation tax credits. Something I didn't know: This project also connects to a greenway to Quarry Park. It sounds like a great location for a library branch.
Downtown Hampton Inn & Suites:
Thank you to the Crowders for keeping us up-to-date on the demolition. The smaller brick storefront building is now fully demolished. The 1964 bank building is very solid and difficult to demolish.
Credit: Ashley Crowder
Credit: Thomas Crowder
Kimpton's Cardinal Hotel & Residences:
Elevator Interior:
Credit: Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants
Did you know: The carpet in this room has poems from Winston-Salem's Maya Angelou on it?
Credit: Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants
Be sure to look at the carpet, on your visit!
Alternative Transportation:
Rail Streetcar System:
Wake Forest University has started discussions on how to transport students between their three campuses. Right now, they are using mini-buses. The streetcar is designed to connect all three Wake Forest University Campuses with downtown/IQ District, major employment centers, core neighborhoods, transportation centers, art galleries, meeting/convention facilities, the ballpark, and other colleges/universities. It will be interesting to see if Wake Forest will offer to help pay for the streetcar system. Everything, transportation related, involving the university, is closed-door right now. The streetcar is currently in the funding stage and Winston-Salem would like to start work in another year or two. Wake Forest University will soon relocate the medical school to downtown, build a new downtown engineering school with Virginia Tech, and move hundreds of students from their Reynolda Campus to another downtown building and the university needs a transportation link. We'll see what they do...
Off-Subject:
Buy Winston-Salem Clothing:
Did you know: There is actually a convention planned (at the Benton Convention Center), May 7, to show clothing brands from Winston-Salem and clothes manufactured in Winston-Salem. If you really want to buy local, this may interest you.
Dirty Dancing Filming in Winston-Salem:
ABC/Disney's three episode musical remake of Dirty Dancing will film in downtown Winston-Salem. Extra information on Winston-Salem could be included in the DVD box set. Downtown Winston-Salem will also become part of a Disney branded Dirty Dancing vacation package.
Random Photographs:
Have you seen a walk-up window, along the sidewalk, before?
Credit: Mission Pizza
A look inside the Model-T Ford Factory:
Credit: urbanmez
I think we all want to see the owners sell this building, so it can be renovated into retail and condos. With an accurate exterior restoration, of course!
Bernie Sanders starts the 2016 Street Festival Season in Winston-Salem with his own street party at the Triad for Bernie Headquarters in Winston-Salem's Waughtown District:
Credit: Douglas Moore Jr.
When attending events or talking to the candidates: Be sure to ask about the candidate's stand on different development and transit issues that matter to you and your city's future.
A group of people created an illuminated Bernie Sanders sign, above the East-West Expressway, at Krispy Kreme's headquarters:
Credit: Hannah Lord
That is awesome! Like the sign says, vote on March 15! #FeelTheBern If you like development and cities, it is very important to vote. Take note of how many projects are dependent on city, county, state, and federal help. From SciWorks Downtown to the Streetcar System. Vote for the candidates who support cities and urban development. If you live in Winston-Salem's South Ward, be sure to vote for John Larson. Yes, I endorse Larson. He is a great preservationist in a beautifully historic ward and will help move this city forward. Vote!