Zack Matheny writes fellow council members and the City Manager about War Memorial stadium:
I respectfully request we consider delaying item #24 until we have had a briefing on this project. This is a significant project and warrants a full discussion of Council. There will be plenty of public input and there are many questions that surround what the City intends to use the Stadium for in the future.
I think it makes sense to remove this item until we have had a full briefing or open small group meetings to discuss.
He tells me, "We have not discussed this issue in years and this is an emotional, financial, preservational, and overall community decision and requires open and thoughtful discussion, not just sticking it on the agenda."
More on the stadium and its history here.
He raises an ancillary point that bears discussion - setting the Council agenda. I'm surprised to hear there has been no recent Council discussion of this before its appearance on tonight's agenda. Didn't this also happen with the noise ordinance?
Posted by: Brian | Apr 03, 2012 at 12:18 PM
Spoke with several on Council this morning, but hadn't yet talked with Zack. Glad we are of like mind on this.
The thrust of my urgings is to try to cause something good to come of this. Implementation of the Summit Avenue Corridor Plan has elements that link the WMS grounds and the Farmer's Market as a unit and a destination (as David C alludes to in another post).
Until people start frequenting the stadium grounds again, it will it not have importance to more than just a few A&T baseball fans. There is plan out there to make the place appealing and important again - and the voters approved the funding in 2008.
Let's do that.
Posted by: David Hoggard | Apr 03, 2012 at 12:59 PM
Good luck Hogg. I would love to see WMS saved or "re-puposed" somehow. Derby Day still jammin at your place?
Posted by: Mick | Apr 03, 2012 at 01:29 PM
Damn right! Going to close the street this year in your honor.
Posted by: David Hoggard | Apr 03, 2012 at 01:36 PM
Ed, Mick, Hogg, et al,
Just heard but have not verified that the WMS has been taken off tonight's agenda.
Can anybody verify?
MD
Posted by: Mad Dog | Apr 03, 2012 at 02:45 PM
Still up in the air, MD.
Posted by: David Hoggard | Apr 03, 2012 at 03:45 PM
Zack's point is well made. This has been off the radar for years. It deserves some discussion before this significant final step or first step, depending on your perspective.
Posted by: Collards | Apr 03, 2012 at 05:06 PM
Greg Jackson attended the Aycock Board meeting last week as did the Greensboro Farmers Market Executive Director. A good step, but there are more stakeholders that should have their say, more than just as speakers from the floor.
I assume they pulled this for a little more community engagement. After all it is a war memorial.
Posted by: Collards | Apr 03, 2012 at 08:23 PM