PROTEST PETITION TO BE FILED
BY THE COLLEGE HILL HISTORIC DISTRICT
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
Residents of College Hill will be filing a Protest Petition, on Thursday, December 3. 2009, 1:30 PM, at the City Clerks Office located on the 2nd floor Melvin Municipal Building Guilford County Courthouse. Members of the Neighborhood Associations Defense Committee led by Ron Walters, have been meeting neighbors, residential owners, landlords, and business owners, who agree “There is not room in College Hill for this much transitory student housing."
After 25 years of revitalization efforts the District has seen tremendous gains in neighborhood beautification, real estate values and restoration. The gains have been made with public and private funding and years of dedication by residents.
The neighborhood is a peaceful balance of resident working renters, working owners, families with children, retirees, small businesses and temporary student renters. A Neighborhood plan, already started, includes hopes for future development to be a thoughtful mix of neighbors.
Now, the neighborhood faces another student housing proposal for 750 beds minimum. This time, out of state Edwards Communities of Ohio, wish to profit from the latest building boom in Greensboro. They propose to rezone the area to build yet another massive student “Resort Style Living” complex (larger than the Mayflower development) in the most visible gateway to College Hill on Spring Garden St. from Cedar to S. Mendenhall. The site is adjacent, on three sides to 1-2 story homes. It is at the top of a hill (college hill) leading to downtown, cutting a swatch from the side of the neighborhood, leaving 10-13 blocks of 2-4 story dormitory buildings.
The protest Petition is a right granted back to Greensboro citizens in March. If 5 percent of nearby property owners sign the petition, a super majority of the City Council, voting yes is needed to approve a rezoning case. The Committee has the signatures of over 22 percent of nearby property owners. This situation exemplifies Goldie Well’s statement, in the January Council meeting. “Our citizens want the right every other citizen has in North Carolina." The legislation first composed in House and Senate bills was filed by Senators Katie Dorsett and Don Vaughan. The College Hill Neighborhood Association will be represented by Don Vaughan in their efforts.
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