Protect Elm-Cornwallis Neighborhoods

Proposed Standards

2011-06-02T12:57:00.004-04:00

Brown Town / Cornwallis Neighbors,

Last January, the steering group asked if neighbors should continue working toward a Brown Town NCO. Sixty neighbors or about 23% of homeowners responded. Fifty-five or 89% said we should continue.

The steering group recently reviewed and edited draft NCO standards that could apply to our neighborhoods. Click here to access these proposed standards on the City's website.

The next step is for neighbors to review then comment on this draft. Please do so by emailing your comments and questions to elmcornwallis@gmail.com.

If you would like a printed copy of the draft, please send your request to elmcornwallis@gmail.com or call 691 0691. You can also comment by letter to Russ Clegg at 300 W Washington St, Greensboro, NC 27401-2624 or call Russ at (336) 373-2211.

At summer’s end, we plan to hold public meetings to discuss the comments and plan for petition signing and eventual review by the Planning Commission and City Council.

Zoning Commission Meeting - Monday, October 12, 5:30 PM

2009-10-09T16:50:00.004-04:00

It's almost here. The Zoning Commission will hear Stratton Development's rezoning request on Monday. We should have a large turnout from Brown Town, Fountain Manor and Newlyn at the meeting. (You're invited!)

Click here to reach the Zoning Commission's web site. It contains both the agenda and the staff's report. Interesting reading.

The steering committee for these three neighborhoods met Wednesday evening, considered the zoning conditions Stratton requested and agreed on several changes necessary for the neighborhoods to support the rezoning. Sadly, the committee could not see a way that the Commencement House could be saved on its site.

In a meeting this morning, Stratton agreed with most of the changes we requested. We could not agree on two important points.

First, the steering group believes the conditions should include the depictions of the buildings Stratton plans to build. In other words, the buildings eventually built on the site by Stratton or any other developer should look substantially like the buildings Stratton intends to build today.

Second, the steering group believes the buildings should not be higher than the Regions Bank on the corner of N. Elm and Cornwallis. That building is roughly 50 feet high.

Discussions on these two issues will likely continue through the weekend.

Regardless of the Zoning Commission's decision, City Council will also hear Stratton's request because the request requires a change in the Comprehensive Plan.

Please make time to attend on Monday evening.

More soon.

DeveloperMeeting 9/24, 5:30 at Sherwood Clubhouse

2009-09-23T20:19:00.002-04:00

Elm Cornwallis LLC is back in the person of John Stratton of Stratton Development.

Stratton will hold a meeting for the community from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Sherwood Tennis and Swim Club Clubhouse on Thursday, September 24. That's tomorrow night.

Stratton Development mailed notices of the meeting to a small subset of the neighborhood last Friday.

In spite of short notice to a relatively few neighbors, we should have a good turn out from the rest of the neighborhood for Stratton's presentation at 6:00.

He will make another presentation later if attendance warrants.

More to come.

Quiet Summer, for the most part

2009-08-23T09:32:00.008-04:00

It has been a very quiet summer for our neighborhoods - at least regarding the four homes owned by Cornwallis-Elm LLC. There was a bit of activity in late July but there was apparently no follow-up.

108 W. Cornwallis 106 W. Cornwallis

2209 N. Elm

The homes on West Cornwallis and at 2209 N. Elm are occupied. The Commencement House continues to suffer from the lack of care shown by Cornwallis Elm LLC.

Commencement House Front and Side

Councilman Matheny recently made comments to City Council regarding lack of maintenance on homes in District Three. Could he have been thinking of the Commencement House?

So why has it been so quiet? Could it be that the pending election is influencing Cornwallis-Elm LLC's plans?

Maybe our next update to this blog will have news.

No news except for time passing, paint peeling, trees falling...

2009-03-09T13:37:00.008-04:00

Cornwallis Elm LLC remains quiet. Maybe they'll file a new request for the April Planning Commission meeting or maybe they won't.

In the meantime, here are a couple of recent photos of the homes most directly affected by their assault on our neighborhoods.

The Commencement House still needs help. In addition to the peeling paint above, limbs from last weekend's storm litter the front lawn.

The folks at 2209 North Elm are taking good care of that home. Glad they're in our neighborhood

This tree apparently found the storm a bit much and toppled onto the Regions Bank lot from the back of 106 West Cornwallis. Wonder if Regions is trying to get Cornwallis Elm LLC to clean it up.

106 West Cornwallis looks great. Glad these folks are in the neighborhood too.

108 W. Cornwallis looks pretty sad with leaves from last fall still in abundance and probably clogging gutters, peeling paint and still for rent.
In case you're wondering, 336 358 3239 rings at NAI Triad.

Stay tuned.

Greg Young's Cornwallis Traffic Blog

2009-02-10T07:36:00.002-05:00

Greg has written a good commentary on Cornwallis Traffic. I particularly like his comment on "pacing."

It's about two miles from Elm to Lawndale. Increasing your speed by five miles per hour saves about 30 seconds. Hardly worth the risk of not being able to stop for a car, pet, bicyclist, runner, pedestrian or child.

Greg and Holly have a good perch from which to comment at the corner of Elmwood and Cornwallis.

Thanks, Greg.

Cornwallis Elm LLC Withdraws...

2009-02-09T16:06:00.004-05:00

It's official.

Mr. Isaacson withdrew Cornwallis Elm LLC's request for Conditional District-Limited Office zoning at today's Zoning Commission meeting.

If I understood him correctly, he said that the LLC had concluded the originally requested zoning did not allow the developers to carry out the type of residential development they wish to do.

Therefore, they withdrew that request and will put in a residential zoning request soon.

Stay tuned.

The Shortest Distance...

2009-02-08T10:48:00.003-05:00

While Allen Johnson's column in this morning's News & Record does not directly address the effort to protect Elm-Cornwallis neighborhoods, Johnson's comments reflect the difficulties neighborhoods face when assaulted by developers.

When the City Council debated whether Greensboro citizens deserved to have Protest Petition authority, Mr. Perkins made a statement to the effect that our housing stock was worn and little brick ranch houses were not good for our city. Now Johnson quotes Perkins as calling Protest Petition authority the "The Lawyer Relief Act of 2009." This from an industry well known for its use of lawyers to defeat and frustrate neighborhoods.

Mr. Perkins and his fellow travelers would do well to worry about representing all citizens, not just commercial interests.

By the way, the address listed with the Secretary of State for Cornwallis-Elm LLC (the entity that attempting to encroach on Brown Town) is the same as for Mr. Perkins' NAI Peidmont Triad - 101 West Friendly Ave, Ste. 601, Greensboro.

Thank You City Council and especially Goldie Wells

2009-01-22T09:13:00.004-05:00

Congratulations and thanks to Keith Brown, Donna Newton, Willie Taylor, the League of Women Voters and SO many others.

Ed Cone's comments here provide a great summary.

Dry inside, thankfully...

2009-01-14T08:24:00.002-05:00

Several weeks ago, a Cornwallis Elm LLC member (at least I think he's a member. How would you know?) told a neighbor that the Commencement House was "dry inside."

As Jane Levy and a small group of preservationists accompanied by Buddy Seymour saw yesterday, the house is dry. Here are Jane's words as she commented last night on this blog -

A small group of preservationists visited the interior of the Commencement House today. We found it to be in remarkably good shape considering the use and abuse it has received over time. Moving the house would pose several severe difficulties, but we are trying to find a way to save it. We will delve deeper and look for possible solutions in the next few weeks. As the NY Times said today about the possible demise of the Rainbow Room, “We hope it finds a way to survive.”

We all appreciate Mr. Seymour's agreeing to open the house for this short inspection.

Of course, we would appreciate the prompt filing of a new residential plan and an innovative solution for the Commencement House even more.

How about four homes on four home sites with the Commencement House in tact and enjoyed by generations of owners to come?

2009-01-08T16:41:00.003-05:00

The sun seems a little brighter today. Cornwallis Elm LLC is going to ask the Zoning Commission for a second continuance rather than propose a massive medical office building in our neighborhood.

Henry Isaacson (their guy) asked Don Vaughan (our guy) if the neighbors would accept a continuance providing Cornwallis Elm LLC used the additional time to propose a residential community of "high end town homes."

Neighbors are reacting with joy darkened by the cold realism brought on by Cornwallis Elm LLC's past behavior and their insistence that the Commencement House be moved or destroyed.

Having bought the four homes in 2005 and 2006 apparently on speculation they could build two more banks (!), they have exercised poor stewardship over their properties. (See earlier posts of Commencement House photos.)

They held an ill-advertised, ill-run meeting on December 1st to tell neighbors they wanted to build a parking deck and two two-story buildings.

They asked for a continuance at the December Zoning Commission meeting and said they would meet with neighbors. To my knowledge they have not met with neighbors or asked to do so. (Did someone hurt their feelings at that December 1st meeting?)

Now they have apparently have a new proposal - one that should be more acceptable but at the cost of a architectural and historic treasure.

Bet the neighborhoods won't trust Cornwallis Elm LLC until they've much more than words to consider.

Getting Ready for January 12th

2008-12-30T17:36:00.003-05:00

The Zoning Commission has posted a tentative agenda for their January 12th meeting here .

Cornwallis Elm LLC (who are they anyway) has apparently not updated their request. They are asking for rezoning to "all uses permitted in the Business Professional and Personal Service category of the Limited Office zoning district" and the requests mentions "buildings."

You may remember that one of their rationales for delaying consideration was to allow time to meet with neighbors. I know they've met with a neighbor representative once but I don't believe they've met with any real live neighbors.

Guess I should as where they are as well as who they are. (We do know that Stanhope Johnson submitted the rezoning proposal.) Maybe we'll see them on the 12th. Or maybe not...

Grinches, Scrooges...

2008-12-25T11:33:00.003-05:00

Thedore Geisel and Charles Dickens gave us pretty good models for holiday curmudgeons.

Cornwallis Elm LLC. seems pretty minor compared to the Grinch and Scrooge. Still, they seem to be doing their best.

Rezoning notices just before Thanksgiving, an ill publicized "neighborhood" meeting on December 1st and now a Zoning Commission meeting on January 12th. All pointed toward rescuing their speculative investment at the expense of our neighborhoods and longer lines of cars on N. Elm and Cornwallis.

Merry Christmas Cornwallis Elm LLC!

We look forward to your next "neighborhood" meeting. How about on New Year's Eve?

Shifting Plans

2008-12-23T17:03:00.003-05:00

Drip by drip by drip.

The original traffic study commissioned by Cornwallis Elm LLC anticipated two banks with four drive-in lanes each on the site of four residences including the Commencement House. That study called for dedicated turn lanes on Cornwallis and Elm. Cornwallis would have to be "improved." Bet that meant widened. Hardly an improvement for the neighborhood that staff's report worried about.

The plan they first filed with the Zoning Commission asked to build two office buildings and a parking deck. The traffic study prepared for the apparently abandoned bank plan was filed with the office building plan.

Now, I understand Cornwallis Elm LLC will file a plan calling for one mammoth two-story 35,000 sq. ft. building, converting the Commencment House to an office and 137 parking spaces. No word yet on a new traffic study.

What do you think? Bet they will maintain the impacts will be minimal.

What do you think? Bet there is another drip in the works to follow this one.

Support from the Triangle

2008-12-21T09:02:00.003-05:00

Modernist Homes are important. Just ask George Smart, editor of Triangle Modernist Houses. George recently wrote and emailed the piece below to people interested in such homes. His site, www.trianglemodernisthouses.com/ is fascinating.

Thanks, George.

Hello Folks,

Update: The rezoning hearing has been delayed for 30 days, by request of the developer. Henry Isaacson, legal counsel for the developer Cornwallis Elm LLC, requested more time to address concerns from the numerous neighborhood groups possibly impacted by the project. Don Vaughn, council for several neighborhood representatives, agreed to the 30-day extension.

Approximately 60 people attended the hearing in relation to the case. The request was approved unanimously. Under the new timeline, the request will be presented to the Zoning Commission on Monday, January 12th at 2:00 pm.

Questions related to this case may be directed to Planning staff contacts Rawls Howard and Fred Boateng at (336) 373-2144.

Source: Preservation Greensboro Demolition Alert: A proposed rezoning case threatens Ed Loewenstein’s 1958 Commencement House in Greensboro - The Squires Residence, 2207 North Elm Street, Greensboro NC. Loewenstein began teaching an innovative course in architectural design at Woman's College (now UNC-Greensboro). Twenty-three female students designed a house, oversaw its construction and decorated the resulting structure, dubbed the "1958 Commencement House" by the university's public relations office.

The Greensboro Daily News proclaimed the house "as modern as tomorrow," hailing the women who designed it as pioneers, reporting that "they are the first pupils outside the schools of architecture to attempt the complete designing and building of a house." At its May 1958 dedication, an event covered by the paper and broadcast on WUNC-TV, North Carolina First Lady Mrs. Luther Hodges, herself an alumna of Woman's College, cut the ribbon on the house. Written up in the November 1958 edition of McCall's Magazine. Contractor: Eugene Gulledge (Superior Contracting Company of Greensboro). The plan is to develop the property for two medical buildings.

The property is zoned residential single family; the applicant is requesting light office zoning. Rezoning will be considered at a public hearing by the Greensboro Zoning commission on Monday, 12/8 at 2:00pm in the City Council Chambers. Discussion may follow at City Council meetings on 1/6 and 1/20.

The owner is Cornwallis Elm LLC, PO Box 4761, Greensboro, who bought the property on Nov 7, 2006 for $285,000.

Kind Regards,
George Smart, Editor

Traffic and Bail Outs

2008-12-21T08:43:00.005-05:00

So, it's an ordinary Thursday morning about 9:00 and you need to drive east through the Elm-Cornwallis intersection. This photo by Steve Cowie captures today's situation.

Now add 35,000 square feet of medical offices and 137 parking places just to the left in Steve's picture. You're going to have to leave home a lot earlier and probably thread your way through residential neighborhoods. Commuters on N. Elm will face the same deteriorated situation.

Cornwallis Elm LLC seems to have no respect for the neighborhoods they plan to damage with their ill-conceived attempt to recover a bad investment. The apparently have no respect for the thousands who pass through the intersection either.

Speculative investments don't warrant rewards. Do you think the Zoning Commission and City Council will bail out Cornwallis Elm LLC?

Tired of traffic, bad development and bailouts? Tell the Commission and Council.

The Commencement House Today

2008-12-18T08:19:00.004-05:00

Driving in either direction past 2207 N. Elm doesn't allow much time to look at the Commencement House.
A rotting addition on the back of the house, the deteriorating carport and trash are evidence of Cornwallis Elm LLC's poor stewardship. I understand the house is structurally sound today inspite of their lack of attention.

In the two years of ownership, Cornwallis Elm LLC has chosen not to care for one of Greensboro's architectural treasures. The Zoning Commission and City Council must not allow them to degrade our neighborhoods further.

A Big Bite

2008-12-17T12:13:00.002-05:00

So it's only a couple of acres.

To mix some really old cliches, an acre here an acre there, soon there goes the neighborhood.

In Staff's Own Words

2008-12-17T11:27:00.004-05:00

"Staff is concerned that this proposal will destabilize the long-existing residential neighborhood which fronts on both sides of W. Cornwallis and N. Elm and continues toward the north, south and west of the applicant properties. If approved, it will put pressure on surrounding properties and encourage additional non-residential developments along neighborhood gateways or further into the neighborhood."

That's the opening paragraph of the Zoning Commission's staff report regarding "Elmwood Cornwallis LLC's" rezoning request. Unfortunately, staff's comments end with what are essentially the five easy ways to have the project approved listed below.

At least, the developers told neighbors they could easily meet staff's conditions at the December 1st meeting. They had no answers to staff's initial concerns about the neighborhood nor did they seem particularly interested in addressing them.

And how about staff's original concerns for the neighborhood? Did they melt away between the first and last paragraphs of the report? Did it get too hot to stand by that stove?

"1. Retaining and rehabilitating the residential building located at 2207 N. Elm Street for adaptive reuse.
2. All new development shall have similar scale and massing as adjacent residential properties.
3. Street facing facades shall be modulated with projections or recessions of at least 3 feet in depth once every 45 feet.
4. Height shall be limited to 40 feet above grade.
5. The front façade of any principal buildings on site shall be oriented towards either W. Cornwallis."

"Progress" and Communities

2008-12-16T12:40:00.005-05:00

Sometimes it is easy to accept the idea of progress. Examples abound. Other times, the idea of progress seems tainted and passe. The latter feeling is particularly sharp when we progress toward generic office buildings and away from the history and people that make our communities unique.

The proposed Elm-Cornwallis rezoning would do just that. The developers have proposed office buildings and parking in spaces where generations grew, thrived and contributed.

As I mentioned in my first post, developers want to destroy the Commencement House - a very special space indeed.

The house was built by Women's College students in 1958. The story of the house is much deeper than that surprising fact and is told best on UNCG's web site - http://www.uncg.edu/iar/modernism/commencement.html. Since it's purchase by "Elm Cornwallis LLC', it has apparently been occupied by a series of short term renters.

What do you think - office buildings and parking or homes and a wonderful part of Greensboro's heritage?

Welcome

2008-12-15T13:59:00.000-05:00

Citizens of the Elm-Cornwallis Neighborhoods in Greensboro, NC created this blog to discuss and listen to concerns regarding a proposed rezoning.

Developers are seeking to rezone four home sites from residential to office use. They want to build two two-story medical office building plus a parking garage on either side of and behind RegionsBank. Their project would destroy the Commencement House, add more traffic to the Elm-Cornwallis intersection and degrade our neighborhood.

Following neighborhood opposition at a poorly advertised meeting on December 1, the developers requested the Greensboro Zoning Commission postpone their hearing until January 12 at 2:00. Help us fill the Council Chambers and protect our neighborhood!