In February of 2008, the Greater Glenwood Neighborhood Association and The City of Greensboro's Housing and Community Development Department produced the Glenwood Neighborhood Plan. The plan is a well written, seventy-four page long document that describes Glenwood's unique history. It also contains ideas about what could be done to improve the future of one of Greensboro's oldest neighborhoods. Section 7.10 on page 31 of the plan focuses on Grove Street and is posted below.
7.10 Grove Street Revitalization StudyHere is what the "catalyst for Glenwood's emergence as a vibrant neighborhood" looks like today.
Beginning in early 2006, a sub-committee of the Greater Glenwood Neighborhood, named the Grove Street Revitalization Task Force engaged in a visioning process with technical assistance from the Institute of Cultural Affairs. The aim of this project was to formulate a package of ideas that could restore some of the attraction and excitement that the Grove Street Corridor once enjoyed. This process included several public workshops and numerous working meetings of the Task Force. The visioning component culminated in Spring 2007, when the Task Force presented their “Groove on Grove” concept to the neighborhood. The stated goals of the concept are:
1.Counter-act Crime,
2.Restore Positive Image
3. Invite New Exciting Business
During Grove Street’s prime – the 1920s through 1950s – it was a thriving example of the traditional walkable neighborhood center; the prototype that the current “neo-traditional” development trend seeks to emulate. This two-block corridor has the potential to become the type of amenity that holds great appeal for people from a diverse array of cultural, racial, and socio-economic backgrounds. GGNA hopes that Grove Street will be the catalyst for Glenwood’s emergence as a vibrant neighborhood at the gateway to downtown Greensboro, and has chalked up several early successes in pursuing the “Groove on Grove” vision. The recommendations of that study have been incorporated into this neighborhood plan in order to ensure coordinated and systematic implementation.
Notice the dead puppy with the beer can on its head.
Almost two years after the Glenwood Neighborhood Plan was produced, the area has not seen much change. That is why I have created actionglenwood.com
At Actionglenwood.com there will be no discussion about anything other than issues in Glenwood. I will not be posting here at the Troublemaker unless an emergency arises. Comments are also going to be turned off for now. My goals are to immediately address the blight and dilapidation in Glenwood. I have gotten several things addressed already and continue to work on others. Addressing the physical disorder is the top priority and I have been working with city inspectors to do just that.
5 years and 6 days ago, the Grove Street Cafe closed after being open for 50 plus years. Nothing has come close to replacing it. Because of this, the neighborhood is not reaching its full potential. At one time, Grove Street had a grocery store (Bi-Rite I think), a post office and a drug store. Now, it sits largely vacant with a few exceptions. Andy's Handy's Pantry is the busiest business in the neighborhood. I imagine their top selling items are beer, wine, cigarettes, blunts and lottery tickets.
Glenwood's crime was also addressed in the 2008 plan. Key findings in section 7.8 located on page thirty-one report that their is a problem with crime in Glenwood.
Public Safety, Security, and Health – Key Findings:One year after the plan was released the Greensboro Police listed Glenwood as one of the city's high crime areas. Picking a fight with the neighborhood blight will help reduce crime. Reducing the crime will create a positive atmosphere. A positive atmosphere will create a vibrant neighborhood. However, revitalization of a neighborhood can only happen one way. It has to happen building by building, house by house, street by street, corner by corner and block by block. I am not concerned with debating how Glenwood became a criminally infested neighborhood. I am only concerned with making tomorrow better than today.
1. Glenwood’s per capita crime rate is nearly double the rate for Greensboro overall.
2. Property crimes form the majority of reported criminal activity in Glenwood.
3. The rates of drug activity and prostitution in Glenwood are disproportionately higher than in Greensboro as a whole.
4. The highly visible nature of predominant crimes in Glenwood have a persistent negative effect on the neighborhood’s image.
