The way we renovate and restore our homes is about to change. A recent meeting of the Greensboro Remodelers Council of the Greensboro Builders Association worked to clarify the issue for area contractors. Thanks to new federal laws related to lead paint, homeowners will see changes in the way contractors approach projects in pre-1978 houses, child care facilities,…
With losses of historic properties in the Fisher Park neighborhood such the the Holleman House by First Presbytrian Church and threatened destruction of the Commencement House, the Cascade Saloon and the Newman-Whitney Machine Works, 2009 was a difficult year for Greensboro’s preservation community…but will 2010 be any better? Several initiatives indicate an upbeat year for saving…
Major changes related to processing old lead paint during home renovations are looming in our not-too-distant future. The changes are related to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting” rule governing the work of professional remodelers in homes with lead-based paint. The new rules are set to take effect in April 2010.…
City Council reversed the Zoning Commission’s approval to rezone property near the corner of North Elm and Cornwallis Drive to allow for condos, but questions linger over the future of the Commencement House, an historic property of modern design and historic significance. The rezoning request for the property would have cleared the way for two…
Growing historic congregations with diverse community programs and healthy historic districts that foster property investment are high on every preservation organization’s wish list. However, growing historic congregations within the context of established historic districts can cause conflicts when expansion of facilities is done at the expense of historic properties. Such is the case in the…
Our friends at the National Trust for Historic Preservation report progress on passage of a bill that would make beneficial changes to the federal rehabilitation tax credit and provide a greater incentive for the reuse of historic and older buildings. The federal rehabilitation tax credit is the nation’s largest federal incentive promoting urban and rural revitalization…
The historic house shuffle continues in downtown Greensboro; in order to make way for the massive new Guilford County jail complex. A two-story, 90-year-old duplex located at 208 Blandwood Avenue has been lifted off its original foundation in preparation for a mid-block move that will reposition the house on one of downtown’s highest profile intersections.…
One of Greensboro’s oldest industrial sites within the city’s oldest neighborhood is eyed for destruction and replacement with student housing. The Newman and Whitney Machine Company is located at 507 Jackson Street in the College Hill neighborhood just west of center city Greensboro. The firm’s Greensboro presence was established in 1906 by George F. Newman…
One of Greensboro’s most interesting historic houses is getting a major makeover. The William Fields House at 447 Arlington Street near Southside was constructed between 1875 and 1879 (image, right). The two-story brick structure was designed in the Gothic Revival style of architecture, an unusual theme in the American South where steep-pitched roofs and narrow…
A touchstone to Greensboro’s commercial past now enjoys an extra level of recognition…and protection. Last night, the Meyer’s Department Store building at the corner of South Elm Street and February One Place was designated as a Guilford County Landmark Property by the Greensboro City Council. The owner-requested designation was unanimously approved by council following a…
The year 2009 is turning out to be a notable year – in demolitions for downtown Greensboro. A few months ago, a two-story Queen Anne-style house was destroyed on Blandwood Avenue. On Easter weekend, the 110-year old Love House on Smith Street in Fisher Park was lost. Today, the old offices for Big Brothers Big Sisters…
The Carolina Piedmont was central in the development of America’s textile industry. Corporate names such as Cone, Burlington, and Wrangler/ Blue Bell resonate within our community. Fortunately, our region still has a great deal of history to show for the industry that defined our region for over a century. If you enjoy learning about our…