It would appear that Greensboro has a new City Manager.   But according to a City press release - we won't know his/her name until tomorrow morning...  I think I'll go, so check back here around 9:15a

Update: Nevermind, no scoop available - the N&R got it early, and Councilwoman Carmany got it even earlier.  Greensboro kept it in the family and hired Mitch Johnson.  Fine by me.

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The title of a letter to the editor in this morning's N&R sounds strangely familiar: Why invest millions in War Memorial? 

It seems we are asking the same questions about War Memorial now that we were asking almost exactly two years ago, just substitute the word 'Auditorium' for 'Stadium'.  This time around, many of our prominent community leaders seem to be rejecting some of the arguments they made regarding the future of Greensboro's War Memorial Stadium (WMS) while justifying why it is critical for War Memorial Auditorium (WMA) to receive a $35M renovation.

Robert Johnson, the author of the above-named letter, seems to be reading out of the 2003 pro-new-baseball-stadium playbook in his arguments for locating a new performing arts venue downtown...

Just change a few of Johnson's words, and here's what you have...

...If the three rules of real estate are location, location, location, why on earth would we invest $35 million in War Memorial Stadium, given its location? Having been in its current location for decades, it has done nothing to help the area, and the area has done nothing to help the stadium experience...

For sure, Greensboro needs a fan-friendly and architecturally excellent professional baseball facility, but let's locate it in a more inspiring and convenient location, such as downtown, where the baseballgoing public can eat and drink within walking distance...

Its almost eerie.

Given that Action Greensboro just drove two busloads of Greensboro's movers and shakers to Greenville, SC for a look at what their performing arts center has done for that city's center, one has to wonder why AG and others aren't working their butts off to get that $35M directed toward the resurgence of Greensboro's own downtown.  If AG, and other downtown boosters come out in support of such an huge investment in far-flung War Memorial Auditorium, such support could be viewed by some as being a bit hypocritical.

If we are going to spend $35M for a performing arts center for Greensboro, downtown is where we should be investing.  Anyone who thinks otherwise is just a naysayer in my book.

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In advance of this weekend's ConvergeSouth unconference, Tom Lassiter set out to apply his considerable talent (and cool equipment) to the cause of helping people outside of Greensboro better understand what is going on in our local blogosphere that has captured so much national attention.  He has succeeded.

Watch "Ahead of the Curve" (If you don't have it, get Quicktime here)

Good job Tom.  You are an important part of why others will probably be chasing Greensboro around many more curves for many years to come.

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