All posts by Kristen Jeffers

Kristen Jeffers has always been interested in how cities work. She’s also always loved writing things. She went off to a major state university, got a communication degree and then started a more professional Blogger site. Then, in her graduate seminar on urban politics, along with browsing the urbanist blogosphere, she realized that her ideas should have a stronger, clearer voice, one that reflects her identity as a Black southern woman. And with that The Black Urbanist blog was born. Seven years, one Twitter account, one self-published book, two podcasts and a litany of speeches and urban planning projects later, here we are.
Cities, Cityreads, Sports

Placebook: Tournament Town

 

Watching my NC State Wolfpack at a mid-day Quarterfinal Game in 2013. Sometimes, this is a workday.
Watching my NC State Wolfpack at a mid-day Quarterfinal Game in 2013. Sometimes, this is a workday.

There’s this thing that grips Greensboro every March and it’s called Tournament Town. Banners are posted along light posts downtown and down the side of the coliseum, whether we are actually hosting an ACC Tournament. In recent years, we’ve also had NCAA first and second round games and of course the ACC lore speaks of men’s tournaments turned epic and national champions rendered speechless in defeat. Oh and depending on the weather and the games, an actual town of sorts sprouts in the parking lot of the Coliseum. Oh and just like the poster above, we’ve modified it for other sports, but it really rings true for basketball.

However, the first whispers that happened when the ACC  began to expand was that we would no longer be prime real estate for the men’s tournament. Women’s yes, but sadly women’s basketball is just recognizing its potential, at least among the media hype set. Those of us who go to games enjoy them and know their intensity, but the world doesn’t look our way in the same way they do when the men’s tournament is in town. (Also, you can get food in a decent amount of time at Stameys, just sayin’).

Our fears were confined once again when news broke of a Barclays Center tournament in 2017 and a Verizon Center one in 2016, both of course very neutral, but also in the two major East Coast metropolitan areas. For a small city that is very concerned with our reputation and our economic recovery and status, this could mean doom. Also the conference is headquartered in Greensboro and began at the Sedgefield Country Club, just outside the city.We also spent money to put an ACC museum in at the coliseum. Or, it could just mean that for a couple of years, the women get a chance to shine on their own and show us just as much good basketball. (And for those of you looking for dunks, I saw very few this year in the men’s tournament, you aren’t missing much).

So as we fill our brackets this year and hope our Cinderellas and Diaper Dandies and favorite mascots make things happen, we will continue and hope that we can at least have basketball stay ours one more year. And with that, your daily news roundup:

ICYMI: My thoughts on where Trader Joe’s, if they consider Greensboro again, could go. Also, the Hobbs-Friendly property rezoning request has been withdrawn.

The Greensboro City Council Agenda for Tuesday night. Congrats to Mayor Vaughn (and the rest of the council) on their first 100 days in office.

Introducing the Creamery, a new ice cream and burger spot in downtown Greensboro.

How historic preservation tax credits have boosted the economy in Guilford County.

According to Trulia, Raleigh has one of the lowest rates of income inequality in the country.

Now the Cape Fear River could have some dirty water, courtesy of Duke Energy.

More on Bertie County’s If You Built It documentary and project.

More people are recycling in Forsyth County.

Another historic house could go to the wrecking ball due to failure to comply with minimum housing standards, this time in Winston-Salem.

Wilmington city leaders are moving community meetings to bars and restaurants.

Pender County turkey farmers and the county commissioners are debating over the tax rates on land rendered useless by the closing of processing facilities in the county.

Greenville community members came together on Saturday to review the Tar River Legacy Plan. Greenville is also wrestling with rental properties and new rules to govern them.

Why the citizens of Tabor City are celebrating a tree.

Pinehurst residents and business owners are warming to a high-end development on a controversial property.

North Carolina’s got snowy owls too and they are showing up on the Outer Banks.

The Winston-Salem city-sponsored gun buyback programs have been successful.

Several Charlotte-area charter schools are violating the Open Meetings Law.

Why the Asheville abortion clinic closed.

A community forum will be held today on Asheville water service.

Asheville artists came together on a mural at the Asheville Boys and Girls Club.

And finally, The state has yet to start work on a sea-level change prediction that’s due next year.

Cities, Cityreads, Retail

Placebook: Malls are Dying, as Commerce Centers

IMG_1778

Malls are dying. Yes, there are stores that drive traffic, but I can’t tell anyone the last time I’ve been to an enclosed mall or even to mall stores at an open-air center. Well, I lie, I went to Barnes and Noble the other week. I have a gift card to spend there, but I was more interested in absorbing the atmosphere than purchasing anything particular that day. I’ve definitely not eaten at a food court in years, so the bankruptcy of Sbarro was not a shocker to me. And yes, I’m in the 18-34 demographic that has a little extra money to spend.

Much is said about demographics of shoppers by chain owners and other shoppers who don’t like a particular demographic that happens to be taking in the atmosphere versus buying things. Or so they think. Anecdotally, I’ve found that poorer people, women and teens, especially of color, are more likely to buy mall things, even at the upscale places. Most of the people I know with extra income have stuff shipped to them online, call the grocery and have them shop for them (or shop in person with a tight list), or spend money on experiences over things.

Therefore, malls of any type (including the lifestyle center reboot), should continue to tout the experience. I’m kinda disappointed that JC Penney never finished the reboot described here, where they wanted to mimic a main street in their store and have events that didn’t require you to shop. They would still make money, because they would still be a showcase and occasionally there are still things to buy. I would go to the mall more often if it was an oversized showroom, with kiosks for shipping directly to my home and opportunities to do things versus buy things. And we’ve done this showroom/catalog thing before. Hello Sears Wish Book. Anyway, your weekend may include mall shopping. Mine will include the news below:

Asheville and Buncombe County are reviewing the I-26 improvement plan.

Charlotte’s new apartments on the Dillworth end with connect Dillworth with Uptown in a more urban manner.

US Airways will add more US flights out of Charlotte-Douglas.

Fayetteville’s police chief is under internal investigation.

A Wells Fargo Economist claims that technology is booming, but RTP is not where it’s booming from.

If you have an AT&T phone, the Durham 911 Center will accept your emergency texts.

Mixed feedback from citizens to the Durham City Council on their proposed new police headquarters.

The DENR is now rejecting the plan for the coal ash cleanup it worked so closely with Duke Energy to create.

Work will begin on a new park near Winston-Salem’s Innovation Quarter.

The new banners at the Greensboro Coliseum are made out of recycled plastic bottles.

Why Trader Joe’s passed over Greensboro’s Wendover Ave shopping district.

The Greensboro Convention and Visitors Bureau is set to move into the old Canada Dry building at the Coliseum on May 1.

The Greensboro City Council will vote to officially and financially support the new downtown park. 

Cities, Cityreads, media

Placebook: When Billboards Work

 

Hate has no place in our city bilboard by Flickr user Steve Rhodes
Good billboard with a good message. Photo by Flickr user Steve Rhodes

One of the things those who rail against the  enroachment of  consumerism in our daily lives especially hate are billboards. I’ll admit, there’s something charming about seeing a barn sign, an old-school painted Coca-Cola sign or those hand-painted peach signs on the way to Myrtle Beach. Yet, when it comes to regular old billboards that dot the interstates and the suburban stroads of life, I could do without them. Especially the ones that flash.  I also think, as a marketing and media maven, that I’m immune to advertising.

But then I got sick with a nasty sinus infection and cold. I was trying to go to my regular primary-care after hours clinic, but thanks to a thunderstorm, they’d been knocked right back out of power.  I then went to the nearest CVS minute clinic. Not enough time or people to see me. So I put my tail between my legs and planned on what home remedy might work next. As I was making the drive home, I happened to look up and see a massive billboard for another urgent care clinic. I’d seen it time and time again, enough to ignore it.  But there it was, providing me information about a service I might need, when advertising actually performs a public service. I was on the wrong side of the road, but I pulled over and turned down the street it was on.

Two hours and two nice PA’s (and only $60 out of pocket) later, I now have all that I need to finally shake this sickness and get back to all of the things I love and a few new ones I hope to add.

I say all this to say, even the ugliest parts of our built environment have a purpose sometimes. Of course, I’d loved it better if that massive billboard had been a hand-painted red cross sign, but then would I have seen it in the oversizedness of everything else in that warehouse district. Probably not. And with that, your daily news:

Nice write up on The Farmery, the portable food market that’s currently housed at the Raleigh City Farm.

The workers that are working to bring power back to businesses that still don’t have it (and a few more that were added to the totals due to today’s thunderstorm) have been sleeping at area businesses due to lack of hotel rooms.

The ghost project on Winston-Salem’s MLK Drive.

Business license taxes could be limited statewide.

Lots of good changes coming to Greensboro’s Harlem Bistro, including a name change.

The state is still struggling to make deadlines to process food stamp applications.

A High Point branch of Meryl Lynch Wealth Partners moves into High Point’s downtown, while the Rol-a-Rink will shut down at the end of the month, leaving only one skating rink in High Point.

The Asheville school system is readying the first STEM themed school in Western North Carolina.

The state DOT has begun repaving I-40 near Asheville.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is no longer the National Park Service’s number one site.

Some Charlotte leaders believe that Charlotte’s current workforce is not strong enough to compete locally. Yet a Chinese coal firm will bring 60 local jobs to the South Park area as it relocates its U.S. operations.

Charlotte Douglas Airport will not be getting a solar farm.

The UNC system has set aside its construction budget requests, but not its operating requests after it’s original budget request was sent back.

Meanwhile, veteran public school teacher pay is 46th in the nation and new teacher pay is 48th.

The projects hoping to get a piece of the Wake County hotel-motel tax money.

Questions are being raised about Durham police informant payments.

The Wilmington drawbridge repairs are almost finished.

The City of Wilmington will not be holding its annual Nautical Festival this year.

Mixed-use development planned in Pender County near US 17.

Greensboro has about a middle-of-the-road amount of douchebags and Durham has one of the lowest numbers of the top 100 cities of the countryaccording to this study.

Misuse of the Jordan Soccer Complex has also led to restrictions on the Cape Fear River Trail in Fayetteville.

The NC utilities commission chair is subpoenaed due to the coal ash spill saga.

Around the Nation: the The latest in the NYC building collapse; you can buy solar panels at Best Buy; your rail trail is probably safe and how some of Silicon Valley’s farming startups could be more harmful than helpful.

Cities, Cityreads

Placebook: The Community of Hair Doing

Alachua Beauty Salon by Flickr user alternatePhotography
Alachua Beauty Salon by Flickr user alternatePhotography

Last night I participated in my bi-weekly ritual of getting my hair done. Being in that space, which is colored in jewel tones and punctuated by a stylist that’s also a friend makes the space even better. Much has been said about the role of the black beauty and barbershop, and I can second much of the community-building that happens. Not to be left out, many other salons, barber shops and places to get pampered become places where we go to not only get spiffy, but to find out what’s going on, to let off some steam and even make lifelong connections. Although the beauty salon or the barber shop may not always be an anchor of a physical community like in Mayberry, just like in pretty much every other movie about a salon, it creates a spiritual and communal place, that launches out into the physical. And with that, today’s daily news:

City councilpeople are normal too! They clean out their cars at gas stations!

There’s still not a loan agreement between the City of Greensboro and the International Civil Rights Center and Museum.

The Greensboro Zoning Commission has established the new zoning districts along the soon to be dubbed Gate City Boulevard.

Greensboro will be the first state location for the make-your-own salad chain Saladworks.

There may be changes coming to the sales tax distribution in Guilford County.

A major furniture factory operation could be coming to the Triad.

The state has given Piedmont Triad International Airport 5.8 million dollars for improvements. Mt Airy’s airport also received a state grant.

Guilford Technical Community College’s aviation building should be completed in May.

The Burlington Outlet Village is dead.

A new Italian eatery, wine bar and market is coming to downtown Winston-Salem.

Thoughts on the Forsyth County cell phone tower regulation.

Forsyth County is also hosting a Creek Week.

Hatteras will restrict driving on the beach in order to protect shorebirds.

A High-Point former city councilman will probably not have to pay back his city debt.

85 new senior apartments are coming to Charlotte.

What would happen if Chiquita changed its headquarters again from Charlotte.

The latest in the drama around the Charlotte airport authority and parking rates.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools joins the fight against the new state teacher tenure laws.

UNC-Asheville’s downtown greenway has started construction.

New apartments are coming to Asheville’s south slope. Faster broadband service is also coming to Asheville.

Wrightsville Beach parking could get more expensive.

Wilmington multi-modal depot is back on the table thanks to a chat between Wilmington leaders and the state DOT.

Pender County officials reject rezoning for a jail in Burgaw.

Peruvian cuisine is coming to Wilmington.

Negotiations have restarted on the Dorothea Dix property in Raleigh.

A new candy factory is starting construction in Mebane.

Time Warner Cable has another private competitor for broadband service.

Apex will not be included in the Triangle implementation for Google Fiber.

Morrisville and Holly Springs have lobbied the Wake County Commissioners for athletic facility money.

Durham Public Schools is moving forward in its superintendent search.

Durham citizens are asking the county to give more money to the city for planning and historic preservation.

A bayonet is one of the 2,220 weapons seized over the past year at the Durham County Courthouse.

Cumberland County has set a timeline for its county manager search.

NC 87 in Harnett County has rapidly become more developed.

Around the Nation: this interview with the rapper formerly known as Mos Def sheds light on how place matters; Louisiana is no longer funding their public libraries, a major legal blow to the rails-to-trails movement from the Supreme Court and what will the transit ticket of tomorrow be like?

Cities, Cityreads, Family and Place

Placebook: Places My Dad Loved Part 1-Power Lines

Bucket-truck Image by Flickr user Aaron Bonnell-Kangas
Bucket-truck Image by Flickr user Aaron Bonnell-Kangas

I think my dad would have been tickled to know that his birthday weekend this year had one of the largest ice storms we’ve had in years. As a licensed electrician for the Guilford County Schools and for lots of other regular folks on the weekends, He greatly admired the work of the electricians of Duke Energy and others did on the major above ground and underground lines. Yet, he didn’t just sit on the sidelines when power was out, he was always on duty, supervising and sometimes re-wiring the school buildings on the spot. Some of those regular people who had trees on lines and boxes fall off would also call him, allowing him to go fix a few extra electrical issues once the big stuff had been cleaned up. One of his late in life dreams was to purchase a bucket truck just like the one above and go work on “high voltage.” Of course, he’s at a far higher voltage than many of us now. And with that, here’s your daily news:

Guilford County Schools also had structural problems prohibiting them from opening before today after the weekend ice storm.

Prospect Brands will be moving their corporate headquarters from Stoneville into the old North State Milling Company building on South Elm Street in Greensboro.

An artist in Winston-Salem applies Jacob Lawrence’s world-renowned documentation of the Great Migration to Winston-Salem Black History.

It’s time to nominate your town for the American Planning Association-North Carolina’s Great Places to Live in North Carolina.

Take a look at the lot where Publix will establish it’s first Triangle-area store.

You can already shop at the new High Point Belk.

A new rest area on I-77 will be built in the median.

Rockingham County’s new poling places have been approved.

These are the wealthiest zip codes in the Triangle.

New apartments in Asheville are mostly welcome.

It’s expected to cost 1.4 million dollars to clean up storm damage in Wilmington.

Cumberland County has begun a parking lot clean-up crusade.

The state is cranking up a new anti-littering campaign.

Around the Nation and World: New York City still debating on ending stop-and-frisk; a university in Peru has created a water purifying billboard;  how Jimmy Fallon illustrates the notion that place matters; and what Paris looked like before gentrification.

Cities, Cityreads, snow

Placebook: Iced Out and Powered Down

Broken Cherry Tree in Yard in Greensboro. Photo by Kristen E. Jeffers

This happened. For those of us in Guilford, Alamance, Orange and pieces of other counties in the Piedmont, we’ve had quite the weekend. I decamped from my Greensboro apartment to a hotel in Durham near an old apartment of mine. Others were trapped behind trees with snapped limbs or completely uprooted. As of this writing, I’m back in my apartment and the lights are on. At one point at least 400,000 people were out of power statewide. Here’s who continues to not have any statewide. I’m going to hold my Duke Energy #fail jokes. Who didn’t fail: several of our mayors, city council members and state representatives in keeping us informed through Facebook where Duke Energy didn’t. Anyway, it’s going to be 70 degrees today, we are all thawed out, we are dealing with those trees, you’re here for other news and here it is. Happy Monday!

Oh and shout out to The Atlantic Cities for including the Placebook on being a Walmart town as one of the best #cityreads of last week. Also, don’t forget, we have a bigger house now. After a message from our sponsors, you can find the news below or head over there too.

The Black Urbanist and Placebook are powered by Bluehost. Learn more about Bluehost and how they can make your website dreams come true here. (Clicking that link and signing up for Bluehost sends some of the proceeds back to me. This is a way to help us keep the lights on and keep the news coming to you every weekday).

News from North Carolina

Even though Trader Joe’s is not coming to Greensboro, the lot where it was slated to go is still going before the rezoning commission.

What, namely the ACC Tournament, makes Greensboro a basketball town.

A report details how the State of North Carolina could use drones.

The field thus far for NC-60 (State House).

How a 150-200 million dollar bond referendum would benefit each ward of Winston-Salem.

The N.C. Division of Emergency Management staged a rescue simulation at Hanging Rock State Park this past weekend.

Child health has improved in Guilford County.

New development coming to a long vacant stretch of High Point’s N. Main Street.

Durham Public Schools has introduced a new option for long-term suspensions.

A new co-working space opens in Asheville.

How municipal parking works in Wilmington.

Fayetteville leaders want to redevelop Bragg Boulevard from the strip club strip it is today, but facing resistance.

An artist co-op and an art show are helping revitalize Downtown Lumberton.

Around the Nation: Why American cities are afraid to make driving harder, and two years of a transit advocate riding DC’s Metro and making detailed notes.

Cities, Cityreads, Housing

Placebook: How Do You Make Your Moves?

U-Haul at Storage Unit. Photo by Kristen E. Jeffers

When it’s time to pack up your things and move from one place to another, how do you do it? Do you just throw your things in random boxes and bins? Do you take the time to get decent boxes and bins and label them. Do you do like I’ve traditionally done and get a moving truck and a few able-bodied family members and friends? Do you pile everything on pickup trucks and the back of slightly too tiny cars? Do you even move your stuff at all? The dumpster and the local thrift shop are your friend, as everything gets dumped to them.

Well, this isn’t a physical move per se, but as I announced yesterday, we are getting a bigger house here at The Black Urbanist and Placebook. North Carolina Placebook will allow me to add coverage of placemaking issues statewide, and make this space here my own special office and playroom where I discuss issues of personal significance and the kind of news that doesn’t necessarily make you shell out subscription fees. Plus with more room comes more opportunities for parties, for party guests and of course rooms dedicated to issues you and I both hold dear. This move isn’t easy, but so far, it’s going pretty smoothly. In fact, why don’t you head over there now and check out today’s news, in its new format. (And if you can’t change websites just yet, news is right here too, after a word from our sponsors)

The Black Urbanist and Placebook are powered by Bluehost. Learn more about Bluehost and how they can make your website dreams come true here. (Clicking that link and signing up for Bluehost sends some of the proceeds back to me. This is a way to help us keep the lights on and keep the news coming to you every weekday).

Greensboro is not allowed to have its own utility tree-trimming regulations, per the state utilities commission.

The impact of the new statewide tax on entertainment on Greensboro cultural and entertainment venues.

Kohls is coming to Eden, while Staples may close some North Carolina stores.

If you have $800, you can buy a shoe named after Greensboro.

State Senator Marty Nesbitt died of stomach cancer.

The state approves Forsyth County’s early voting plan.

The makers of Texas Pete hot sauce may move their corporate headquarters into downtown Winston-Salem and are sponsoring the long-running Rock the Bock festival, changing it’s name to the Texas Pete festival.

Fayetteville is set to break ground on the conversion of its Mayfair Mall from an enclosed to an open air shopping district.

A longtime Cary community watchdog has died.

Cary is planning a new downtown park and citizens are asking for a new ramp at the current skate park.

Durham architectural firm The Freelon Group has been acquired by Perkins+Will, a multinational architectural firm.

Crime has risen in Durham.

Charlotte City Council has restarted their Friday morning coffee meetings with citizens.

This artist’s bookmobile plans a stop in Asheville.

Asheville’s Highland Brewery is expanding.

You can now fly from Asheville to Palm Beach, FL.

What the New York Times thinks you should do in Raleigh if you only have 36 hours.

Around the Nation and World: A town where everyone talks about death, a new video game allows you to build your own subway system, and maps that should outrage us as Southerners and a map that has Charlotte as part of the 50% of the US economy powered by major cities.

Cities, Cityreads, media

Placebook: We’re on the Move, Again.

So I’ve decided to let the cat out of the bag. First and foremost, meet:

NC Placebook Vertical Logo

For now, the site will just be this daily email/news roundup (which will be renamed Daily News). In addition, I hope to add original coverage and opinions around state and local government, transportation (all modes), buildings and architecture, and education. Go ahead and bookmark www.ncplacebook.info.

So what will happen to The Black Urbanist? The Black Urbanist will become my editorial blog, allowing me to still have a voice on issues affecting placemaking and communities of color. However, with this change I can address the need to have a more comprehensive coverage of placemaking issues throughout the state of North Carolina.

Also, for the next few weeks, I’ll still be posting Placebook here, so everyone can get used to going to our new home and I can get a few bugs worked out. If you are reading in email, you will still get Placebook, but there will soon be options to subscribe to just the Daily News, to our articles and blogs feed and to a few other things we hope to pilot with over the next few months.

I want to thank everyone who continues to read, share, suggest, proofread and like this work on the social networks. Everything I promised on Monday content wise will happen and you will see not only me, but a few others create something that makes the case for a better North Carolina and presents us with a better image to the world. I’ll also be reaching out to a few of you about special opportunities to work with and share content with North Carolina Placebook.

News from North Carolina

All it took was an email for Trader Joe’s to pull back out of Greensboro again.

But look on the bright side, the ACC Basketball Tournaments are here in Greensboro for the next two weeks.

Break-ins are causing Winston-Salem/ Forsyth County Schools to question whether its mobile classrooms are safe.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will not sue the state, but ask for changes in regards to the new tenure policy.

High Point wants to finally name a street after Martin Luther King, Jr.

Batman came to Charlotte yesterday as well.

State leaders pushed for more public-private partnerships at a conference in Charlotte.

New reports have revealed issues with the Union and Gaston counties Department of Social Services.

Ferry tolls may go up.

There are more corrugated pipes at Duke Energy power plants throughout the state, similar to the one at the Dan River spill.

Wilmington wants to establish a special downtown taxing district, similar to Greensboro’s Downtown Greensboro, Inc.

And of course, we share this sentiment on reporting on the cities, with our friends at the new Triad City Beat.

News and Lessons from Elsewhere

Ok I lied, but I wanted to get this one link out from friend of the blog James Rojas about what influenced his decision to become a placemaker and how it ties into the Latino Civil Rights struggle.

Cities, Cityreads, Retail

Placebook: Here’s to Being a Walmart Town

Walmart store in Chicago's West Loop by Flickr user Ifmuth

Walmart store in Chicago’s West Loop by Flickr user Ifmuth

Yes, Joe the Trader is still my friend. Why? Because he has good cookies.

My silliness notwithstanding, the decision made yesterday by Trader Joe’s to not invest in Greensboro for the second time is not surprising. Honestly, it’s not the politics that I feel drove them away. It’s the inability to take risks. Stores like that, you know, the ones that have cheapish stuff, but a somewhat upscale atmosphere, I believe are only taking advantage of what they think youth or boomers with disposable income or some other magical unicorn person will buy and will buy repeatedly. Unfortunately, magical unicorns tend to not have strong political views or bank accounts that hover around or appear to hover around zero. Stores that don’t take risks don’t like cleaning up old parking lots or making sure even the folks who carry EBT cards have the opportunity to have shiny electronics or even just basic food items.

Walmart, however, goes directly after that market. We talk about the exploitation that they do, but there’s a degree of exploitation in the pretty but cheap store market too. They exploit the emotions of those of us who make just enough to spend at least $50-100 at Target each month, 60% of the cart being non-food items that may or may not be adult toys or pure junk. They make us feel better as a town when they show up promising more Salted Caramel Chocolate cookies for cheap. They allow us to buy more clothes, even though those clothes fall apart at the end of the season.

But back to Walmart. Not only have they gone into the High Point Road area and thrived, they are now going into Quaker Village, the one place many of us privately wanted Trader Joes to go, had they been willing to spend the funds to revamp the shopping center like the Walmart. But Walmart is the world’s largest retailer, so if it fails, then it’s no big deal. These other retailers, they aren’t as big as we think. Ask Harris Teeter. Yes, the bigwigs got golden parachutes in their deal with Kroger, but everyone else and the name itself took a hit. If it weren’t for Kroger understanding the impact of the name on the market, then there’s just one more “luxury” name gone away.

I think the lesson learned here is that sometimes, it doesn’t matter what your name is or what your perception is as a store. At the end of the day, it’s all about the bottom line, customers are just props to be lured in like the Pied Piper, with colorful patterned displays and cheap wine.

Just my two cents. After the word from our sponsors, other news:

The Black Urbanist and Placebook are powered by Bluehost. Learn more about Bluehost and how they can make your website dreams come true here. (Clicking that link and signing up for Bluehost sends some of the proceeds back to me. This is a way to help us keep the lights on and keep the news coming to you every weekday).

News from North Carolina

The Greensboro City Council has approved an operating agreement for the performing arts center, allowing the project to move forward.

How the ban on electronic devices at the Guilford County Courthouse is working, one month into the new regulation.

A profile of Bounce U, one of the successful businesses at Quaker Village being replaced by the new Walmart.

A newly formed committee in Wilmington will debate which road projects are worthy for a proposed $250 million dollar bond referendum.

Charlotte police are trying a more holistic and caring approach to the homeless community in the Uptown area. Additionally, several Charlotte businesses are still accepting Bitcoins.

Winston-Salem home prices are rising.

Raleigh City Council has officially started having lunchtime meetings. They are only work sessions though and not visible or open to the public.

This conversation is really about the media climate in the RTP area, but it’s really an oral history of RTP in the last ten years by a Durham native.

Buncombe County Commissioners have approved funding for the next iteration of Asheville Moogfest.

Asheville will fix the sidewalks in front of their Trader Joes and a new Harris Teeter.

Prompted by the Seeking Safety series by the Fayetteville Observer, the City of Fayetteville is cleaning up problematic properties.

News and Lessons from Elsewhere

Could Las Vegas reinvent car ownership?

Can Philly successfully combat gentrification with tax rate changes? Governing‘s analysis of the issue takes it beyond black and white. A perspective on it from a San Francisco fair housing leader.

Where it’s the hardest for the poor to make rent. These are the most expensive cities in the world (and NYC is not one of them).

Nashville really, really doesn’t want bus rapid transit.

Why Sweeden has fewer road deaths.

A reflection as Ross Capon steps down from running the National Association for Railroad Passengers.

What Walmart does when it commits to building urban.

And finally, do you agree that these are the things you learn from growing up in the South?

Cities, Cityreads, Food

Placebook: That Perfect Restaurant

Dame's Chicken and Waffles in Greensboro, NC. Photo by Kristen E. Jeffers

What makes up your perfect restaurant? Is it all about good food or good atmosphere? Do the waiters, bartenders or folks behind the counter know your name? Is it that one dish that keeps you coming back for more?

Well, my perfect restaurant (which of course doesn’t really exist) sits about 500 feet from my house. I do have one of those in Dame’s Chicken and Waffles and they have pretty good food too, especially their macaroni and cheese, which is the one menu item my perfect restaurant must have. They also play jazz music, which besides a mixture of blues, classic rock (think Steely Dan), black gospel from the 1980s, 90s and 2000s pop music and of course anything from the Motown catalog makes up my perfect restaurant playlist. Add to the menu Pancakes so I can alternate my breakfast game, topped of course with warm maple syrup. And cookies, lots of gourmet cookies. Oh and ice cream, Mellow Mushroom’s Kosmic Karma pizza so I don’t have to walk the additional 1100 feet and a Five Guys cheeseburger with mustard and ketchup so I don’t have to drive two miles and the sushi from Raleigh’s Sushi Republic so I don’t have to drive 90 minutes. And how could I forget some calabash shrimp and croaker. (Some people think the North Carolina state dish should be chopped barbecue. I’d go with calabash seafood).

Of course, if the perfect restaurant existed, it would be Target large and there would be no need for the wonderful strips like Elm Street that force people to take evening strolls, be adventurous and experience different foods and atmospheres. In other words, there wouldn’t be such a thing as a vibrant place.

Oh well, here’s your news for today:

News from North Carolina

Today is council meeting day in Greensboro. Here’s your agenda. As always, it starts at 5:30 at the Melvin Municipal Building at the corner of Washington and Greene Streets. Parking is free after 5 in the Greene Street parking deck. For those who can’t make it, video streaming is here and the hashtag #gsopol on Twitter has highlights as well.

In other city and county government news: Greensboro Councilman Jamal Fox has been cleared to teach again at NC A&T; the City of Greensboro fined property owners for housing code violations; the City of High Point is hiring outside legal help to deal with a grievance against its city manager; High Point may or may not have a county commissioner next year; Asheville’s in the hunt to find a cure for its graffiti vandalism; 5.7 million dollars of taxes are due in New Hanover County; and Harnett County hires an economic development planner.

In education news today, the Asheville City Board of Education approves their version of the state’s new 25 percent plan. Meanwhile Wake and Durham Counties plan to join the fight against the new plan.

The major business and retail news today comes from the potential RJ Reynolds/Lorillard merger, which may help Winston-Salem and hurt Greensboro (This is on top of the news that RF Micro Devices may merge with an out-of-state company). Additionally in retail news people say goodbye to the original Ollie’s Bakery in Winston-Salem and Westbend Vineyards in Lewisville; North Carolina founded and headquartered BB&T is now the nation’s 12th largest bank; Lincoln County’s largest subdivision ever has been approved and the Trader Joes supporters signs in Greensboro may be too big.

In tourism and travel news, Biltmore is back to being the top tourist destination in North Carolina, the CIAA tournament will stay in Charlotte for the next six years, the economic impact of our state’s national parks and Governor McCrory honored this year’s Winner’s Circle, those who’ve impacted state tourism the most.

News and Lessons from Elsewhere

New York is starting to impose North Carolina-style laws on its gentleman’s clubs.

Airport chaplains are there for more than just prayers, they are often the most civil employees or volunteers in the airport.

Another nice infographic on what could happen if all boomers behave like their parents and sell off their suburban homes.

Friend of the page Graham Sheridan’s latest, where he highlights what happens when Olympic cities and properties are abandoned. A colleague of his at the Brown Political Review notes that marrying someone like yourself may be bad for curing income inequality.

DC has committed funding to bury its power lines over the next 7-10 years.

This is a phenomenal list of how to come into a neighborhood and be a good neighbor and not just a person who jacks up house values.

This apartment building in Philly actually has mixed income housing.

And finally, a short reminder to some and lesson to all about how the mass grocery business really works, from Marketplace on NPR. Also, what it is like to be stranded in Atlanta’s food deserts.