During the Greensboro City Council’s regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, June 11, the chambers were full as concerned citizens joined together under a shared concern for the future of certain HERO properties throughout Greensboro.
Leading the public comments was Tyler Clements, local State Farm insurance agent, who owns and operates Puddle Jumpers Day Care, alongside his wife, Valerie, after the couple purchased the business in 2017.
“Over our seven years in business, we have been tenants of HERO. Sometime around 2019, we began inquiring about purchasing our building from HERO,” said Clements, adding, “We were told the buildings could not be sold due to limitations in the ADECA grant that was used to fund the construction of our building.”
Clements then referred to Pride Forney, who manages HERO’s property holdings, and the working relationship they’ve developed since Forney’s move to Greensboro last August. In particular, Forney informed the couple of the possibility to purchase the Puddle Jumpers building.
Clements continued, “After hearing that the ADECA grant would not be a hurdle, we were very optimistic that a deal could be reached for us to purchase the leased properties. Now we have been told that the City of Greensboro may be invoking a clause to take some sort of legal possession of the property that we lease.”
Clements then addressed concerns that city ownership of the building may entail, saying “Our fear is that the City of Greensboro invokes this clause to take possession, we could be displaced.” Clements then presented a list of scenarios before the council that would present challenges in purchasing the commercial real estate from the city. “Will we be able to afford the list price?” Clements questioned.
Clements closed by thanking the council for their time and requesting that they consider the day care in future decisions on the matter.
Mayor J.B. Washington addressed Clements’ concerns, speaking about the council’s workshop the week prior which included the city’s attorney.
Washington said, “The attorney has the authority from the council to look in to it and negotiate with anybody on our behalf to try and straighten this out.” Washington continued, saying “We want to see you stay,” referring to the day care. Mayor Washington went on to state that the matter was still being resolved through the city’s attorney who will advise the council on what is within the city’s power in relation to the HERO properties.
Clements then asked if a decision had been made on the matter, with Mayor Washington reassuring Clements the council would keep him informed of any decisions and of future workshops. Though, Washington did say a workshop had not yet been scheduled. Councilmember Bobbie Curtis suggested to Clements that he could request to be on the council’s agenda for future meetings. Clements again thanked the council for their time.
Tim Burt, a Birmingham resident, who purchased the property 1310 Main Street which was most recently occupied by the Aaron Head Art Gallery, stood to address the council on his concerns over the settlement of the HERO properties. Burt revealed that soon he plans to move to Greensboro full time to own and operate a business in the Main Street building. In particular, Burt discussed the neighboring HERO property, formerly known as the Western Auto buildings, which has sustained extensive decay from over the years under HERO’s ownership and the importance of saving the properties. As a result, Burt’s property has been sustaining damage of its own.
“My building is in the middle of a major renovation and we’re having some pretty major water issues occurring because of the building that HERO owns next door,” Burt said. Specifically, the neighboring building does not have a solid roof and a tree growing behind the building is shedding water into Burt’s recently purchased property.
Burt then addressed his own relationship with Forney, saying, “I’ve worked with Miss Forney and I do believe that her work shows that the best result would be to let what’s on the table happen. Because once it goes to the city there are some legal things that are required and it will probably not be affordable for some of these people to buy their property. I think you really need to look at that and make sure you’re not just listening to one legal person.”
Eve Engle Kneeland then stood to announce the opening of the Engle Gallery and Emerald City Studios, which will be located in the former Forever Lou’s storefront on 1301 Main Street. Kneeland first requested a ribbon cutting from the council for the gallery’s opening, which is slated for the beginning of August. Kneeland also shared concerns for the future of the HERO property holdings and the resolution of these issues.
Forney addressed the council, beginning by commending the council for working with her during the process of settling the issues surrounding HERO’s real estate. Then, Forney addressed the severity of the damage within the Western Auto building that is still under a Request for Proposal (RFP) by the HERO nonprofit. Forney then said, “Because of the condition of that building, it is going to be really hard to have anyone buy it—even if we sell it to them for a dollar.”
Forney then revealed that she had received an estimate of around $120,000 to replace the roof and back wall of the damaged property. “If HERO is allowed to go with the plan we originally planned, that will be fixed. You all will stay in business and get your low prices and you’ll be able to add on it to your place. You can buy it for market value—I don’t know what that’ll be, I’m not an appraiser—but it will be more than what HERO’s willing to sell it for you,” Forney said, referring to the Clements and Puddle Jumpers.
Forney continued by referencing the need for repairs on houses that are in HERO’s possession, and highlighted that they were in Councilwoman Shepherd’s district.
“I just want to stress that we don’t want to be adversarial. We want what’s best for Greensboro. What has happened in the past literally does not matter. We have to deal with what is on our table today,” Forney stated, adding, “I’m not questioning Miss Steverson, she’s an excellent attorney. What I am saying is: what matters more? The legal opinion or what we can do for Greensboro?” Forney concluded pleading with the city to make a decision and that she would return with plans for a community pool in future meetings.
Mayor Washington addressed Forney, saying, “You say it’s a legal opinion, but when you’re dealing with the federal government you’ve got to do everything right.”
This then led to an exchange between Forney and Mayor Washington, where Forney stated she met with the director of ADECA on May 14 and learned that HERO was released in 2008 from the grant, and that there was no federal money involved for the city to deal with. Forney went on to say, “It is literally your charge to say yes or no.”
This led to various questions from community members concerning the city’s attorney and a future workshop to deal with HERO’s property issues. After Mayor Washington called for order among the audience, he clarified that the city does not own the Western Auto building.
In response, Forney clarified, “[HERO] was going to sell to John Dorsey for $130,000. They were going to sell Puddle Jumpers for $140,000,” adding that the estimate for the houses HERO owns are estimated at around $95,000. The sale of these properties would go, in part, to repairing the Western Auto building, with Forney volunteering to give the remainder of funds to the city for their use. “You all are the ones brokering the deal, not HERO. You get the credit and that’s important to know. Y’all will be the ones making a difference, not HERO, but until you free that up we cannot fix this building,” Forney concluded referring to the council.
Councilmember Bobbie Curtis suggested once more that the community members concerned with this issue should be on the agenda for the next meeting for the council to be able to properly address their concerns. Valerie Clements reiterated the need for a workshop.
Kneeland asked how the council would announce the workshop dates. Councilmember Mary Bragg suggested that the council would contact Tyler Clements to inform other concerned citizens on the date of the workshop. Councilmember Shepherd then broke down the situation for the citizens and the litany of issues that are before the council when dealing with these real estate holdings, saying “It’s a lot of issues that’s going on and it’s not like the city is sitting here just not trying to do stuff to be difficult. That’s not what we’re trying to do.”
Shepherd reiterated the need to wait on the proper legal advice from the city’s attorney before a decision is made on the future of the properties. Forney clarified that the city did not have to sell the properties, however the city could grant HERO to sell the properties with their permission. Councilwoman Bobbie Curtis made a motion to adjourn with councilwoman Lewis seconding the motion.
