Multi Purpose Civic Center

For the last several years the proposed Civic Center has been a hot topic. Candidates, when asked whether the Civic Center should be Downtown or out on Wayne Memorial, have evaded the issue, saying that they would have to do more research. I’ve heard this for the last 2 elections (eight years). I have found no one that would come up with a straight answer as either way they would lose some votes.

It is now time for a straight answer, the citizens deserve it. After careful consideration I have come to the strong conclusion that the Civic Center should be placed in it’s original intended location of Wayne Memorial Drive. We’ve paid millions of dollars for that parcel of land and not to use it for it’s primary purpose would be a waste of the average taxpayer’s money.

It seems that many businesses, on and around North Park Drive, such as Ruby Tuesdays, Comfort Suites, Outback Steakhouse, Logan’s Roadhouse, Chili’s, Jamison Inn came to Goldsboro about that time, and I believe under the premise that the Civic Center was to be established on Wayne Memorial. Believing that they had an ideal location and fallout from the Civic Center Events would generate lucrative business.

I’ve heard the Downtown merchants complaining about the parking situation on Center Street and how the Store Front Churches were taking up all the spaces. Most of the time that the parking spaces are being used by the church people are for Wednesday night prayer meetings and Sunday worship services. Just about all the businesses are closed at this time! The churches rent, just like any other business and if they are fortunate to have a huge amount of "customers" so be it. Should we complain that a coffee shop downtown should move because it is too successful?

We need more churches in Goldsboro, because God knows there are still a lot of sinners out there. (and being so close to City Hall maybe something will rub off)

I feel we do need more parking on Center Street and the surrounding vicinity. But if a handful of churches cause such congestion as complained, what in the world is going to happen when an Aerosmith Concert lets out Tuesday afternoon? ...After the Community Building and the Paramount Theater are constructed on Center Street? Downtown is simply too small to feasible handle such a structure as a Civic Center. The merchants on Center Street as well as throughout the city will get their fair share of business from the Civic Center being established on Wayne Memorial Drive.

The Civic Center should be planned to grow strategically with Goldsboro and vice versa. If we’re going to do it, let’s do it right. Let’s not be near sighted, let’s plan ahead for long distant future growth. Let’s stop talking about it and let’s.........

Make It Happen!

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