GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — Greensboro city leaders met on Tuesday night to discuss the the future of the Regency Inn off Highway 29 on O. Henry Boulevard.
“Folks, what have we done? It’s incredible. I have never seen anything as poorly facilitated as this project,” Councilman Zack Matheny said.
In 2021, the city gave an interest-free loan to partnership homes to buy and own the property with the goal of it becoming a permanent housing solution for the chronically homeless. Instead, it just sat there.
Over a year ago, the city partnered with Step Up, an organization based in California, to move the mission forward. Still, it sits empty.
Step Up virtually attended the meeting to answer questions and offered a surprise proposal.
“You’re talking about … not even the 58 units … being rehabbed but tearing it all down,” Councilwoman Sharon Hightower said.
Step Up now proposes not just 58 units for the chronically homeless as originally planned but two new buildings with 143 more units for affordable housing, a clubhouse and even a pool.