GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — Demolition and development plans are already in the works for the former News & Record building in downtown Greensboro.
“I think … we’ve been rather patient,” said City Council Member Zack Matheny after the building sat vacant and untouched for years. It’s fallen into disrepair and become a place for houseless individuals to find shelter.
“Some of the things that have happened over the last 12 months with fires breaking out on site. One of our houseless folks I got to know very well, Tiffany, was murdered on the site,” Matheny said.
It pushed him to reach out and decide that enough is enough.
After talking to the property owners, Berkshire Hathaway, over the phone, Matheny says he doesn’t believe they realized what was happening on the site and how bad it had gotten. They shared with him they want to do right by their properties and the people around them.
“Now, we’re going to take care of business,” Matheny said.
Greensboro Fire Marshal Tim Henshaw said investigators went to the site on Tuesday for a regular inspection and due to specific requests. They completed two inspections for the buildings located on Church Street and Market Street. They found the buildings littered with trash, drug paraphernalia, damaged furniture and human waste.