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Resident alleges missteps in Belle Meade parking‑deck demolition; city cites safety concerns
Summary
A longtime resident told council the city's demolition of the Belle Meade parking deck lacked public input and cost taxpayers; staff replied that structural findings during remediation created safety risks that justified demolition and pledged to provide further documentation.
A Greensboro resident asked the City Council on Nov. 10 to investigate the city's handling of the Belle Meade parking‑deck demolition, saying public records show the deck could have been repaired and that the city's financial decisions cost taxpayers.
"With no public input, the city of Greensboro recently demolished the Belle Meade Parking Deck," said Angela Biesecker, who said she used city public records to outline what she described as financial and planning failures. Biesecker told council the property sold for $1,850,000, the city's appraisal was $2,420,000 and taxpayers paid roughly $2,300,000 to demolish the deck; she said three small downtown businesses closed and hundreds of workers and visitors lost convenient parking.
City staff responded that engineering and subsequent remediation work revealed more serious internal deterioration than originally identified. "It was significant a significant issue...the danger was actually even more significant," said city staff (speaker 23), who said demolition avoided a potentially hazardous situation and that staff would provide additional information to the speaker and council.
The meeting record shows the resident's claims and staff's safety rationale were both entered into the record and staff committed to follow up with documents. Council did not vote on the matter; speakers asked the city manager to provide more detail and for staff to ensure the resident receives the information she requested.
The council did not announce a formal audit or procurement review at the Nov. 10 meeting, but staff noted relocation assistance and follow‑up with affected businesses had been part of the city's response.
The article reports allegations as stated by the speaker and the city's reply; financial figures cited by the resident should be verified against public procurement and accounting records for confirmation.
