The Local Source for News and Information Since 1980
The Town of Greensboro Mayor and Council will take up the question of whether to continue to provide the Greensboro Historical Society with use of the space in the town-owned building at 104 E Sunset Ave. on June 5, during its regular meeting. A public hearing on the topic will be held prior to the meeting.
During the council’s May 15 meeting, Councilwoman Christina Robinson reported that she met with the President of the Greensboro Historical Society, Charles Dean III to discuss the topic.
“I thought it was a positive meeting,” she said, “we discussed looking at potential options if [the town] needed to take that building back.” She said that both she and Dean had some leads on potential spaces for the Historical Society to move if necessary. The Council noted that Dean was invited to the May 15 meeting but was not in attendance.
Vice President of the Greensboro Historical Society, Bob Moser, questioned the Council on the timeline of the process. Councilwoman Robinson said that she would like to have a definitive answer in June so that the Town’s FY26 budget, which begins July 1, can include any necessary provisions for moving departments or possible renovations.
The Town of Greensboro owns the museum building and does not charge the Historical Society rent. Moser said that he fears the Greensboro Historical Society will not be able to financially support itself if required to move into a new space. There has been no definitive mention of financial support from the Town Council to the Historical Society if the building has to be reclaimed by the town.
Moser, other residents, and councilmembers expressed a desire for the Council to stop “kicking the can down the road”, as Mayor Spencer put it, and hold a formal vote so that each party can act accordingly.
“I do agree that we need to give the historical society an answer one way or the other, so that the town can move on with whatever decision they’re going to make as far as relocating their personnel. And again, we would like to do that as soon as possible,” said Mayor Spencer.
He posed the question to the rest of the Council on whether to vote immediately or hold a formal public hearing on the matter in the future. Councilman Joe Noon said, “Let’s stop playing with the historical society, please. We already know that we all need the building back, let’s just come up with the date, please.”
Greensboro’s attorney Lyndsey Ryan advised that because a specific vote was not advertised on the agenda, the Council would be better suited to hold off, “I think it would be more fair to the public to post an agenda with the ‘relocation of the historical society’ on the agenda so they’re aware and can participate if they’re so inclined.”
The Council postponed the official discussion and decision to their next meeting, which will take place on June 5, with a public hearing scheduled prior.
Town of Greensboro staff broached the topic of disposition of the building at 104 E Sunset Ave., which currently houses the Greensboro Historical Society Museum during a Feb. 20 meeting. The Greensboro Police Department, town employee offices, and the public meeting room, as well as a food pantry run by Aaron’s Place, have been sharing the Greensboro Municipal Building at 111 S. Main Street since the evacuation of the previous town hall. It was brought up for discussion that some of the operations be located to 104 E Sunset Ave. location.
Residents and members of the Greensboro Historical Society expressed concern with the idea to repurpose all or part of the Historical Society’s Museum to alleviate the town's spatial concerns at a public hearing on the topic on March 20. Mayor David Spencer concluded the March meeting by saying he would like the Town Council to facilitate meetings with the Historical Society to discuss the next steps.
