Lightning has already struck once at the Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTIA) megasite – Boom Supersonic is opening its mega-million-dollar supersonic jet factory there.
However, the megasite, which already spans about 1,000 acres, continues to grow whenever the opportunity presents itself.
In the past, the airport has bought up property near the aviation mega-site at PTIA, and the airport is now buying the private residence at 7005 Pawnee Road in Greensboro for $454,000. The property includes .93 acres of land and a house.
PTIA needs more land for more big aviation companies – at least, that’s the hope.
PTIA Executive Director Kevin Baker this week said that purchasing the Pawnee Road residence and land is another step in a long, ongoing process of accumulation.
“We’ve been acquiring properties on the west side of Old Oak Ridge Road for years,” he said. “We own property adjacent to this.”
This land, Baker added, will become part of the large economic development area in the northwest corner of the airport’s property. Baker said that, as of now, it doesn’t have an assigned use.
“There’s no defined use as of this moment,” he said, “but, ultimately, it will hopefully be part of a site for another large employer.”
PTIA officials want to scoop up a great deal of the land in the area – so, when it does become available, the price the airport offers is usually attractive. During the 2022 revaluation of all property in the county, the Guilford County Tax Department placed a value of $389,400 on the house and the land at 7005 Pawnee Road – with the land alone being valued at $70,000 of that total.
In this case, the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority – the seven-person ruling board that runs the airport – is leasing the property back to the sellers for nine months at a rental price of $2500 per month. The rent will start at the end of the 90-day rent-free period that’s customarily allowed by the authority when it purchases property.
And yet they won’t do anything to improve the airport, that escalator on the American side was boarded up for months and the airport acts like it’s not there. Then they complain there’s not enough passengers using the airport. Instead of focusing so much on these land purchases, put some money back into the airport to make it attractive for both carriers and passengers.
Escalators were ordered back in October and just arrived. The south set (American) will go in first, then the north, and then the center. All the electronic door sets on the upper and lower levels will be upgraded during this project.
Had buddy who lost 7 acres where new airport Fed X located. He only got $175k back in 90s. Inc new modern house x private 1 acre lake. Airport used eminent domain law to take property. He sues but lost. His name Kent Urbine. Past property loc Old Oak Ridge Rd . Lawsuit went on for years. Yet he lost after spending over $100 k on lawyer fees.
Who would pay $454,000 for that house? Owner should feel very lucky to get it. Now they can get the heck out of Guilford County.
I read of the Airline industry SNAFUs. Air Travel is a nightmare. Customers are treated like cattle. Include me out.
The PTIA Authority is just another government entity that has no accountability to anyone but itself. The PTIA wants to think it is a big player.
PTI should start sound proofing homes in the cardinal area. Waiting fir the red headed woodpecker to build it’s nest. ( protected species under federal law) SARA