When the Rhino Times wrote recently about a $8 million-plus renovation that was coming to the governmental plaza between the Melvin Municipal Office Building and the Old Guilford County Court House, one sentence in particular drew a lot of interest: “The project includes repairing damage to the plaza and the parking deck below, along with the construction of a new equipment ramp, a rectangular pergola on the plaza, a new monument and pedestal, and the installation of monument lighting.”
In particular, the interest was in the coming monument. As one reader asked: “It’s about time the plaza had a pergola. But I’m really curious who or what the monument will be dedicated to.”
It was a good question and the Rhino Times has found the answer. The statue will be one of Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Skip Alston.
Not really, but given that Alston has been chairman nine times (and may have a lot more years in that position) that guess may be as good as any.
However, the true answer is not nearly so polarizing.
According to Guilford County Communications and Public Relations Director Julie Smith, the question remains open. As of yet, there are no set plans for the monument, she wrote in an email.
Smith added, “The design firm suggested putting a foundation base in place in the event the County wants to place a monument or art piece on the plaza in the future. It’s much easier and more cost-effective to consider that now versus once the project is complete due to the nature of the waterproofing work.”
One goal of the renovation project is to prevent water damage to the underground parking lot below the plaza through better waterproofing.
Will it be Martin, or Skip?
I suggest a monument of a pile of cash being burned with the county commissioners kneeling in front of it. It can be named “Gone for Good” which is what happens to your tax money.
I suggest we put Skip and Earl Jones together they fleeced the city and county out of more tax dollars than any couple in the history of Greensboro
Lol, it’s Greensboro. You don’t need much imagination to guess what will be placed there. Hope it is EDI certified!
I understand Skip Alston and the Civil Rights Museum have purchased the Robt. E Lee Statue from the City of Richmond and will place it on the renovated Downtown Plaza?
It was destroyed!
The same thing that’s happening to Greensboro big city 69 and counting
How about a pile of leaves to memorialize the city elimination of leave pick-up,
How about LEE street?
The mention of Skip Alston made me curse immediately upon reading it, and I was glad you were kidding, but if you could erect the rear end of a giant steed, kicking up his heels, and name it Skip Alston, that would be something many could agree upon, and could probably be done with private funds.
Skip-the-hyp doesn’t use private funds.
I’m sure he or she will NOT be WHITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There is only one right choice. It needs to be Phil McDonald for which the plaza is dedicated. Most likely too American though, so it probably won’t happen.
How about General Greene?
Given the overly obvious feelings towards anything liberal, leftist, pro-socialist, anti-religious, overly EDI, I would guess it will be a tribute to the Lords and Ladies of the City Council surrounded by their sycophants in worship position.
Just sayin’