Greensboro Triumph Center

Greensboro Triumph Center

by Sanjuro | Published on June 13th, 2007, 7:49 am | Greensboro

rumface wrote:
Knightrider wrote:invest in one of those remote controls the fire department uses and you can change the lights at will

OR...The NCDOT can get a freakin' clue as to how traffic patterns work and make things more efficient so that you're not sitting at a traffic light idling for what seems like an eternity when there are NO CARS ON THE ROAD!!!

I hear you on that one brother! I sat there on a completely empty road downtown for what seemed like 10 minutes the other morning at 2am. Sheeesh!! I finally ran the damn light.

anyway this downtown project as basically a "mixed-use convention center" with pretty bold entertainment attractions for Greensboro according to someone who knows someone that talks to Ray Gibbs alot. Thats why this project calls for so many hotel rooms. Its also a "test development" meaning it would be the first of its kind in the country. Maybe Koury Corp is the local developer thats part of this...you know they wouldnt stand for any other developers bringing in competition to them.

Alright, I've gotten about 50 emails since posting the possibility that the secret downtown project is in fact no longer a secret. I hoped to get verification before coming forward, but the company has failed to contact me back, so I'm under the assumption the information I'm about to disclaim "is" true, although I've yet to find "the connection" in my last 3 hours of research. Take it with a grain of salt, and go forward; and maybe we can prove, or disprove my "inside information."

So on with the show. Project X, The secret multi-use complex isn't Disney, or even Universal as I guessed; but a company called Unicorp National Developments. They're based in Orlando Florida, and commonly solicit local governments in mixed use projects and revitalization.

Unicorp works under subsidiaries, and limited liability corporations to keep secrets, and therefore we can only speculate that Greensboro's downtown project is simular to previous projects, and the company's current vision to build "Vegas Themed Condo Hotels" with adjacent retail community.

Greensboro's Revolution Square (A name I came up with purely on speculation.) has been sold to the city as an intriguing, and amazing landmark which will bring sex appeal to the City.

Demolition and construction is expected to begin by the end of 2008 and take approximately 2 years to complete.

Residents can expect a "City Walk" Experience with computerized laser lit water features, terraced villa style shopping, mediterranean outdoor restaurants, and waterfalls.

The Condo-Hotel Resort will include a lazy river, health club, pools, tennis courts, convention center, and Imax theater.

The possibility exists for exclusive restaurant like Hard Rock as they can be negotiated, and even a Vegas style theater capable of performing shows similar to Cirque du Soleil.

For more information on Revolution Square or whatever Unicorp decides to name it, you can visit it's half finished cousin on the web called "The Square" at:

http://www.thesquareorlando.com/

or what could closer resemble the Greensboro project, The Dellagio:

http://www.dellagiofl.com/

or Unicorp's website at:

http://www.unicorpdevelopment.com/projects/

Update: Unicorp has contacted me back and has stated:

"We do not have a project at this location Sorry."

Interesting way to word it, isn't it?

its certainly a possibilty this is the company because they seem to have projects planned similar to what is being proposed in Greensboro and they are doing things national. Also this company is based in Orlando like the secret company behind Greensboro's project. Certainly the representive saying "we do not have a project in that area" doesnt mean they are not the developers....remember this project is still in the conceptual stage and is "technically" not a project yet. It will be intersting to see if you are right though. I do expect really sidnificant venues such as the Cheesecake Factory, House of Blues, ESPN Zone, Lucky Strike Bowling Lanes and Hard Rock Cafe as crazy is it may sound to many because I still keep thinking what Ray Gibbs said. "Once plans are announced, people's jaws will drop" Now what we do know about this project is VERY significant for downtown and the region but my jaws are not dropping. There is something else to this project then just simply a hotel, convention center, ordinary Greensboro style entertainment, condos and offices. One clue about how significant this is, is that the developer's goal for this project is to be a "destination for the Southeast Region" according to Ray Gibbs. This can not be a destination for the Southeast without such venues that I mentioned above. Local based entertainment and restaurants are not going to attract people from Greenville, SC or Virginia Beach, VA. Also why is a "Luxury" hotel in this instead of just a Hilton or a Sheraton?

I liked the idea of Disney coming in a LOT better. This strikes me as dull. I expect I'll give it a miss, thanx anyway...

I'm 99% certain that Unicorp subsidary is behind it. The fact that no one has yet to deny it tells me I'm probably right.

Unicorp's MO is to convince local governments to build their projects on the tax payers dollar. They often overpromise, and build in phases never actually finish (eg-the square), and then they end up with a tax dollar built mini-mall.

Unicorp is a dirty dirty girl to get in bed with, and would kill Koury.

Based on the person that gave me this information, although I can't tell you who it is... I'd say it's valid.

Something that be utilized year round would give more bang for the buck.

Liv wrote:I'm 99% certain that Unicorp subsidary is behind it. The fact that no one has yet to deny it tells me I'm probably right.

Unicorp's MO is to convince local governments to build their projects on the tax payers dollar. They often overpromise, and build in phases never actually finish (eg-the square), and then they end up with a tax dollar built mini-mall.

Unicorp is a dirty dirty girl to get in bed with, and would kill Koury.

Based on the person that gave me this information, although I can't tell you who it is... I'd say it's valid.

I believe you.....I would caution revealing the name of the company right now though so it doesnt hurt the project in any way

also are these details true or are they just your specualtion?

Greensboro's Revolution Square (A name I came up with purely on speculation.) has been sold to the city as an intriguing, and amazing landmark which will bring sex appeal to the City.

Demolition and construction is expected to begin by the end of 2008 and take approximately 2 years to complete.

Residents can expect a "City Walk" Experience with computerized laser lit water features, terraced villa style shopping, mediterranean outdoor restaurants, and waterfalls.

The Condo-Hotel Resort will include a lazy river, health club, pools, tennis courts, convention center, and Imax theater.

The possibility exists for exclusive restaurant like Hard Rock as they can be negotiated, and even a Vegas style theater capable of performing shows similar to Cirque du Soleil.

Here's the deal... I spent about 3 hours yesterday researching unicorp, hoping to find some connection in the process to validate things.

I wasn't able to, but did find story after story of cities and towns being aproached by a unicorp with very very simular proposals to Greensboro. It always involves them showing there Dellagio concept.

Some cities bite, some don't. They claim it's about 200 million, but is actually much less than that, and they anticipate the additional millions encompass the future businnesses it attracts.

They build phase one, a super outdoor strip mall with equisite outdoor shoppings and water features.

Then during phase two they build condos.

during all this they attempt to lure a national hotel chain like Hilton to manage and purchase a skyscraper hotel, and if the city hasn't run dry by then, then build phase three:

the hotel-convention center.

By then Koury is homeless on Holden and Unicorp is rich with all our money. Unicorp doesn't guarentee the sucess and we assume all the risk. If it's a miserable failure, we have another abondoned mini-mall and 30 years of taxes.

Unicorp if given the go will form a LLC to insulate them from lawsuits, such as revolution square, llc. and this will be the company that we can go into bankruptcy without effecting the assets of Unicorp.

It's actually pretty ingenious. But as I've mentioned, sometime it doesn't get finished.... Unicorp's "The Square" started out as the Orlando Aqua, and was supposed to have the hotel, and the whole 9-yards, but was sold off and never completed.
I would expect approximately the same in this situation. Lots of promises, and no guarantees.

so was the person that told you this high up in city or business leadership? That would make this info alot more valid.

Knightrider wrote:so was the person that told you this high up in city or business leadership? That would make this more valid.

If I could go there I would, but I can't so I won't.

Lets say it isn't true, can you resonable deduce another alternative as matching?

They've already said it isn't Disney.

Deductive reasoning says this is likely to be true.... unless you have another idea?

Of course it's possible it might be all b.s. too.

if this is not the company, the person could be trying to throw you off. But then again I did some investigation and it does seem this could be the company.

Knightrider wrote:if this is not the company, the person could be trying to throw you off. But then again I did some investigation and it does seem this could be the company.

What's funny, is if you do some searching on Unicorp's other offers to other cities, the words used to describe the project are almost exact to that which is being released in the news here.

Maybe we're being hoodwinked, but I haven't found another national developer the fits the profile yet.

Even look at Unicorp's assets and you'll see they own property in almost every state except one on the mid-east. That state? NC.

The problem is, is that this reminds me of a scam about 10 years ago, where this guy calls up the town or city manager and says "Hey I'm a reporter from USA today, and we've just chosen your town/city as one of the "nicest small towns in the US" and are going to run an article on your town/city." The ecstatic town manager is so excited, he can't believe it... that he doesn't even question the guys credentials. The reporter states he can send the town manager a press kit with a proof of the article and some promotional bumper stickers and t-shirts to help them promote the city as "One of the nicest small towns in America".

By the end, the town manager has spend untold amounts of money on merchandise, and has called local papers to tell them of the award.

Time comes and go, and nothing appears in USA today. For most cities, the citizens write it off, and never think another thing.

The truth was it was all a scam. The promise of celebrity (Sex up the city) and success (I'm sure mayor holliday would love to go out with a bang) causes most people to overlook the truth about most of these situations, is that it's profitable for the scammer not the city. In Unicorp's case, it's a situation of, why would they solicit if it wasn't in their financial benefit? Greensboro is a very, very wealthy city. I've said it before. We're just dying to spend money here. We (as a city) make more money then most people, and our cost of living is way below most cities of similar stature. We've got money to burn as they say, and someone, somewhere is ready to take it.

I guess we have to wait and see what this company asks for. The media is saying they would ask for just street/sidewalk improvements and possibally a parking deck. I doubt they will be asking for millions in incentives. Their plan though could be interesting and it might be bigger (in terms of town center development) than anything they've ever done. But the mayor and Ray Gibbs sound too gung ho about this so I doubt the company will be asking for a crap load of money or anything that would raise the eyebrows of councilman Tom Phillips.

I also found something else interesting. Unicorp required one city to pay for parking structures. That sounds similar to Greensboro proposal in which the city would build a parking deck for this project. Also with one of the projects in Orlando, the presidenti of Unicorp expects interests from European investors. Remember. Our media said international investors are involved so there are a whole lot of coincidences.

word has it, an unidentified developer has the former Bellemeade Village property under contract (one of the sites (Unicorp?) is looking at). Thursday there was alot of activity on the property with people drilling, surveying and doing test. This could be the due diligence process. Some nearby neighbors say the developer could put student housing on the property but I dont think so. I think Greensboro has landed the massive secret project and its not been revealed to the public yet. I did think the Duke Power site would be the winning candidate because it would be closer to South Elm Street and the nearby museums and cultural attractions as well as the depot, but if the developer has the Bellemeade site under contract, apparently they want the ballpark activity near their development.

SouthernFriedInfidel wrote:I liked the idea of Disney coming in a LOT better. This strikes me as dull. I expect I'll give it a miss, thanx anyway...

I with you; yawn...

Maybe something like this is jaw dropping for native Greensboroian's (whatever), but not to people from a major metropolitan area.

You know... Maybe instead of building high-rise luxury condos, or the flashy secret project X downtown. Maybe we should be building low-income housing to help the homeless and impoverished of our city? Maybe those incentives the city has been passing out, could be used to subsidize low income housing?

Now theres a thought.

But, don't you understand: When the government hands out "incentives" to corporations and rich people, that's the "free market" at work; when the government subsidizes essential services for poor people, that's socialist tyranny!

The gov could definitely do more to take care of its people. I'd like to see programs like Habitat for Humanity expanded.

But those grants and tax breaks help especially after like a 5-year period. Creates jobs and larger companies that stay long term generate decent tax revenue.

I liken it to having a good employee at work. If you want to attract the best talent, you have to pay more and then hope what you pay is justified by their performance and a good ROI.

Ed says the idea is back again. October 14th, 2010, 8:24 am Reply with quote

Ed says the idea is back again.

It looks like it. The developer has updated site plans and it looks like he is using a performance arts center as its anchor. Smart move since downtown advocates now want a performance arts center.