Page 4
HIGH LIFE
October 29, 1976
Downtown Looks
Toward Recovery
by Hank Howard
Life in the United States
certainly seems to be on the
decline, these days. The economy
is said to be on the decline, while
prices are on the constant rise. In
addition, we Americans are told
that our very own wastes are
killing us off, one by one. Why,
even the spray cans which we use
to extinguish our pests, hold our
hair in place, and freshen our
homes and bodies are said to be
potential threats to our very
existence.
We have left our cities in a
state of neglect, crumbling as we
fled to the vast open spaces of the
suburbs ringing the inner cities.
The art form of the city, one of
man’s more pleasing creations, is
disappearing as fast as our
steel-plated gas guzzlers can roll
off the assembly line.
Vast urban sprawl has spread
compatibly with the distribution
of the automobile, creeping on its
endless journey like a grinning
green monster hovering over
former pastures and once great
forests, leaving in its wake pizza
parlors, beauty salons, massive
supermarkets, drive-in theaters,
neon flashing lights, all beckon
ing weary travelers to their lairs
along once “scenic” parkways.
All the while, the inner cities lie
dingy, desolate and decaying as
the suburbs ring up the sales, like
leeches drawing each drop of
life-blood from the once vibrant
downtown areas. Stately edifi-
cies, unlike the “shoe boxes” of
today, which were meant to last a
lifetime are now leveled for
parking space which “wishful
thinking” downtown merchants
hope might draw more cust
omers.
But empty streets, strange-
looking shadows in cracks and
crevices, and boarded up,
deserted storefronts discourage
even the bravest souls from
lingering in such districts any
longer than necessary (and never
after dark.)
Similarly, Greensboro’s down
town, once a vibrant community,
popular as a shopping and
entertainment center, literally
lies as a ghost town. Oh, there are
still a number of retail businesses
clinging to abandoned Elm
Street, but an overwhelming
majority of prominent retail
establishments have carried the
masses out with them. Out, out,
they have flown to plastic coated,
mammoth, Muzak-tuned shopp
ing malls encompassing deafen
ing, splashing fountains and ice
skating rinks catering to shreiking
chocolate-smudged kids who go
skating ‘round and ’round
hollering all the way, and having
a great time. It is little wonder the
businesses retreated from their
weary posts along once traffic-
choked, telephone-line entan
gled, narrow, dirty city streets
(alias: the present semi-mall).
America’s love for man’s new
“best friend,” the automohile,
and impossible means of storing
it, drove the masses out of
downtown and promoted the
exodus of retail, industrial and
institutional services from the
central business districts of our
cities.
Yet, downtown will come back.
So says Time in its July 1976 issue
so say numerous articles in the
Greensboro News and Record.
The questions that remain are:
When, and how, will downtown
Greensboro come back?
Let us look, first at advantages
which back up the statement:
Downtown Greensboro will come
back.
Luckily enough. Downtown
Greensboro is strategically locat
ed near the heart of the city and is
therefore easily accessible from
all quadrants of the city.
Governmental, banking, financial
and cultural services are all
represented downtown. For
example, the $18 million
city-county governmental center
with its spacious plaza, the
several high-rise office and bank
buildings, and the proposed
cultural center in the old
Greensboro Daily News Building
and in the Carolina Theater are all
pluses for downtown.
What Downtown is lacking is a
strong focal point to hold the
, community together. This focal
point could set a basis for new
retail, office and cultural life for
downtown. I believe strongly that
this focal point should center
around Jefferson Square, the
crossing of Market and Elm
Streets. I also believe this area
should be developed to look like
the center of downtown; that a
two-level mall should be
constructed along Elm Street with
a large plaza at the Square.
Already new life for the Square
is being partially planned. A
proposed office building is to rise
on one corner, to be the home
office of First-Citizens Bank. It is
even rumored that Belk-on-the-
Square is considering renovating
and reopening their old down
town store.
I, too, have devised a plan for
Downtown Greensboro. This is a
plan, which I feel, if put into
effect could make Downtown
Greensboro the people place it
ought to be.
My plan includes extensive use
of landscaping and street
furniture. I propose a city-owned
convention center adjoining a
large private-run convention hotel
at the corner of Friendly Avenue
and Davie Street. I also believe
that “Old Greensborough,” the
historic district below Washing
ton Street, should continue to be
renovated and turned into a living
museum of shops and entertain
ment spots with the intent of
pumping new life-blood into the
old city core.
Every citizen of the Gate City
should have his own ideas about
the urgent need for the center of
our city to be beautiful and made
into as fine a showcase as the rest
of our city.
Bashar Rizk
'Student of the Month'
by David Bulla and Steve Theriot
Bashar Rizk has used the
advantages of industry, diligence,
and prudence for his own behalf;
thus, Mr. Rizk is the idea
example of an automaton, an
individualist who takes great
pride in his education. His
juvenile interest and adult
assidiousness have allowed him
to condescend to a point few
students at this school can reveal.
Hence, Bashar Rizk is our
“Student of the Month.”
Bashar, a Semitic of the Syrian
people, was bom in Damascus.
His fanrily immigrated to the
United States in 1963. His parents
have always pressed the necessity
of education; his father is a
French professor at UNC-G.
Without farther comment, it can
be said that his belletres is
inherent. His verbal score of 740
is easily admired, and that also
places him out of college
freshman English, though he
went ahead with A.P. English
because, he said, it provides for
“more reading.” He did suggest
that he was mulling over that
course.
Besides the intellect there is
the athletic and the activist side.
He is a brawny young man,
strong, once a wrestler, a tennis
player, and a volleyball player..
His semi-ascetic life keeps him,
though, from participating in
more sports - if there were
thirty-six hours in the day, he
would find the time, though.
Education is obviously more
important.
The extend of his activities
extends into the world of cliques.
The list, I might add, is
extraordinary in length. Here are
This is the present view of Downtown Greensboro. Hank Howard
feels that there should be some changes. See related story.
I would appreciate any
ideas Grimsley students might
have about the revitalization of
Downtown Greensboro. It is high
time some action was taken about
this matter. Write to: Hank
Howard, 1914 Swannanoa Drive,
Greensboro, North Carolina
27410.
Personals
some salient groups and activities
that make this rather vivacitious
human; GYC councilman. District
Champion of the Bicentennial
Youth Debates, Torchlight mem
ber, and French Club, Medical
Explorer, and he attended the
Governor’s School; he studied
English, naturally.
The most prominent interest in
the future of Mr. Rizk is his plan
to study at Harvard. He plans to
study in depth, “the brain, its
and mechanics,” Bashar reports
that Neurology, the study of the
nervous system’s diseases, will
be his major or Neuro
Psychology, the stftdy of the
characteristics involved in the
mental process,, emotions, feel
ings, desires. So a bright and
arduous future is ahead of
Bashar.
K.B. - How was halftim .• at
Homecoming?
Lefty: Hang Low!
Mark K. - How much money
did you put in the parking meter?
C. F. -- The old in and out real
Savage.
K.B. - You said, “State
playoffs!”
D. S. -- My friend here would
like to order a delicious yahoo for
the house.
T.T. - lefty on the loose!
E. S.B. - to E.A.; I still care.
K.S. - How’s yellow journa
lism.
To Mr. Mac -- Haopy
Halloween!
T.S. - Want to go parking next
Friday nite? M.H.
K.W. - 1 hope you worked
hard, and observed well! M.H.
M.C. - What about your 7th
sense? M.H.
J.B. - Where’s my ribbon?
M.H.
D.N. -- Seen anything BLUE
lately? M.H.
Big “M”, How about a game of
spades and a glass of Moa Moa
Punch? K.B.
C.P. (Dear Frank), Would shut
the doors but, naahh! Your
friend, ME
Igore says, “HEIN QUOI?” to
wet pockets!
Hey Leitner, Please don’t ever
give it up!!! K.G.
Give up on dancing! We all
know who won’t ever come
through, don’t we???...but at
least you’ll get it (someday)
-C.E.
To all Zoto fans: it will
conquer!! --A.R.
Henry - Meet me at the
charming pub off of S.J. Park at
2:15 a.m. - Margaret
Wot Paige?
Zoto got caught in the rain and
lumped up.
Screw Zoto! Zoto wears
Combat Boots!
Mrs. I. Trust me! Trust me!
B. Love the tennis form on and
off the court --C.B.
D.F. Winking right along!
Teri - Duckie needs a bug with
a back seat space! Marsh
Duckie - Who’s a big mouth?
-Red
L. Lane - remember the
windshield wipers? Big Knees
Chunky Ching -- Poo Poo?
...Doris
Jennifer - Is he a good catch?
...L.B.
Charlie - we can tell you’re
Irish because you have a potatoe
head - Devil Woman
Norman Jean: You wanna buy a
bunny? Madman
Confucius say: Pickle make
squishy bookmark.
For Sale. 64 inch O’Brien
Water Ski. Used Three Times.
$100. See Mark McDowell.
Homeroom 803.
For Sale. .Automatic G.E.
Phonograph. Barely used, in
perfect shape. Good Christmas
present! Call Carol at 292-4613.
11