Winston-Salem City Council Debates Future of Liberty Street Redevelopment Project
The Winston-Salem City Council is currently grappling with the future of the former Liberty Street Vendor Market, a redevelopment project initiated in 2013. The city plans to declare two large shelter structures at 1551 N. Liberty St. as surplus property and sell them at public auction to clear the site for a new community center. City Council Member Robert Clark expressed strong reservations, stating that the city is poised to 'flush' approximately $700,000 of public money, referencing the initial investment in the market. Assistant City Manager Ben Rowe clarified that the site was redeveloped for about $395,000, excluding land costs, and the current depreciated book value of the structures and improvements is estimated at $284,000. The Finance Committee has advanced the proposal, and if approved by the full City Council, an auction is expected in November. The debate has highlighted broader disagreements among council members regarding the effectiveness of past redevelopment efforts in East Winston and h...
