Erwin School Redevelopment Project

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Erwin School Area Map

About

In October 2023, Guilford County purchased the former Erwin Montessori Elementary School. In May 2024, the county engaged the Development Finance Initiative (DFI), a program with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Government, to analyze the redevelopment feasibility of the former school site and assist with attracting private investment for the redevelopment of the site.

The former Erwin Montessori School, located at 3012 E. Bessemer Avenue, Greensboro, NC, consists of two parcels totaling 8.99-acres. The site is bounded by E. Bessemer Avenue, Dockery Street, and E Market Street. All existing buildings are scheduled to be demolished by the end of spring 2025.

In September 2024, Guilford County launched an online survey and hosted a series of public input sessions to learn what the community’s interests are for the redevelopment of the former Erwin School site. Survey submissions concluded on October 18, 2024.

Virtual Public Input Session Recording

In September 2024, Guilford County hosted a series of public input sessions to share with the community about the Erwin School Redevelopment Project and allow residents an opportunity to share their feedback to help plan the future of the former school site. The sessions offered two in-person meetings and one virtual meeting. Click below to watch a recording of the virtual community recording.

Learn More About the Project

The Erwin School site has been identified as a priority focus of county leadership due to its proximity to E. Wendover Avenue and E. Market Street – both major thoroughfares through the City of Greensboro, Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC) East Campus, and the NC Cooperative Extension - Guilford County Center. The county intends for the redevelopment of the site to include a range of public and private uses that could support a mixed-use development.

The redevelopment of the site is part of a more general effort by both Guilford County and the City of Greensboro leadership to revitalize East Greensboro. Notable projects that are either planned or under construction in East Greensboro include the East Greensboro Greenway, Windsor Chavis Nocho Community Complex, The Resurgent, Pyramids Village, Gateway Research Park South Campus, and the Nussbaum Center Steelhouse.

DFI, a program of UNC-Chapel Hill's School of Government, partners with local governments to attract private investment for transformative projects by providing specialized finance and development expertise. DFI will conduct a feasibility analysis and identify several options for redevelopment of the Erwin School site for the county while regularly seeking feedback and engagement from county leadership. Once a redevelopment scenario has been endorsed by the county, DFI will solicit the opportunity to qualified development teams, and will assist the county with negotiations of a development services agreement with the selected partner.

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