🧵 In Today’s Edition

1. Chris Wilson, a ‘Fixture’ of Greensboro’s Government, Retires
2. The Agenda

Chris Wilson is leaving his role after three decades working for the City of Greensboro. (Photo courtesy of the City of Greensboro)

Chris Wilson, a ‘Fixture’ of Greensboro’s Government, Retires

At Chris Wilson’s last city council meeting last Tuesday, Mayor Nancy Vaughan lauded his 33-year tenure in Greensboro. 

“One thing that we hear a lot is that Chris is a problem solver,” Vaughan said. “If you want to see something get done, you can call Chris and he starts from the position of yes.”

As deputy city manager for the last three years, Wilson also handled interim city manager duties for much of 2024 before handing the reins over to current city manager Trey Davis. Wilson was previously entrusted with the job as interim from June 2021 to February 2022. Before shifting to one of the top seats in local government, Wilson was an assistant city manager and worked in the parks and recreation department.

“We’re all going to miss Chris, and he’s not going very far, he’s not leaving Greensboro, and so we know that we will always have a friend, ” said Vaughan.

In his free time, Wilson likes to take photos. “I like to take pictures from unique angles and things that maybe people wouldn’t normally stop and take the time to appreciate,” Wilson told The Thread. “Sometimes we get going so fast, and my time in the parks department really taught me to appreciate this because I got to see so many absolutely stunning and amazing things. I don’t think we take the time to stop and look.”

Wilson leaves the city at the end of the month. He spoke to The Thread about how Greensboro has evolved and how it has left its mark on him. 

Read the interview here.

— Gale Melcher

Thanks for reading The Thread, a 3x week newsletter written by Greensboro editor Joe Killian and reporters Sayaka Matsuoka and Gale Melcher. Reach us with tips or ideas at greensboro@theassemblync.com.

Stay abreast of what’s changing in your community by checking the agendas of local government boards and commissions.

Guilford County Board of Education

Watch meetings here.

Facilities Naming Committee meeting

Monday, June 23 at 3:30 p.m. @ 712 N. Eugene St.

The committee will discuss the naming of the new visual performing arts elementary school.

Regular Board meeting

Thursday, June 26 at 5:30 p.m. @ 712 N. Eugene St.

During this meeting, the board will consider budget amendments, increasing micro-purchase limits, programs, and more.

City of Greensboro

Board of Adjustment meeting

Monday, June 23 at 5:30 p.m. @ Melvin Municipal Office Building in the Katie Dorsett Council Chamber, 300 W. Washington St.

The agenda for Monday’s BoA meeting includes:

  • 207 Pineburr Rd.: James Lee Barrett and Henrietta Barrett, Trustees of Barrett Family Revocable Trust, are requesting a variance to allow the total building coverage of all accessory structures on the lot to be 1,200 square feet when no more than 1,033 square feet is allowed. (Zoning: R-3 [Residential Single-Family]) 
  • 2401 Randleman Rd.: A request from Destiny Christian Center International Inc. for two variances to allow the area of a proposed replacement freestanding sign to be 178 square feet when no more than 50 square feet is allowed, and to allow the height of a proposed replacement freestanding sign to be 30 feet when no more than six feet is allowed. (Zoning: C-H [Commercial-High])
  • 808 Nottingham Rd.: A request from Ralph and Patricia Allen for two variances allowing 1) an expanded accessory structure to encroach 4.8 feet into a required 10 foot side setback; the accessory structure will be 5.2 feet from the side property line, and 2) to allow an expanded accessory structure to encroach five feet into a required 10 foot rear setback; the accessory structure will be five feet from the rear property line. (Zoning: R-3 [Residential Single-Family])
  • 810 Courtland Street: Evan and Priscilla Morrison are requesting two variances, 1) to allow a proposed addition to encroach nine feet into a required 24.7 foot front setback, as measured from Crestland Avenue; the addition will be 15.7 feet from the front property line, and 2) to allow an existing house and proposed addition to encroach two feet into a required 5 foot side setback; the house and addition will be three feet from the side property line. (Zoning: R-5 [Residential Single-Family])
  • 220-203 W. Market St.: Naast Deur GSO LLC is requesting a variance to allow a new short-term rental in a multifamily building when no more than 25 percent of the dwelling units may be used as short-term rentals. This additional building would result in 33 percent of the dwelling units in the multifamily building being short-term rentals. (Zoning: CB ([Central Business])

Historic Preservation Commission meeting

Wednesday, June 25 at 4 p.m. @ Melvin Municipal Office Building in the Plaza Level conference room, 300 W. Washington St.

During the meeting, the HPC will consider applications for certificates of appropriateness and hold evidentiary hearings for:

  • After-the-fact replacement of doors and windows, and removal of a chimney at 701 Park Avenue, Dunleath.
  • The removal of a magnolia tree at 603 Park Avenue, Dunleath.
  • Alterations to the roof at 822 Spring Garden Street, College Hill.

City of High Point

Watch meetings here.

Special City Council meeting

Monday, June 23 at 4 p.m. @ 211 S. Hamilton St.

The agenda for this meeting hasn’t been published yet. Check for it here soon.

Bimonthly City Council meeting

Monday, June 23 at 5:30 p.m. @ 211 S. Hamilton St.

The agenda for this meeting hasn’t been published yet. Check for it here soon.

Special City Council meeting

Tuesday, June 24 at 4 p.m. @ 211 S. Hamilton St.

The agenda for this meeting hasn’t been published yet. Check for it here soon.

Links to local board meetings and agendas:

Guilford County – Board of Commissioners

Guilford County – Board of Education

Greensboro – City Council

Greensboro – City Calendar

High Point – City Council

— Gale Melcher

Gale is a Report for America corps member and Greensboro-based reporter for The Assembly. She previously covered local government and community issues for Triad City Beat. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from N.C. State University.