South Elm Street Development: What It Means for Wafco Mills Condominiums
The 3.4-acre lot at South Elm Street and Gate City Boulevard, just a short walk from Wafco Mills Condominiums, Greensboro, NC, is poised for transformation. This site, once slated for a Lidl grocery store that was canceled in 2023, is now the focus of a new mixed-use proposal by local developer Andy Zimmerman. For our 66-unit Wafco Mills community, distinct from Historic Wafco Mills and Walker Commons, this development could reshape our daily lives, bringing new amenities, addressing parking challenges, and enhancing the vibrancy of our College Hill neighborhood. Here’s a deep dive into the site’s history, Zimmerman’s vision, and its potential impact on Wafco Mills Condominiums.
The Lidl Saga: A Plan That Didn’t Pan Out
In 2022, the Greensboro Redevelopment Commission greenlit a plan to sell part of the Union Square campus at 734 South Elm Street to Lidl US Operations LLC for a 25,000- to 36,000-square-foot grocery store, complete with over 100 surface parking spaces. For Wafco Mills Condominiums residents, this seemed like a game-changer, offering a convenient solution to the limited grocery options in downtown Greensboro, where Deep Roots Market remains a pricier alternative. However, the proposal hit roadblocks.
Local developer Andy Zimmerman raised concerns that the standalone store and its sprawling parking lot would worsen parking congestion around our community, particularly along Walker Avenue and Wafco Lane, where we manage assigned and unassigned spaces. Combined with environmental issues cited by Lidl, these challenges led to the project’s cancellation in summer 2023. While the empty lot was a disappointment, it opened the door for more innovative plans that could better serve our neighborhood’s needs.
Zimmerman’s Vision: A Mixed-Use Future
Andy Zimmerman, through AZ Development LLC, has proposed a $10 million mixed-use development that promises to transform the South Elm Street site into a vibrant extension of our Wafco Mills Condominiums community. Known for breathing new life into spaces like The Forge and the Gateway Building, Zimmerman’s plan blends residential, commercial, and community elements, designed to complement our pedestrian-friendly neighborhood while tackling parking concerns.
Highlights of the proposal include:
A 21,000-square-foot building along Gate City Boulevard, featuring 3,000 square feet of classroom space on the second level, potentially bringing educational opportunities just blocks from our condos.
A multi-purpose parking lot that doubles as a covered community market on weekends and during events, creating a space for residents to shop local produce and artisan goods, much like the community-driven initiatives we’ve championed in our March 25, 2025, walk-through.
A 14,000-square-foot live-work space along the Bragg Street Greenway, with underground parking, ground-floor retail (potentially a smaller grocery), and six stories of apartments, adding neighbors and amenities within a short stroll from 620 Walker Ave.
Relocation of The Forge, a makerspace, to the site, fostering a hub for artisans and entrepreneurs that could spark engagement among our residents, akin to our volunteer efforts in updating the 2021 Rules and Regulations.
This vision could elevate our neighborhood’s appeal, boost property values for our 66 units, and provide over 200 parking spaces to ease the demands on our one assigned and one unassigned spot per unit, all while fostering the community connection we value.
What’s in It for Wafco Mills Condominiums?
Living at Wafco Mills places us in the heart of this development’s impact zone. Construction may bring temporary disruptions, such as noise or parking challenges along Walker Avenue and Wafco Lane, where we already navigate shared parking and violations (as noted in our website’s FAQ). However, Zimmerman’s emphasis on underground parking and community spaces aims to address these issues long-term, potentially alleviating the parking pressures we’ve tackled in HOA discussions.
The proposed retail, possibly including a grocery, could finally meet our community’s call for accessible food options, a priority highlighted in our soon to be released owner survey on WafcoMills.com. The market and makerspace align with our cooperative spirit, seen in our efforts to maintain community standards without raising HOA dues. Still, challenges like environmental remediation, which derailed Lidl’s plans, will require careful coordination with the State Department of Environmental Quality. Some residents may also prefer a grocery over event spaces, a sentiment we’re tracking through community feedback.
Our Role in Greensboro’s Downtown Renaissance
The South Elm Street site is a key piece of Greensboro’s downtown revitalization, alongside projects like the Union Square Campus and the Downtown Greenway’s Western Branch, which we’ve covered in our “Events & News” section. Unlike Historic Wafco Mills, with its own HOA and focus on the 1893-1912 mill buildings, our Wafco Mills Condominiums, built in the 1980s, offers a modern take on historic charm. Zimmerman’s “innovation district” vision could position our neighborhood as a hub for creativity and commerce, benefiting our residents and landlords.
A competing $80 million proposal from The Alexander Company, featuring 160 apartments and 30,000 square feet of retail, is also under consideration. While ambitious, it may not match the community-focused scale of Zimmerman’s plan, which feels tailored to our needs. The Greensboro Redevelopment Commission is expected to review Zimmerman’s proposal by June 2025, with a City Council vote to follow, and our community’s voice will be critical in shaping the outcome.
Join the Conversation
At Wafco Mills Condominiums, our cooperative spirit—not an assisted living facility—drives us to shape our neighborhood’s future. Visit WafcoMills.com for updates, share your thoughts at WeLoveWafcoMills@gmail.com. Together, we can ensure this development enhances our vibrant, historic block in downtown Greensboro.
Sources
FOX8 WGHP: “2 candidates eager to revitalize South Elm Street in Greensboro” (March 20, 2024)
WFMY News 2: “Downtown Greensboro parking lot could become mixed-use development” (April 18, 2025)
Reddit r/gso: “Zimmerman proposal to expand forge to South Elm redevelopment site” (March 18, 2024)
The Rhino Times of Greensboro: “Wisdom Of Stand-Alone Downtown Grocery Store Questioned” (February 11, 2022)
Connect CRE: “Greensboro Weighing Downtown Development Proposals” (April 10, 2024)
Wafco Mills Condominiums Owners’ Association: “Events & News” (August 18, 2024)
