The Greensboro Inn has iconic low-rise, motor-hotel* architecture, designed for vacationing motorists and people on the go. It has an outward orientation with parking places in front of the doors.The current owners, the Khans, have owned it since the mid-1980's; however, the property is older and deserves to have its history researched, documented, and shared. Before its recent, uncelebrated days, we suspect it had an illustrious past. It would be interesting to learn some of its previous lore; especially, who stayed there.
As of early June, the Greensboro Inn has closed its doors. While, as seen in the above photo, the current owners kept it clean. According to the News & Record, the property, located at 135 Summit Avenue, was the scene of much activity that prompted calls to police about "criminal activity" within. Owner Debbie Khan said that the inn provided emergency shelter for some of Greensboro's displaced and homeless residents and some residents stayed as long as four or five years. The Khans are hopeful that the inn can chance become something wonderful on the downtown landscape. We hope so. The property is in a prime location, the owners seem like nice people, and they don't build properties like that any more. Peeking out from over the inn's flat roof is a spire of what became the Greensboro Historical Museum and was once the First Presbyterian Church. Perhaps, that is a good omen that properties on this block can be transformed.
*(motel is the portmanteau word).
The color scheme seems to honor the 60s architecture. Hope there's a future for this cool vintage building.
Posted by: Oakland Daily Photo | Saturday, June 23, 2012 at 12:32 AM