Norman,
Sorry about the lag time. Last week was a lost weekend for me, with the flu wiping out 7 days. Here are some thoughts on the paralyzing impact the lack of waste disposal capabilities has on downtown Greensboro. You mentioned that there are 4-6 (?) properties that have certain disposal rights that are 'grandfathered' in their deeds, including The Miller's Thumb, which means that they are permitted whatever bathroom/sink prep elements existed in 1945 (? you probably know the date) but cannot be altered without throwing the owner into current code requirements that are impossible to meet. My hunch is that this must be true for 8-10 commercial properties and 6-10 residential properties as well. That situation has such a huge economic and social impact on the downtown potential that there must be a way to create some redress. And everything I'm saying must have been looked at previously, but it may not hurt to review a couple of the options.
The first is to explore the possibility of purchasing a piece of land in back (downhill)of the post office on which a large septic system could be installed that would serve the affected 5-6(or whatever number) properties. A 8" pipe would be installed on the edge of the street leading from the Thumb to the post office vicinity and would be owned and paid for by those who are served by it.
In a larger context, you mentioned what the existing realities are for those 'grandfathered' in; that for some businesses/ homes this means having their bathrooms) drain into a basement 50 gallon tank that has holes in the bottom of it with no awareness (they don't dare look!) where the liquid and solid wastes go after it exits. I find it hard to believe that in a Town as environmentally conscious as Greensboro this is a reality that is not generally known. I wonder, for instance, whether there has been much water quality testing done on the astonishingly clean water as it exits Caspian and its condition after traveling through the downtown area. In any event, the Town has so much to gain economically in pursuing some Town-wide solution through the State that would eliminate this very serious bottleneck to its development.
Norman, there is more to be said, but this is at least a start in the possible conversation. I'll be interested to hear how things go!
Andrew Mason
The Millers Thumb
