GREENSBORO -- Downtown Greensboro is a popular place these days.
It's a big change from when Glitters, an eclectic retail store, opened 29 years ago on Elm Street.
"There was really nobody really Downtown, except us, a couple of bars,’’said Desiree Brooks, whose family owns Glitters.
The city's hoping to continue redevelopment efforts along Elm Street with the bond package that City Council is considering for a vote in November.
Officials are hoping to build off the synergy of more people being drawn to work, live and play in the area.
"When people come downtown to eat, you know, they want to wander around, and it's nice to have some shops to go into to do that,’’ said Brooks.
The bonds also include continued upgrades to Gate City Boulevard, where work is underway from bonds passed several years ago.
Street and sidewalk improvements that are still needed elsewhere.
"We still have about 700 miles of streets out there in Greensboro that do not have sidewalks, or some major corridors,” Adam Fisher, the city’s transportation director.
Transportation improvements on the list include renovating the bus depot and replacing the city's fleet with electric buses.
"We're projecting over the life of an electric bus, each electric bus should cost us, $340,000 less to operate and maintain than a standard diesel vehicles," said Fisher.
"The hope is increasing that the looks and accessibility of streets around the city will increase business development and useage."
"We're seeing a lot folks walk between the Koury Convention Center and the Coliseum, and hopefully it'll attract more development along the corridor,’’ said Fisher.
The wish list jumped $74 million this week to a total of $178.7 million.
That includes housing improvements along with Parks and Recreation upgrades.
Folks on Elm Street think past and future spending will continue to bring positive change.
"It brings character and things to do, look at and makes a place people want to go," said Brooks.
City Council has plenty of time to trim down the wish list before an August public hearing. The bond are scheduled to be on the ballot in November.