The Winston-Salem City Council has agreed to allocate additional public funding to The Grounds, a half-billion-dollar mixed-use project now under construction along Deacon Boulevard.
The project has already received about $35 million in state funding. On Tuesday, council members voted to contribute another $4 million to support infrastructure upgrades tied to the development.
The move drew criticism from residents, including Quamekia Shavers, who said the money would be better spent in other areas of the city.
“It will divert dollars from the downtown area restaurants and retail businesses that are already struggling to recover from Covid,” she said.
City officials argue the investment will pay off in the long run, significantly increasing the local tax base and generating new funding for public services.
Developers are now seeking an additional $4 million from Forsyth County.