According to the Asheville Citizen-Times, The city will continue talks to build a hotel on a piece of public property downtown, putting aside for now a $2 million counteroffer from those worried about a nearby historic church.
Talks will resume despite a more than two-year lapse with McKibbon Hotel Group, which is offering $2.3 million to build on city property across from U.S. Cellular Center, city officials said this week.Read the full article
Talks will resume despite a more than two-year lapse with McKibbon Hotel Group, which is offering $2.3 million to build on city property across from U.S. Cellular Center, city officials said this week.Read the full article
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...on city property across from U.S. Cellular Center
You mean the Center Formerly Known as Civic.
By Barry Summers
01/28/2012
The property could be improved by the city to accommodate food trucks and other outdoor market-format enterprises and generate over $60,000 per year in rents, which would service over $2.3 million in debt. Driving smallholder economic activity generates more payroll for city residents, and seems a more appropriate role for a supposedly progressive, anti-corporate-personhood government. The McKibbon Group really doesn't need any help. I'm worried that our supposedly "progressive" council is all hat and no cattle, willing to bend way over for monied interests while passing up opportunities for our city's entrepreneurs.
By sharpleycladd
01/29/2012
Not to mention the lack of open/park space at that end of downtown. Who thinks the attractiveness of the area in front of the civic center will be improved by turning it into a canyon? The selling points of Asheville as a tourist destination include the fact that it doesn't feel like every big city you've ever visited. Building a beautiful iconic open space there in front of the basilica will create another 'view' that gets photographed & spread around as free advertising for Asheville for generations to come. Putting yet another high-rise there will make a few people a lot of money, but it will diminish the visual appeal of the City for tourists, and that hurts everyone.
I'm shocked that the City is considering turning down $2 million from an established anchoring institution who wants to beautify the area, in favor of yet another highrise development. I'm all in favor of building up rather than out, but there have to be pockets of open space to keep the City livable and attractive to visitors.
By Barry Summers
01/29/2012