Part 5 in the Asheville in the 1980s series: New Housing Old Buildings

PRESS RELEASE: 

Old buildings boarded up and in disrepair. Large anchor stores abandoning downtown for the new mall. A small mountain town with few cultural attractions. This is the view many people have of Asheville in the 1980s. But underneath, a renaissance was being chartered by citizens, social activists, businesses, and artists. This series of panel discussions and presentations explores events and people that provided the impetus for change during this period of critical development for the city of Asheville and Buncombe County.

Fifth Program in the Series: New Housing Old Buildings

The expansion of housing in the Central Business District would come to be one of the key elements of Asheville’s Renaissance. The tax credits these pioneers utilized saved many of downtown Asheville’s architectural gems. Meanwhile, other older housing stock was being taken down displacing many long-time residents. Learn about this important physical and cultural transformation of downtown Asheville in the 1980s.

Moderators: Kevan Frazier and Erin Derham

Kevan Frazier, an Asheville native, is a historian and author of “Legendary Locals of Asheville.” Kevan has a doctorate in American Urban History and previously taught history at UNCA. He owns a walking tour business, Asheville By Foot and is currently the executive director for Western Carolina University’s programs at Biltmore Park Town Square.

Erin Derham is an Asheville filmmaker and oral historian.
Panelists & Guests include: Barbara Field, Larry Holt, Chris McGrayne, Becky Anderson, Peter Austin and Karen Ramshaw.

WHAT: “Asheville in the 1980s: A Formative Decade As Told By Those Who Shaped It”

WHERE: Lord Auditorium at Pack Library (lower level)

WHEN: Wednesday August 31, 2016 6:00-7:30 pm

Sponsored by the Friends of the North Carolina Room

All events are free and open to the public.

Contact:  Zoe Rhine, Librarian
Special Collections Librarian
Pack Memorial Library
67 Haywood Street
Asheville, NC 28801
828-240-4740

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About Thomas Calder
Thomas Calder received his MFA in Fiction from the University of Houston's Creative Writing Program. His writing has appeared in Gulf Coast, the Miracle Monocle, Juked and elsewhere. His debut novel, The Wind Under the Door, is now available.

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