City Council postpones Fairview Road plans, approves Hazel Mill, Thompson Street

After lengthy public hearings, Asheville City Council members passed three controversial requests during a long Tuesday evening meeting Dec. 9. They approved apartment plans for Hazel Mill Road in West Asheville and on Thompson Street and Stoner Road near Biltmore Village but postponed a decision for a Fairview Road plan at the developer’s request. They also adopted changes […]

Oakley residents organize to discuss proposed apartment complex

People in the Oakley community are raising concerns about a new 300-plus-unit apartment complex planned for the East Asheville neighborhood, expressing worries about everything from potential traffic and safety issues to the fact that only 10 of the development’s planned residential units — which are nearly all rental properties — are designated as affordable housing.

Will tiny homes be Asheville’­s next big thing?

The blogosphere is abuzz these days with romantic visions of picturesque miniature dwellings. And a growing number of local advocates say the “tiny home movement” could help achieve a wealth of positive outcomes, from environmental efficiencies to enhanced affordability. Amid the swelling interest, however, many hurdles remain.

A roof over one’s head: affordable housing overhaul moves forward

What’s needed to solve Asheville’s housing crunch? Fewer development hurdles, a city “land bank” to preserve property for affordable housing, more density and a hard “target number” for units that need to be created each year— these are some of the ideas to come out of a recent meeting of the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee.