Sixty-four years ago, I discovered Asheville’s natural beauty and charm by sheer accident while a soldier stationed at a nearby camp. The memory of Asheville’s magic never left my mind—the mountains clothed by green trees, friendly climate, and hard-working people. Since returning to Asheville more than four years ago to live, I’ve been shocked by the disastrous changes I see brought about by uncontrolled and thoughtless development that is destroying the very essence of this allure. Even a church has gotten into the act, whacking down 10 acres of trees and gouging a huge red scar into the west side of Piney Mountain before deciding to locate elsewhere. Across from my home, another developer has destroyed 10 more acres of priceless native trees and crammed 40 homes on top of a huge rock pile of debris, and added to the congestion of Chunns Cove.
The chasing of the almighty tourism dollar, the “coziness” of city and county officials with developers, the grasping for more and more tax dollars without modernizing and upgrading infrastructure services are the root causes of my concern. Certainly progress is to be expected. But not at warp speed, as is now taking place. Otherwise, once Asheville becomes shorn of its natural beauty, it will be destined to become just another has-been city, with the look of strip-mined mountaintops.
So we had better slow our pace of desecrating our God-given gifts before we destroy the very environmental marvels that originally drew people like Vanderbilt here—and the wonderful beauty and simplicity of the area will be long gone!
I moved back here after being gone for 15 years, and I have noticed the same changes. Once while driving, I asked my wife to picture how Asheville will look in 100 years. Vanderbilt, Wolfe, and Sandburg would be shocked to see the speed of change this city has undergone. When driving around, I have even noticed neighborhoods have demographically changed. Yes, this is a different place. We need to determine if we want to keep it’s beauty or just let progress come at it’s pace.
well well well. it just makes sence to me that if you “discovered asheville”you and yours are the root of the population and growth problem, having moved here yourself at some point in time, you started the problem. so you should watch how you put your insensitive complaints online for those of us who where not able to be amongst the first to pioneer this land,yet now unable to enjoy the same things as you were once able to have all to yourselves. first i think you should spread the word that the world is OVERPOPULATED
The greed is not only exhibited by the developers, but by most of city council. The only rational reason I can see is that they hate what Asheville is are want to convert it into an unlivable city like Atlanta, or they are in the pockets of the developers.