Strength in numbers: More than 200 people stood together to form the number 350 on Oct. 24 at Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville to take part in the International Day of Climate Change. Thousands of people around the world participated by doing the same thing — talking up the importance of action to reduce carbon emissions and getting a picture of themselves forming the critical number. Currently, carbon dioxide emissions are approaching 390 parts per million, but some scientists say that 350 ppm is the most CO2 that the atmosphere can handle before triggering major human and environmental disasters. The worldwide event was led by author Bill McKibben and the environmental organization he started, 350.org. The Western North Carolina Alliance, an environmental organization, sponsored the Asheville event. The gathering came six weeks before the scheduled U.N. Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, where world leaders plan to meet to create a new climate treaty.
This looks terrific! So glad Asheville folks came through in joining the world to promote 350.
please identify some of the buildings. That is a beautiful aerial view of downtown but I have not lived there since 1952 and the only building I think I reconize is the one that the library was in. My cousin, Margaret Siegler, was a librarian then. There was also a movie theater there as I remember walking up Haywood street to see a show.
Ms Match, I’ll try…
I’ll start on the left-hand side with the brick building that has the white top. That’s the old Hayes & Hopson building. It’s being renovated into a bar/restaurant/event venue to be called Pack’s Tavern.
Moving up the left-hand side, you’ll see the city-owned building that houses the Asheville Police Department and Asheville Fire Department. There’s a flag flying in front of that building.
The tall, narrow, beige-colored building that the flag is flying in front of is the iconic Jackson Buidling, with it’s gargoyles on the top corners.
The big blocky gray building that’s cut-off near the center of the photo is the well-known BB&T building. It’s the tallest building in Asheville.
The long modern building sitting in front the BB&T is what’s known now as the Biltmore building because most of the offices are used by the Biltmore company. It was designed by famous architect I.M Pei.
Working from left to right across the top of the photo from the BB&T building are the following tall buildings: the Battery Park Apartments and the Vanderbilt Apartments. The Battery Park building is actually blocking an almost equally tall new building in Asheville, the Hotel Idigo. It just opened.
Hope that helps!
Thank you! And, am I seeing the old auditorium where I used to square dance? Or, has that been torn down? Also, was I correct that the library was in the building I mentioned? Plus, you mean the Vanderbilt hotel is now apartments??
Good Grief! I see what Thomas Wolfe meant when he said ‘you can’t go home again!’ BTW, almost all my relatives reside in Riverside cemetery along with Mr. Wolfe.
Ms Match,
I’m not familiar with the old auditorium you mention; I believe you are correct in the former library building.
Yes, the Vanderbilt is now an apartment building.
I believe they are now calling the old auditorium
the Asheville Civic Center. To me, tho, it will always be the auditorium. Glad they haven’t torn that one down. I collect vintage pc of Asheville.
The Asheville photo needs to be on a postcard.
thanx for your reply.
Ms Match, you’re welcome.
If you’re interested in post cards of Asheville, you should check out this collection (paste the entire two lines into your browser window):
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=2042370&id=1286229137&ref=mf
wow.
That was a very cool exchange.
Teh internets aren’t just for goatse and fails, apparently.