Asheville City Council preview: 51 Biltmore time

Posted on by David Forbes

In its final meeting of the year tomorrow, Dec. 14, Asheville City Council will consider the 51 Biltmore project, including a hotel and parking deck. In addition to an update, Council will vote on leasing property for parking during the project’s construction and setting a public hearing on financing for early next year.

The project has attracted debate about the extent (and wisdom) of the city’s involvement. Opponents, including Council member Cecil Bothwell, believe the project to be a costly “money pit” and the parking deck unnecessary. Its supporters, like Pat Whalen of Public Interest Projects (a partner on the deal) believe it will provide much-needed parking spaces and an economic boost to the Biltmore Avenue area of downtown.

If the motions pass, the developers will have the parking space necessary to begin construction, and Council will hold a public hearing on whether or not to provide $15.5 million in installment financing for the project on Jan. 11.

Council will also consider what state legislation it will request, including adjusting its boundary with Woodfin and requesting more control over using water services to annex developments outside the city.

Asheville City Council will meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 14 on the second floor of City Hall.

— David Forbes, senior news reporter

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4 thoughts on “Asheville City Council preview: 51 Biltmore time”

  1. J

    Linda Smathers wrote to Smith: “What a disappointment to learn that you are not keeping the promise you made when you were running for Council. I hope you will reconsider and carry out the wishes of those of us who elected you.”

    Smith wrote back: “ Where did you read about this promise-breaking? I’m not aware of saying any such thing. This feels to me like a “When did you stop beating your wife” type attack.”
    http://mountainx.com/blogwire/2010/parc_condemns_downtown_master_plan_vote

    I wonder how many more promises Gordon will break today?

    You have to love the irony of the social media maven being caught in deception by twitter. No wonder the transparency candidate took his website down – he wanted to run from his promises.

  2. Margaret Williams

    Please stay on topic; respond to the article at hand — a City Council preview.

  3. same

    [b]I wonder how many more promises Gordon will break today?

    [/b]

    You have yet to provide even one example of him doing such a thing.

  4. J

    Well same,

    Margaret wants us to stay on topic, but I’ll deviate here.

    See the link I attached in my first post? It links to a MtnX write up about how Gordon told the PARC folks he would vote to keep new building development under the review of City Council. He broke that promise two weeks ago when he voted to allow developments over 150,000 to bypass council review. That was the 2nd time he broke that promise; he also bypassed city council review when he voted for the sustainability amendment to the UDO.

    So there’s one (or two).

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