Press release from Friends of Lexington Avenue:
Asheville, NC – 18 July 2022 – The City of Asheville and Duke Energy are in discussions for a new substation project targeted for Lexington Avenue, and in opposition, the Friends of Lexington Avenue (FOLA) have launched a petition to stop the land swap for a new substation fronting the street.
Lexington Avenue is known as one of Asheville’s most historic and vibrant retail and residential communities that has also been designated a “Great Places in America: Streets by the American Planning Association. As part of the Duke substation plans under discussion, Lexington Avenue would lose one of downtown’s few remaining urban tree canopies and 53 affordable public parking spaces. In addition, small business owners in this retail and restaurant corridor would face economic challenges at a time when they are still reeling from the pandemic and unstable economic conditions.
FOLA has identified that a new substation does not support amendments to Asheville’s Unified Development Ordinance unanimously approved by Asheville City Council on September 8, 2021 requiring tree preservation in commercial and residential areas. In addition, a substation at a new location does not prioritize Asheville’s comprehensive plan’s commitment to “top-quality urban design throughout the high-visibility areas of Central Asheville,” based on commitments in Asheville’s Downtown Master Plan: Living Asheville.
“The unique greenscape, character and charm of Lexington Avenue are at risk, in addition to the challenges retail and restaurants will face with the loss of affordable parking and presence of a looming substation,” said Clair Watson, spokesperson for FOLA and co-owner of screenprinting enterprise Moonlight Makers. “For the people who live, work and visit downtown Asheville and Lexington Avenue, FOLA is leading the fight for and with them to preserve the wellbeing of everyone and the future prosperity of Lexington Avenue. We encourage people to sign the petition at www.FriendsofLexingtonAvenue.com and join us as we build awareness and support to stop the swap of greenspace for a new substation.”
FOLA is encouraging people to attend the online meeting of the City of Asheville’s Design Review Committee for an informal review of Duke Energy’s Vanderbilt Substation proposal on Thursday, July 21st at 12:15 pm. The public can access this online meeting at https://publicinput.com/AVLDRC.
We’re all really worried! If they build this substation, it will tower above North Lexington and Broadway, with a huge 40 foot high wall. This is going to completely change the character of North Lexington- why is the City so keen on getting this land swap done so quickly? What is the hurry? And if this is built, what does it look like at night? The urban forest between Rankin Av and Lexington Ave is unique- this project proposes to tear it all out, creating a huge heat island. People need to plead with the City Council to look for alternatives.
Rankin Avenue is completely separated from North Lexington Avenue and up a steep hill. There are no shops or commercial properties on Rankin Avenue. Anyone looking at the pictures would be hard pressed to see how the North Lexington Avenue shopkeeper will be impacted. How does these shopkeepers expect Duke Power/The City of Asheville to keep up with increasing energy demand?