Asheville Neighborho­od Congress 3.0

From Montford to Sunset Drive to Oakley, Asheville’s neighborhoods each have their own distinctive feel. But, says Mariana Bailey, co-president of the Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods, they also have similar desires. The search for those fundamentals—and the methods to achieve them—are at the core of the annual CAN Neighborhood Congress. Since the first one three […]

Asheville City Council

Don’t panic—gas is on the way, officials say City supports CTS petition No agreement on graffiti cleanup strategy The proposed Haywood Park development was the main event in an already loaded agenda for the Asheville City Council’s Sept. 23 formal session, but questions and rumors about the area’s uncertain gas situation prompted Mayor Terry Bellamy […]

Meet the neighbors

Attendance was strong at the N.C. Department of Transportation’s daylong Interstate 26 open house on Sept. 16, and nobody could fault the agency for lack of information. The maps wallpapering the Renaissance Hotel’s ballroom were extensive, and the computer-generated flyover videos were nifty and informative. (To view the video, go to www.mountainx.com/xpressfiles.) The whole thing […]

Blowing town

It was the first week of September—the worst time for hurricanes—and like a human barometer, Aaron Funk was feeling the pressure. His disaster-relief organization, American Rainbow Rapid Response, was all packed and ready to go feed storm victims. The trouble was, he wasn’t sure yet where those services were needed. Hurricane Gustav had washed ashore […]

Weigh in on I-26

A decade in the planning, the I-26 Connector through Asheville may finally be ready for its close-up. Over the years, the six-or-eight-lane argument and the prospect of a new I-240 bridge (including an option for that structure designed by local volunteer architects) have both provided Asheville with plenty of discussion and political drama. And now […]