The kilt wanderer

Tom Troop is probably most recognizable by his wardrobe. Even in a town known for offbeat fashion statements, his full-dress kilt and cane make him stand out. Having moved here within the past few years, Troop is testament to the theory that today’s tourists are often tomorrow’s residents. He spends his days volunteering for several […]

Asheville City Council

Quiet zones for trains not ready for prime time Glen Rock afforable-housing complex gets more loans Mentoring program seeks budget love It was branded both a last resort and a first step, but the Asheville City Council’s condemnation of Buncombe County’s sale of public parkland adjacent to City Hall nonetheless got the votes of all […]

Asheville City Council

It was branded both a last resort and a first step, but the Asheville City Council’s condemnation of Buncombe County’s sale of public parkland adjacent to City Hall nonetheless got the votes of all seven Council members at their June 10 formal session. Many in the audience—some of whom had spent the past year working to oppose the controversial Parkside development—broke into applause

What now?

Two weeks before his Parkside project was due to come before City Council in what promised to be a contentious public hearing, developer Stewart Coleman lopped two stories off the design. Beneath the bar: Originally planned as an 11-story condominium building (above), the developer now proposes a nine-story design (below) — a move that reduces […]

Asheville City Council

Council members air budget gripes Asheville to Raleigh: No annexation moratorium Federal brownfields grants earmarked for River District? It collected only four votes, but that’s all that was needed for Swannanoa’s incorporation bid to advance to the next stage. Supporters and opponents had made their respective cases before the Asheville City Council on several occasions, […]

Asheville City Council

City cuts event co-sponsorship costs Mumpower again raises immigration issue A proposed statewide moratorium on forced annexation could postpone a decision on four Asheville annexations that are currently tied up in court, City Attorney Bob Oast reported during City Council’s May 20 work session. The band plays on: The Asheville Holiday Parade was spared cuts […]

Publi-city

Goody Clancy, the Boston-based architectural and planning firm hired to create a downtown master plan for Asheville, has collected its fair share of awards in recent years. But David Dixon, who’s in charge of planning and urban design at the company, says none of those successes would have been possible without extensive public input. Sharing […]