As director of the Asheville Civic Center Director for the past decade, David Pisha has on occasion found himself in the beam of the spotlight—and sometimes, but not always, the kind that brings accolades. Pisha, who is stepping down from his role at the end of July, has served as not only the manager but […]
Author: Brian Postelle
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The direction of elections: Brownie Newman’s modest proposal
Asheville City Council member Brownie Newman says that, whichever way the referendum petition count falls, the public outcry over partisan elections has persuaded him that “there is enough public concern and interest that we should talk about it more.”
Asheville City Council
The furor sparked by the Asheville City Council’s June 12 vote to switch back to partisan municipal elections hasn’t died. Amid growing signs of community frustration, the issue claimed center stage at Council’s July 10 session. A cast die: Legal caution by City Attorney Bob Oast (right) figured into Council member Robin Cape’s (left) attempt […]
The petitions are in: Let Asheville Vote says it cleared 5,000-signature mark
For 30 days, the organization Let Asheville Vote has pounded the pavement and recruited businesses in an attempt to force a public referendum on the issue of partisan elections. Now the group is approaching their proverbial moment of truth. Down to the wire: A scene at the West Asheville headquarters of Let Asheville Vote on […]
Batting 5,000+: Let Asheville Vote says it cleared the hurdle
At 3 p.m. today, Let Asheville Vote organizer Charlie Hume submitted 5,650 signatures to the city of Asheville Clerk’s office. If the Buncombe County Board of Elections confirms that 5,000 or more are from registered city voters, then the group’s petition to force a referendum on the issue of partisan ballots in municipal elections will be successful.
Putting on airs: Airspace bidding war update
The going price for the airspace off of the First Union building on Patton Avenue now stands at $4,775. That’s the bid placed July 2 by People Advocating Real Conservancy, the group trying to put an end to the city’s policy of selling air rights to the highest bidder. A bidding war for this particular […]
Ballots and flags: Asheville City Council preview
Ballots and flags have both made the news lately, and at the first meeting since Independence Day, both items will make appearances before Asheville City Council on Tuesday, July 10.
Asheville City Council
Despite a less-than-encouraging response by the state Department of Transportation, Asheville is continuing to explore a locally developed plan for the I-26 connector. The big idea: This map, prepared by city staff, illustrates just how large an incorporated Leicester would be. Representatives from the DOT, the Federal Highway Administration and several engineering consulting firms weighed […]
Breaking ground on “The Village on Haywood”
More than a year after they first revealed plans for a mixed-use development on Haywood Road in West Asheville, developers continue to reach out to the project’s neighbors. What’s to come: As the final approvals fall into place, demolition is beginning for the residential and business development on Haywood Road. Above, a rendition of part […]
In the rink and on the brink
The Blue Ridge Rollergirls’ first public bout was a smash at Carrier Park’s outdoor hockey rink.
It’s still standing: DOT resists alternative plan for I-26
The state DOT was steadfast in its recommendation that Asheville City Council abandon the Asheville Design Center’s proposal for the I-26 connector — but Council’s not ready to give up on the plan.
Asheville City Council
As the Asheville City Council continues incrementally reworking the Unified Development Ordinance, some proposed changes drive the discussion toward Council’s broader vision for the city. But with three Council seats up for grabs in November, the very ground on which City Council is building these amendments could shift. Five UDO amendments were on the agenda […]
The Wheel Deal
“A mother shouldn’t watch this,” groans a woman leaning on a low concrete wall that lines the Skater’s Choice roller rink in Hendersonville. The mom in question has just seen her daughter—a rollergirl named KaPOWie! who’s preparing for her team’s first official bout—get knocked to the floor as she rounded the pack at a Blue […]
The once and future sting
The Asheville Orthopedic Hospital was already nearly 10 years old when Dorothy Holland came to town in 1947. The stone mansion near Biltmore Estate had been converted into a hospital for children with developmental disabilities, and after a short stint in Mission Hospital’s neurology ward, the 26-year-old nurse became one of three RNs at Asheville […]
City Council preview: June 26 meeting
Heard good things about the Asheville Design Center’s I-26 Connector plan? Well, allow the state Department of Transportation to retort.
Partying down
Want to get your name on the petition that’s circulating to force a referendum on Asheville’s partisan-elections issue? The newly formed group Let Asheville Vote will rally, with petitions on hand, on Monday, June 25.
Saluting the Asheville Speedway
The bike race called the “Rumble on the River” at Asheville’s Carrier Park is picking up steam, but the track the cyclists circle has seen some real rumbles in its day. Auto racing in Asheville may seem like ancient history to some, but it was only eight years ago that the racetrack where the park […]
A soup-er good time
In the story of a concoction known as stone soup, an entire community is coaxed into providing a bit of food each to create a hearty meal for all. In that spirit comes the Stone Soup Summer Solstice Gathering, a catchall of area arts, crafts, dance and what-have-you in West Asheville. Free summer festival, anyone?: […]
Asheville City Council preview: June 19 meeting
At this afternoon’s meeting, Asheville City Council will vote on the city’s annual budget and two more updates of the Unified Development Ordinanace.
Beverly-Hanks responds to vandalism of office
The president of a real-estate company whose office was vandalized Thursday morning has responded to an e-mail claiming the acts were in defense of the environment.
Real-estate offices in downtown Asheville vandalized; anonymous group takes credit
An anonymous group claiming concern for the environment is taking credit for vandalism of two downtown real-estate and development companies on Thursday morning. Mountain Xpress received an e-mail from the self-proclaimed “Concerned Citizens of WNC” that calls for taking “militant direct action against the developers.”