Joining demonstrators worldwide, hundreds of local teenagers, children and adults walked out of class and work to participate in the Global Climate Strike on Sept. 20. Gathered in front of Asheville City Hall, the activists held a climate protest and “die-in” inspired by the work of 16-year-old Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg. “When I was […]
The hotel project hearing is now tentatively scheduled for the same meeting in which Council members will vote on whether to implement a temporary ban on new hotel construction.
After less than two months in his position, Chief Chris Bailey has announced his resignation from the Asheville Police Department.
During the Tuesday, Sept. 10, meeting of Asheville City Council, members will consider conditional zoning that would permit the construction of a mixed-use hotel planned for the north end of downtown, as well as schedule public hearings regarding the implementation of a temporary hotel ban and amending the city’s charter.
People with hearing difficulties or sensitivities often struggle in Asheville’s busy restaurants and other social settings.
Council to discuss temporary hotel ban The city’s Planning and Economic Development Committee voted on Aug. 29 to put the question of imposing a temporary moratorium on new hotel construction to the full Council at an upcoming meeting. First proposed by Council member Julie Mayfield, a moratorium could give the city time to develop new […]
Asheville’s Planning and Zoning Commission recommended to deny conditional zoning for Jettie Rae’s, a seafood restaurant proposed along the French Broad River. Asheville City Council will make the final decision on whether the project will receive approval.
Asheville City Council deferred a vote on an amendment that would have revised the definition of a kitchen for short-term rentals out of concern that the change would have led to negative impacts on Asheville’s long-term housing availability.
Asheville’s current short-term rental rules do not allow homestays to offer rooms that contain either a stove, a full-sized refrigerator or a kitchen sink. A new definition of “kitchen,” proposed by local host organization the Homestay Network, would still forbid stoves in homestay dwellings but allow sinks and refrigerators.
Press release from Another Carolina Anarchist Bookfair: From August 23-25, the third annual Another Carolina Anarchist Bookfair will once again be a convergence point for learning and sharing ideas in anti-authoritarian, anti-capitalist, anti-racist, decolonial organizing. Building on the success of the last two years, we hope to welcome hundreds of people, from the region and beyond, […]
“There’s not a simple solution,” says Sage Turner, who chairs both the Downtown Commission and its Parking and Transportation Committee. “The reality is, at peak hours when everyone wants to be downtown, there is just not enough parking.”
“I wouldn’t even call this a hotel project. I mean, yes, it is leaning more towards hotel than residential, but we are getting affordable housing downtown,” said commission member Joe Archibald. The project as approved includes 137 hotel rooms and 37 residential units, 11 of which are reserved for low-income households or local artists.
City Attorney Brad Branham sat down with Xpress to discuss the legal challenges surrounding affordable housing, expanding transit and more.
The Tourism Development Authority discusses the proposed hotel moratorium during a July 31 board meeting.
Press release from the Great Smoky Mountains Association: George Ellison, who authored the new Horace Kephart title Back of Beyond: A Horace Kephart Biography in partnership with librarian and researcher Janet McCue, will be at Malaprop’s Bookstore in Asheville, N.C., Sunday, August 11, starting at 3 p.m. for a book signing event. An icon of the […]
Asheville City Council member Vijay Kapoor announced the naming of the playground, which will be built as a part of the Asheville Housing Authority’s renovation of Lee Walker Heights. Lee was shot and killed at Lee Walker Heights on July 1, 2018, and his murder remains unsolved.
On Friday, Sept. 6, said Council member Julie Mayfield, the city will hold an affordable housing work session to explore options such as tiny homes and housing voucher acceptance for long-term rentals. Mayfield also announced that Council plans to discuss whether the city should temporarily ban new hotels in the city during its Planning and Economic Development Committee meeting on Thursday, Aug. 29.
Beyond the city’s loan of more than $48,000 for each of the 11 affordable units in West Asheville, which will be deferred for 30 years and accrue no interest, Homeward Bound is also seeking roughly $280,000 in commercial loans and has received $89,153 in federal HOME funding administered by the Asheville Regional Housing Consortium.
Despite relatively restrictive ordinances prohibiting the rental of entire houses for stays of less than 30 days — and a $500-per-day fine for violators — hundreds of illegal rentals still operate throughout the city of Asheville.
Questions linger about the buses’ capability to keep up with their diesel and hybrid counterparts on Asheville’s demanding roads. Issues with the length and battery life of the vehicles have led city officials to delay the planned purchase of three more electric units.
After much anticipation, Asheville City Attorney Brad Branham presents the city’s legal options — and limitations — of addressing state-imposed district elections to Council during a July 2 work session.
