After an unexpected delay on April 23, Council members will have the final say on the rezoning of the historic structure at their regular meeting on Tuesday, May 14.
Author: Brooke Randle
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Annual report reveals rise in local homeless population
The results of the Point-in-Time survey reflects a rising homeless population in Buncombe County.
Asheville says goodbye to interactive art project
The painting over of Biltmore Avenue’s ‘Before I Die’ wall reminds residents that nothing lasts forever.
Ambrose Landscapes saves water with Latin American stonework
“Rain barrels don’t catch much, but you can do an open-ground dry stream with stone and a creek bed,” explains Steve Ambrose about the craft introduced to him by friend and business partner Rafael Moreno-Baron. “It will last forever, and you can build it with stuff you found onsite.”
Travis Smith equips city with Asheville Tool Library
Smith, who volunteers and serves on the library’s board, says the nonprofit has reached more than 300 paid members and is still growing. As a result, items such power washers and circular saws spend more time building and cleaning than they do collecting dust.
WNC Green Party hosts TDA members for hotel tax forum
Community members took the opportunity to discuss the issues surrounding the tourism industry in Asheville and hear a presentation from the WNC Green Party about restructuring of hotel occupancy taxes during an April 24 “Re-Imagine the TDA” public meeting.
Philip Curry tries on hemp shoes with Astral
Curry says his new line of shoes — made using natural hemp fiber — is both practical and environmentally conscious. “It was chosen because it deals well with water. It doesn’t rot; it doesn’t degrade with UV [ultraviolet radiation] compared to cotton or jute or other things. It’s really a strong, amazing material,” Curry says.
Council approves grant application for hybrid buses
The total cost of those buses, according to a city staff report, would be approximately $1.5 million, of which Asheville would contribute $225,000 in matching funds. Some members of the public commented that the switch from battery-electric to hybrid buses represented a step backward in the city’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
Flatiron hotel project seeks final zoning approval from Council
Asheville City Council will decide the fate of the historic Flatiron Building during the April 23 meeting.
Chris Smith takes a stand for okra diversity
Last summer, Smith took his love for okra to new heights through his work with the Utopian Seed Project, a organization that aims to create diverse and integrated food systems. He catalogued more than 75 varieties of the vegetable, which he hopes will promote resilience against pests, disease and climate change while providing greater food security.
Conscious couples say ‘I do’ to eco-friendly weddings
With wedding season right around the corner, local wedding vendors are ramping up options for local couples.
Concerns over appropriation of wellness rituals spark conversation among local practitioners
Rituals that draw on the traditions of indigenous, non-Western cultures are part of a growing industry at the intersection of health, wellness and spirituality. Some in Western North Carolina have raised concerns about whether it’s appropriate for non-native practitioners to offer and profit from traditional practices and techniques.
Council hears update on Memorial Stadium parking
Parks and Recreation Director Roderick Simmons fielded criticism over the parking changes from multiple community members and athletic groups. The city’s efforts to reduce the burden of event parking in the East End, Edgehill, Hunt Hill and Oakhurst neighborhoods, they said, had hampered their access to the athletic facility.
Wordfest spotlights Appalachian identity and healing
The annual Asheville Wordfest, which takes place April 12-14, promises to bring three days of Appalachia-focused workshops and readings by area writers, readers and thinkers.
Zoë Mihalas gets young people outside
Mihalas received the Distinguished Service Award for Youth Education from Trout Unlimited last year for her work in creating a new generation of conservation-minded youth. She challenges young people to share photos of fishing or having outdoors fun with friends on Instagram to bridge the gap between nature and social media.
Anthony Thomas makes connections
Thomas’s UpStaff Personnel, an offshoot of the nonprofit Green Opportunities, connects unemployed and under-resourced community members with employers. Unlike other staffing agencies, he explains, the company also provides employees with a network of support, including transportation, child care and counseling.
Moving on: Brother Wolf recruits new director
As Brother Wolf founder Denise Bitz steps away from the organization that she formed 12 years ago, Leah Craig Fieser joins the organization as executive director. While Fieser maintains that the shift in leadership will steer Brother Wolf back to its original mission of rescuing local cats and dogs, questions remain regarding the development of the sanctuary property, financial transparency and the overall stability of the organization.
New guide highlights how family-friendly policies benefit employers
Kit Cramer, president and CEO of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, is sold on the business benefits of family-friendly workplace policies, and other area businesses are getting on board. Xpress explores how some local employers are supporting the family needs of their workers.
Tourism Development Authority approves long-term planning and research strategy
The four-phase, roughly $440,000 project is set to begin this spring and conclude in April 2020. Those funds will come from occupancy tax revenue in the Tourism Product Development Fund budget. Funding for community projects will then resume at a time yet to be determined after the planning is complete.
Campbell settles in, charts new course for city
Since beginning her new job as Asheville’s city manager in December, Debra Campbell — the first woman and person of color to permanently occupy the position — has inspired appreciation, as well as sky-high expectations. In our Q&A, learn about Campbell’s priorities and principles.
Where do locally owned franchises fit in Asheville’s economy?
Brandy Mills and her husband, Robert, say that one of their fondest memories of growing up in Asheville is of meeting friends and family at the Tastee-Freez on Patton Avenue to enjoy their favorite ice cream on hot summer days. “Both of our families could only afford to take us there once or twice a […]