Asheville/Buncombe Housing Summit date announced

The Asheville/Buncombe Housing Summit will be held on Monday, November 16th from 2 to 5 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular Center Banquet Hall. Laura Clark, executive director of Renaissance West Community Initiative (www.rwci.org), a Charlotte-based nonprofit focused on the redevelopment of the former Boulevard Homes public housing site into a mixed-use community. The summit will focus […]

Lindsey Simerly

Lindsey Simerly Website: lindseyforcouncil.org Employment: Manager, WE DO campaign, Campaign for Southern Equality Party affiliation: Democrat Previous candidacy: Ran for Asheville City Council in 2007 NEW! Notable endorsements: Sierra Club, AFL-CIO WNC Central Labor Council, N.C. Police Benevolent Association, Equality NC, Commissioner Brownie Newman, Commissioner Holly Jones, Commissioner Ellen Frost, Sheriff Van Duncan, District Attorney […]

Rich Lee

Rich Lee Website: richleeforasheville.com Employment: Financial adviser at Edward Jones Party affiliation: Democrat NEW! Notable endorsements: State representative Susan Fisher, former mayor Ken Michalove, architect Michael McDonough, business owners Tim Schaller (Wedge Brewery), Lynn Foster (Buffalo Nickel), Tonico Vanalli, Chiquie Estrada (Casa Bambini), Franzi Charen (Hip Replacements), Jenna Yarosh, Cathy Cleary, Mike Moore, Rebecca Hecht, Rosetta […]

Mission Hospital tower approved; representa­tives appointed to TDA

At Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, Mission Hospital presented plans for one of the largest building projects ever contemplated for Asheville — a 12-story, 681,000 square foot tower at 509 Biltmore Avenue. Intended to replace the aging St. Joseph’s facility on the opposite side of the street, the new facility will include an all-new Emergency Department, […]

Manheimer: bring all voices to the table

At the annual State of the City luncheon, Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer referenced the voices of Asheville citizens “from all walks of life” as frequently as she cited experts and economic studies. Manheimer said, “The job of your City Council is to hear the voice of the people — their words, their views, their vision —and use those to create […]

Bothwell: Poll says 86 percent of Asheville voters support park

In a press conference across the street from the so-called “Pit of Despair,” Asheville City Councilman and Buncombe County Board of Commissioners candidate Cecil Bothwell said this morning that a poll conducted by his campaign shows that 86 percent of likely Asheville voters favor a park on the city-owned parcel opposite the Basilica of St. Lawrence and the U.S. Cellular Center.

Ken Michalove

Ken Michalove Employment: Retired Party affiliation: Registered unaffiliated, votes in democratic primaries Previous candidacy: Former Asheville mayor and city manager What are three achievable goals that you would champion in the next two years? I would cut the tax rate by 3 1/2 cents. I would review two key planning documents (the Five Year Capital […]

Joe Grady

Joe Grady Website: joegrady.com Employment: Sales specialist & Community Commander at Best Buy, Former Keller Williams real estate broker; former City Council member in North Canton, Ohio. Party affiliation: Registered unaffiliated, has voted in a democratic primary Previous candidacy: Not in Asheville; was top vote-getter for 3 years in Ohio What are three achievable goals […]

The meows have it: Council approves cat café

Seven meows in favor (and no “arfs” against) carried the motion to approve a new zoning use in Asheville’s Central Business District — the cat café. The proposed cat adoption center and café will expand Brother Wolf Animal Rescue’s efforts into the heart of downtown. In view of the many dog-centric businesses in the city, cat owner and Councilman Cecil Bothwell said this cat-oriented attraction is “long overdue.”

City Council grapples with Homestays, raises fines on short-term rental violations

From real estate investors to neighborhood advocates to homeowners trying to make ends meet, just about everyone in Asheville has a dog in the ongoing fight over short-term vacation rentals. At the Tuesday, Aug. 25 Asheville City Council meeting, citizens representing a variety of viewpoints crowded City Hall.

Buskers to City: Don’t put art in a box

The streets and squares of Asheville were quieter than usual on the afternoon of Monday, Aug. 24. Despite brilliant sunshine and pleasant temperatures, some of the city’s best-known street performers crowded into a meeting room to give City Council members an earful about proposed busking regulations in three high-traffic areas downtown.