Press release from the city of Asheville:
Following a series of community input and engagement activities this spring, the City of Asheville Department of Planning and Urban Design is pleased to release the Haywood Street and Page Avenue Master Concept Plan. The plan will be considered for acceptance by City Council on Oct. 27 as a framework for future decision-making and implementation.
The creation of a master concept plan for the City-owned properties on Haywood Street and Page Avenue downtown marks the next step in advancing a long-term vision for these properties as identified in the Haywood Page Vision Report completed in 2017. Based on community input, the resulting master plan provides a balance of public spaces surrounding a future development site. The public realm consists of ADA-accessible pathways providing access to a series of everyday gathering spaces, and a large central plaza sized to accommodate special events and seasonal gatherings. The proposed planting and paving materials are inspired by the dynamic regional ecologies and geology of the region.
The year-long planning process was guided by a multidisciplinary team led by Nelson Byrd Woltz, Landscape Architects. “Our designers and team of consultants appreciate the productive engagement process and all the civic partners that have supported this work to date,” said Thomas Woltz, owner of Nelson Byrd Woltz. “We heard that you wanted to experience Haywood and Page as a civic-minded space that belongs to the people of Asheville — in the heart of the city, anchoring you in this magnificent spot in the Blue Ridge Mountains, amidst the history of this unique site and the thriving city of today.”
The public can view the materials online at www.ashevillenc.gov/haywoodpagedesignplan, including a narrated slideshow.
The community can learn more about the conceptual plan at several upcoming board and commission meetings this month, including:
- Oct. 7 at 5 p.m., Planning & Zoning Commission
- Oct. 9 at 9 a.m., Downtown Commission
- Oct. 12 at 4 p.m., Planning & Economic Development Committee
Public comment can be provided via email and phone for each of the meetings. Details about how to view and participate in these virtual meetings is available on the project page.
Project background
City-owned properties on Haywood Street and Page Avenue have a long and well-documented history of potential development opportunities. Their location within the city’s Central Business District make them desirable as urban infill sites. The development of the 2017 Vision Report was led by a Council-appointed advisory team through a process facilitated by the Asheville Design Center, which involved extensive public engagement. The advisory team (now the Vision Implementation Committee) has continued to guide staff and consultants on the creation of this master concept plan, as a translation of the community vision.
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