Press release from City of Asheville
On May 28, Asheville City Council authorized 180 thousand dollars to fund a contract for community facilitation, engagement, and project support services for the “Boosting the Block” Project, one of three projects funded by the Mellon Foundation to implement components of the Pack Square Plaza Vision Plan.
The Block is Asheville’s historic Black business district and multicultural hub that also serves as a geographic and cultural connection between downtown and the East End Valley Street Neighborhood .
The Boosting the Block project will include:
- The construction of a physical gateway and cultural corridor between Pack Square and The Block
- Increased capacity of neighborhood anchors to shape and influence the future of The Block
- Enhanced public spaces and programming that authentically narrate the past, present, and future of The Block
- Consensus and implementation of neighborhood identity and marketing for The Block
Happening Now:
The Community Facilitator will lead engagement and support all aspects of project management including schedule, planning, design, and implementation throughout the project. The selected team is a collaborative partnership between Illumined Leadership Solutions and Bennett Weston Consulting, both Black-owned, Durham-based firms. They were selected based on qualifications and their approach to the project through a competitive RFP process and selection committee composed of City staff, County staff, and community representatives.
Additional contracting opportunities that are supported through this project include a local community coordinator, creative strategist/consulting artist, marketing/promotion/advertising and production of a community celebration. These are in addition to the anticipated design/engineering contract and construction contracts.
Background:
Boosting the Block is one of three projects funded by the Mellon Foundation’s Monuments Project Initiative that will advance elements of the Pack Square Plaza Vision Plan. The Vision Plan was adopted by City Council on September 26, 2023, following a planning and community engagement process led by the McAdams Company and City and County staff.
In addition to the Boosting the Block project, grant funding will be used for:
- design and engineering for reshaping Pack Square
- supporting a partnership with the Buncombe County Library to expand programming and education around more inclusive storytelling and history efforts in our community.
Learn more about the project on the City’s website.
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.