Xpress speaks with Dustin Baker to discuss the challenges of handcycling and how the sport benefits veterans in our area and across the nation.
City, county districts stress school security
Uvalde, the deadliest school shooting in a decade, underscored persistent questions about school safety, stricter gun laws and ways to “harden” schools to help keep students and staff safe. In Asheville and Buncombe County, those topics are on the minds of families, law enforcement and school personnel.
Green in brief: Nonprofits plan conversion of Saluda Grade into trail
The path, running along an inactive railway, would stretch about 31 miles northwest from Inman, S.C., through Tryon and Saluda before terminating in Zirconia, about 7 miles southeast of Hendersonville. Hendersonville-based Conserving Carolina; Greenville, S.C.-based Upstate Forever; and Spartanburg, S.C.-based PAL are leading the effort.
How do traffic impact studies shape development decisions?
Traffic studies, which are required by the state and the county for certain projects, are prepared by engineering firms to forecast additional traffic associated with a development and identify possible problems. But some neighborhood groups question the benefits of research paid for by the very people who stand to benefit from a proposed project.
How much solar energy does local government produce?
Both Buncombe County and the city of Asheville have resolved that, by the end of 2030, government operations will be powered entirely by renewable energy. With less than eight years until that deadline, what progress has been made toward the energy goals?
Q&A: Barbara Smith earns Girl Scouts lifetime achievement award
Barbara Smith speaks with Xpress about her work as a Girl Scout over the last eight decades, her recent lifetime achievement award and her favorite Girl Scout cookie.
A closer look at Buncombe’s commercial property assessments
Issues of racial and economic equity dominated the debate over residential valuations, with critics arguing that Buncombe’s practices are unfair to low-income residents and communities of color. While those issues aren’t immediately apparent with commercial property, suggests ad hoc committee member Ori Baber, other deficiencies with county assessments likely do carry over from the residential side.
Buncombe leaders talk rising poverty, county economy
According to data presented by Tim Love, Buncombe’s director of economic development and governmental relations, the county’s poverty rate went up from about 11.5% in 2018 — its lowest point in a decade — to about 13.9% in 2020, the latest year for which information was available. Poverty in both North Carolina and the overall U.S. fell over the same period.
WTF: Opportunity zones
Opportunity zones offer tax breaks to investors who put money to work in areas designated as economically depressed — including parts of every Western North Carolina county. The latest edition of Xpress’ WTF feature takes a deeper look into the significance and consequences of the program.
Local punk bands unite for upcoming showcase
The Orange Peel will host Local Punk Showcase on its main stage Thursday, Aug. 4, highlighting four Asheville punk bands — Busy Weather, Cloud City Caskets, The Deathbots and Pink Eye.
Development roundup: Enka Commerce Park requests change of plans
Enka Partners of Asheville requests an amendment to the conditional zoning on 45.5 acres on Enka Heritage Parkway to allow for new site plans. Because a tenant expected to lease the space — widely suspected to be online retailer Amazon, according to the Asheville Citizen-Times — backed out, the plans have been redesigned to call for over 585,000 square feet of spec space.
Asheville Archives: City feigns optimism amid 11 bank closures, 1930
On Nov. 21, 1930, The Asheville Citizen offered its readers reassurance, following the unexpected closure of the Central Bank and Trust Co. — the city’s largest financial institution — the previous day.
Commission to vote on extending health department COVID support
After a nearly four-hour session on July 19, the Buncombe Board of Commissioners will navigate through a shorter agenda for the Aug. 2 meeting. A series of budget amendments comprise the new business schedule. The board will vote on whether to distribute $1.2 million of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services funds to extend […]
Nonprofits strive to meet affordable housing demand
Three projects proposed by outside nonprofit developers, either recently approved by Asheville City Council or currently being considered, offer 100% affordable housing targeted for older residents. Together, the three will add over 200 affordable units to the city’s stock.
Documentary short immortalizes 1972 HHS basketball team
Director Keith Dunnavant discusses making his latest documentary sports film.
Local bands discuss touring amid inflation
Rising costs have brought an already wrought situation to the brink, but Asheville-area artists continue to make it work.
GA short session yields both change and inertia for WNC
From occupancy tax allocations and hemp production to private bar membership, state legislators voted on several measures that are consequential to WNC in their recently concluded short session.
Asheville open space updates approved
The updates, which have been controversial, are meant to encourage the construction of affordable housing by reducing and simplifying building regulations and incentivizing stormwater management.
What happens when Asheville clears a homeless camp
The city of Asheville has contracted a company specializing in crime scene, hoarding and suicide cleanup to clear former homeless encampments.
Asheville Archives: Local residents adjust to wartime daylight savings, 1941-45
“Clocks all over Asheville, Western North Carolina, and the state will be turned up an hour at midnight tonight, or tomorrow morning, as this state goes on daylight saving time for the remainder of the summer, as a national defense measure,” The Asheville Citizen reported in its July 27, 1941, edition.
South Asheville development seeks city tax rebates
The development to be considered for the grant, located at 221 Long Shoals Road in South Asheville, will contain 186 apartments across three four- to five-story buildings.