Coleman makes move on Hayes & Hopson Building

Asheville developer Stewart Coleman‘s proposal to demolish the Hayes & Hopson Building is making its way through the city’s approval process, and Coleman says the 1905 structure could be torn down before the lawsuit that’s tying up his development proposal for the site is resolved.

Numbered days?: Developer Stewart Coleman may move forward with the demolition of the Hayes & Hopson building despite the fact that his Parkside proposal is still tied up in a lawsuit. Some city departments have already signed off on the demolition. Photo by Jonathan Welch

“We are trying to get our ducks in a row so that when the lawsuit is overturned—and it will be—we can get to work,” he told Xpress. “Demolition of that building is something that could happen before the hearing of that lawsuit.”

The red-brick building stands on one of the parcels where Coleman intends to construct the nine-story Parkside condominium tower. A small adjoining parcel—formerly part of Pack Square Park—is home to a magnolia tree that was the focus of several demonstrations and a round-the-clock watch by activists this summer.

The city’s Downtown Commission will review the demolition application on Dec. 12, but it is merely a formality and the commission’s approval is not required. Meanwhile, the city’s Planning and Development Department has already signed off on the demolition, stating in its report that “there does not appear to be a valid rationale in the UDO to disapprove this request.”

A previous demolition plan was included as part of the original Parkside project, which the city’s Technical Review Committee approved earlier this year. But that application is currently tied up due to an Aug. 28 Superior Court ruling (now being appealed) that Buncombe County’s sale of the parkland to Coleman was illegal and to unresolved issues concerning an access road for the condos.

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

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.

One thought on “Coleman makes move on Hayes & Hopson Building

  1. Jon Elliston

    Xpress reader Steve Rasmussen, one of the lead activists in the campaign to stop Parkside and save the magnolia tree on that property, sent us this historic postcard of the Hayes & Hopson building. He provides this descripition: “A 1951 color postcard of the Hayes-Hopson when it was an auto-parts dealer selling “Everything Automotive” (the largest and most successful independent auto-parts retailer in the region); note the 1940s-era autos parked in front. City Councilman Jan Davis told me he remembers frequently going to the H-H as a teenager to buy parts when he worked his first tire-store job. (Source: Durwood Barbour Collection of North Carolina Postcards (P077); collection guide available online at http://www.lib.unc.edu/ncc/pcoll/77barbour/77barbour.html

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.