What the future holds

To hear a slew of national magazines tell it, the whole world is coming Asheville’s way. People want to visit here, to play here, to stay here.

Where is all this going?

Well, it depends on who you ask. In this special package of future-casting stories, the Mountain Xpress news staff took the question to our area’s top experts in fields ranging from economics to the environment, from the arts to tourism. We asked them to go out on a limb and venture their best guesses on what the future has in store for Asheville.

Which future? The one exactly 20 years hence.

So, welcome to the year 2027, and here’s hoping you like what you see there. If you don’t, you might take the advice of one of the experts we consulted, who advised that if we found the future she envisions too bleak, there’s still time to change it.

2027: Let the good times roll by Hal L. Millard
2027: Vibrant city or “bumpy Charlotte?” by David Forbes
2027: Gray days ahead by Kent Priestley
2027: Apocalypse not yet by Rebecca Bowe
2027: An Asheville without artists? by Steve Shanafelt
2027: Through a glass darkly by Jon Elliston
2027: True colors by Brian Postelle

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About Jon Elliston
Former Mountain Xpress managing editor Jon Elliston is the senior editor at WNC magazine.

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One thought on “What the future holds

  1. Mark A. Palmer

    Release – HB 933 Jessica Lunsford Act aka. Jessica’s Law

    Jessica’s Law Now North Carolina is staying positive that Senator Martin L. Nesbitt, Jr. of the [S] Judiciary I will help HB 933 Jessica Lunsford Act moving forward. Now that the North Carolina House passed this much needed bill yesterday the bill has been forwarded to [S] Ref to Judiciary I (Civil). If fav, re-ref to Appropriations/Base Budget.

    Senator Martin L. Nesbitt, Jr.

    Phone: (919) 715-3001
    Email: martinn@ncleg.net

    Legislative Mailing Address: NC Senate
    300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 300-B
    Raleigh, NC 27603-5925

    Jessica’s Law Now North Carolina has made our stance known to all North Carolina Senators today and has received positive feedback from many.

    Again, here is a prime example why North Carolina needs Jessica’s Law.

    http://www.mandjshow.com/videos/proud-pedophile/

    Thank You,
    Jessica’s Law Now North Carolina
    http://www.jessicaslawnownc.org

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