Mayor Bellamy reports progress with Staples

Posted on by Hal L. Millard

Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy met Sept. 7 with representatives from Staples at the company’s headquarters in Framingham, Mass., to discuss landscaping and signage at Staples’ Merrimon Avenue location, with a goal of finding a mutually acceptable resolution to the community’s concerns about those issues.

Bellamy met with Paul Capelli, Staples’ vice president of public relations; Ted Frumkin, regional vice president of real estate; Andrew Thorpe, vice president of retail design and facilities management; and Amy Shanler, director of public relations.

The Staples team agreed to add landscaping, including a “green screen” to soften the store’s appearance from the street, and to share the report from the landscape contractor concerning the trees and shrubs planted previously. Those plants allegedly had been poisoned and killed through an act of vandalism, the company said.

Staples also agreed to explore the redesign of the store’s signage, which remains a sore point with many local Staples foes. A follow-up meeting is planned in approximately 30 days, Bellamy’s office said.

“This was a very positive meeting,” Bellamy said. “I am looking forward to our next meeting, and to seeing constructive action take place.”

— Hal L. Millard, staff writer

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2 thoughts on “Mayor Bellamy reports progress with Staples”

  1. Tray

    Im sorry but I’m really tired of hearing people and their concerns over the staples building. Have these people every taken a ride down Merrimon Avenue? If they did they would see that the Staples building is an improvement to Merrimon Avenues appearance. I mean there are many buildings on Merrimon that look like there ready to colapse. Also all of these poor losers that have to spray paint the building and poison the landscape, I mean is that childish or what. The building has been here for over two years now, its here to stay. I mean do you think if you complain enough they might tear down this brand new building that cost millions of dollars, Doubful. I think staples coming to Asheville was the best thing and others apparently agree with me because there is always a crowd when I shop there. I will continue to shop there for as long as its in Asheville.

  2. tommy

    I was unaware of the poisoned landscaped until now. I say, I Heartily Approve!!

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