Asheville commission to hear Parkside plan

A controversial 11-story building proposed on land adjacent to Asheville City Hall appears before the city Planning and Zoning Commission this Wednesday.

The Parkside condominium project, headed up by developer Stewart Coleman, has been making its way through the approval process despite a controversial land deal by the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners and the project’s location on a corner of City/County Plaza.

So far, the project has the approval of the Downtown Commission, but has been denounced by the city’s Tree Commission and the Pack Square Conservancy.

Asheville City Council will have final approval of the project.

The hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission takes place at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2, in room A-109 of the Public Works Building, 101 S. Charlotte St.

To see a design review on the Parkside development by the Pack Square Conservancy, go here.

Brian Postelle, staff writer

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11 thoughts on “Asheville commission to hear Parkside plan

  1. william f. wescott

    THIS IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT VIOLATION OF CIVIC INTEREST IN THE RECENT HISTORY OF ASHEVILLE…IT MUST BE TURNED DOWN IF THE PEOPLE ARE HEARD!

    THE VANCE/PUBLIC PARK LITIGATION SHOULD BE FINALIZED BEFORE ANY COLEMAN INVASION.

  2. barry

    Want to see local good-ol-boy government in action? Cue up the Commissioner’s Meeting video from the day they sold Coleman that park land, and then right next to it, the video from the City Council meeting next door from the same day, at the same time.

    At the Commissioners Meeting starting at 4:30, the first thing they do is add a surprise item to the agenda: selling a piece of property. An hour later, at around 5:35, they vote to sell Stewart Coleman a piece of park property, with practically no discussion. Approximately 90 seconds later, next door at City Hall, City Planning and Development Director Scott Shuford stands up and suggests that City Council direct him to approach this developer about a joint private-property/city-property development. Of course, he neglects to name this developer out loud, or disclose that he has been meeting with him privately for the better part of a year about THIS VERY DEAL. Pretty slick, huh?

    Of course, Council eventually voted down this “deal” in closed session, and Scott Shuford was shown the door for being too chummy with developers. Now, Stewart Coleman and his lawyers are using the fact that he has spent a million dollars on this property as a sledgehammer to bully the City to approve his condominiums inside the park.

    Disgusting.

  3. Barry Summers

    Want to see local good-ol-boy government in action? Cue up the Commissioner’s Meeting video from the day they sold Coleman that park land, and then right next to it, the video from the City Council meeting next door from the SAME DAY, at the SAME TIME.

    At the Commissioners Meeting starting at 4:30, the first thing they do is add a surprise item to the agenda: selling a piece of property. An hour later, at around 5:35, they vote to sell Stewart Coleman a piece of park property, with practically no discussion. Approximately 90 seconds (!) later, next door at City Hall, City Planning and Development Director Scott Shuford stands up and suggests that City Council direct him to approach this developer about a joint private-property/city-property development. Of course, he neglects to name this developer out loud, or disclose that he has been meeting with him privately for the better part of a year about THIS VERY DEAL. Pretty slick, huh?

    Of course, Council eventually voted down this “deal” in closed session, and Scott Shuford was shown the door for being too chummy with developers. Now, Stewart Coleman and his lawyers are using the fact that he has spent a million dollars on this property as a sledgehammer to bully the City to approve his condominiums inside the park.

    Disgusting.

  4. Johnny

    Why on earth did the city elect to sell open space in the very center of town to a private developer in the first place? What was the logic behind such a foolish long term move?

  5. william f. wescott

    SPEAK UP ! TODAY, WEDNESDAY APRIL 2, 5PM AT PUBLIC WORKS ON S. CHARLOTTE STREET !!!

    VOX POPULI !!!

  6. Gordon Smith

    That’s part of the mystery, Johnny.

    Anyone who approves of this project will be as suspect as the Commissioners.

  7. Johnny

    Exactly Gordon.

    Open space.

    In the very middle of town.

    Gone to private hands.

    A phenomenal blunder.

  8. Barry Summers

    Whoah, Nelly. The Planning and Zoning board voted 3-3 to REJECT Parkside. Now, let’s see if Council dares to put their necks out to approve this turkey. Stay tuned.

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