Workers install one of the newly repaired wayfinding signs along Haywood Street. Infamously, the original wayfinding signs began peeling shortly after their installation, leading to a legal battle between the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority and L&H Signs, the original installer. In September, the TDA chose a new company, Geograph Industries, to repair the signs.
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.
Any idea of the associated cost?
……………………
tim, here’s your answer, from john boyle in today’s citizen-times:
“The price will be slightly more than $280,000, with most of that money coming from funds withheld from the original contractor. All of the funding comes from local hotel room taxes, and the Tourism Development Authority, which operates under the CVB, spearheaded the project.”
http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20101025/NEWS/310250044/1009
As reported in the September article about the repairs, the estimated cost is $279,864 of which $207,000 are funds remaining from the amount allocated for the original project.
I hope they get every last dime of that $72,864 from the original contractor. There’s no excuse for taking on a project of this scale without knowing what you’re doing.
No excuse for a quasi governmental agency to let a contract without some recourse for incompetance.