County commissioners approve expanded emergency housing

The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners voted 7-0 Nov. 19 to approve $1.5 million for rental assistance and expanded the definition of emergency housing within the county in response to Tropical Storm Helene.

During public comment, several people had urged commissioners to expand what is considered emergency housing, how long it can be used and in what areas it is permitted. The revisions allow a range of emergency housing for two years, with a possible one-year extension.

“We don’t want a death epidemic of people freezing to death here,” said Kim Cowart from Savannah, Ga., who has been volunteering in the area.

Jen Hampton, Just Economics housing and wages organizer and lead organizer for Asheville Food and Beverage United, said not having housing as cold weather approaches would be a “catastrophe after catastrophe.”

After revisions, emergency housing is now defined as travel trailers, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, manufactured housing or other FEMA-approved shelters. Volunteers also qualify for emergency housing. However, no more than two units can be placed on one lot.

Downtown housing

The board also reallocated $3.7 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to Coxe Avenue Affordable Housing Development from the Ferry Road project. Helene delayed work on the Ferry Road project, which requires an access road and other infrastructure. The delay would have put the COVID recovery funds at risk because of a spending deadline.

Commission Chair Brownie Newman said the downtown project is overdue, noting that “200 very affordable workforce-focused apartments in the heart of our downtown — something that hasn’t happened in a very long time — [will allow] people that work downtown to walk to work. It’s going to be a great infill development on county property, it’s been a great public involvement process. So, we’re really excited about it, and let’s do everything we can to accelerate it across the finish line.”

The board also approved $1.5 million for rental relief, $300,000 of which will be administered by Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church and $1.2 million by Buncombe County Economic Services. The funds are coming from the Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (FRF) established under ARPA.

In other news:

• The board presented a proclamation honoring Commissioner Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, who has served on the board since 2016, and Newman, who has served on the board since 2012 and was elected chair in 2016. Neither ran for reelection. “This is truly the end of an era in Asheville and Buncombe County. Brownie Newman has been a part of local government for more than 20 years. When I think back to what Asheville and Buncombe looked like pre-Brownie Newman and where we are now, there has been a lot of positive change because of you, your leadership and your crazy ideas,” said Commissioner and Chair-elect Amanda Edwards. “We are forever grateful for that.”
• Beach-Ferrara’s wife, Meghann Burke, also lauded her spouse’s work. “Your impact has been immeasurable to not only families like ours but all families.”
• The board approved zoning regulations for cryptocurrency mining operations. The county had a moratorium on such operations since May 2023 over concerns about electricity and water consumption. While the amendment does not address water use, the county said in an email to Xpress that was one of the reasons for regulating the operations. The county is not a water provider and lacks the statutory authority to restrict water consumption.
• The board authorized $1.5 million in grants for small businesses, focused on retaining and rehiring employees post-Helene. The grants provide $5,000 for retaining two or more employees and $2,500 for one employee retained. The program will be administered by Mountain BizWorks.
• The board authorized a $769,000 contract to fix 48 showers in the Buncombe County Detention Center.