“Hearing the voices of those most impacted by the housing crisis is vital to creating solutions.”
A place to call home: Affordable housing essays, part three
“Affordable housing is not just a housing problem,” notes Mike Figura, who owns Mosaic Community Lifestyle Realty. “It’s a housing supply problem; it’s a wage problem; it’s an employment problem.”
Upcycled fashion creates an eco-friendly and uniquely Asheville look
In a way, upcycling is like the recycling we do with our cans and bottles: It also uses that concept of reusing and reducing waste material — but it’s not exactly cut from the same cloth.
AVL Design Center’s DesignBuild Studio rolls out the U-LEAF Stage
When the first-ever LEAF Downtown festival took place on Aug. 1 and 2 in Pack Square Park, it wasn’t just the festival’s new location that was making its debut: This year, the organization was able to unveil its all-new U-LEAF stage — a mobile art stage recently completed by AVL DesignBuild Studio, a summer internship […]
In photos: Faces of foster care
As part of Xpress’s coverage of the current shortage of foster care homes and facilities in Western North Carolina, we attended one of CARING For Children’s monthly foster family picnics. These picnics are a vital part of the organization’s support network for foster parents and children and we were lucky enough to have the chance […]
No place to go: Foster care system can’t keep pace with kids in need
As of March 31, there were 2,386 kids in foster care in the 28 western counties. While innovative agencies and evolving state standards are making strides in streamlining the system and reuniting families, the available resources can’t keep up with the growing numbers of children needing foster care.
A healthy dose of music and friendship to help Kenny Capps battle cancer
Days before heading to Atlanta for surgery and a month of isolation to combat an aggressive form of bone marrow cancer, Black Mountain resident Kenny Capps will be the guest of honor at a benefit concert organized by his friends. White Horse Black Mountain hosts the show on Thursday, Aug. 13.
Faces in the crowd: WNC crowdfunding initiatives
Each week, Xpress highlights notable WNC crowdsourcing initiatives that may inspire readers to become new faces in the crowd. This week features the final build-out challenges of Sanctuary Brewing Co. and one mother’s attempt to help expedite the potty training process for kids across the globe.
Affordable housing essay: How badly do we want it?
“The solution to the affordable housing problem is political and community will.”
Affordable housing essay: Going out of business
“Whenever people ask what we need to create more affordable housing, we say: capital.”
Conscious party: a slip-and-slide field party for Hall Fletcher
Slip-and-slides, water balloon games, crazy sprinklers, food trucks and live music take over Hall Fletcher’s activity field on Saturday, Aug. 8.
Looking for something? Best of WNC listings are here!
Our first round of Best of WNC results were released in this week’s print issue. The results are now posted online — in a highly visible and easily accessible format.
Smart bets: RiverFest
RiverLink’s annual RiverFest is on Saturday, Aug. 8. The full day of live music, food trucks, Sierra Nevada beer and more begins at 11 a.m with the Anything that Floats wacky raft race.
Affordable housing essay: Black neighborhoods will be obliterated
Editor’s note: This essay is part of a series in which local experts were asked: “What would it take to solve the Asheville area’s affordable housing problem?” Housing in Asheville is simultaneously booming and in crisis. The summer of 2015 seems to be culminating in trends that are several years deep. Construction has been on […]
Taqueria with a twist: Chef Patrick Abernathy talks Chupacabra
Chef Patrick Abernathy has spent the past 15 years working at notable Asheville eateries, but Chupacabra Latin Café in Reynolds Village is his first solo project.
Affordable housing essay: Affordable housing or affordable living?
“Why is the focus on “affordable housing” and not on “affordable living”? The official “affordable housing” definitions focus narrowly on rent; transportation costs are ignored.”
4×4: Four weeks, four candidates
Sixteen candidates have officially thrown their hats into the ring for the Asheville City Council elections this fall. Each week, Xpress will introduce, in brief, four candidates’ backgrounds and ideas for the city. Up this week is Grant Millin, Julie Mayfield, Rich Lee and Brian Haynes.
Home, cheap home? Affordable housing essays, part two
What would it take to solve the Asheville area’s affordable housing problem?
Affordable housing essay: Let’s subsidize real affordability
“For every job created with a subsidy that doesn’t provide a living wage, let’s provide a genuinely affordable home.”
Buncombe County to pay more than $7 million settlement fee for wrongful convictions
After a crowded and lengthy Tuesday, Aug. 4 meeting, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners went into closed session to discuss three legal issues and two economic development issues.
And after 30 minutes of private discussion, the commissioners rejoined the then-sparse audience to announce the county must pay more than $7 million in settlement fees to five men who were wrongfully convicted under former Sheriff Bobby Medford’s watch and had served six to 11 years behind bars.
Spicing it up: Local entrepreneurs tap ginger for Asheville’s newest brews
WNC beverage enthusiasts are harnessing the kick of ginger in their alcoholic and nonalcoholic brews.