Asheville, N.C.
A mystery in-deed: Who owns Pack Square?
Pack Square lies at the center of Asheville’s sense of itself as a city, but recent attention to the area — and the monuments to Confederate figures located there — has highlighted a curious anomaly of history and law: No one can say for sure who owns the piece of land where the Vance Monument sits.
Vying for endorsement, 4 City Council candidates identify as socialists
Six candidates for Asheville City Council participated in a forum hosted by the Asheville chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America on Sept. 13. Hot topics included affordability and police reform.
Asheville City Council to look at Shiloh subdivision
On Sept. 12, Asheville City Council will dive back into discussion of a proposed subdivision in the Shiloh community and will tackle a proposal to ease the parking crunch downtown by allowing temporary gravel lots.
BOA to consider nearly 700 apartment units in South, East Asheville
Among items on the Board of Adjustment’s agenda are two proposed apartment complexes in East and South Asheville.
Solar farm moves forward, rezoning stalls out
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners tapped Duke Energy for a solar farm project at the old county landfill and unanimously denied a rezoning request.
DA tech request sparks jail finance concerns
A budget amendment for iPads initiated a conversation about what programs funds from the county’s detention center commissary should go toward.
Did you nazi that coming?
Asheville, N.C.
Council to vote on affordable housing, infill strategies
At Asheville City Council’s meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 22, Council members will consider a resolution condemning the recent actions of white supremacists and racial violence in Charlottesville, Va. The Council will hear public comment on four zoning matters, including an amendment to the city’s zoning code intended to encourage small-scale infill residential housing development.
Feds probing former Buncombe County Manager Greene
The FBI is investigating former Buncombe County Manager Wanda Greene, a story Xpress first broke on Aug. 16.
FBI can ‘neither confirm nor deny’ probe of former County Manager Greene
Based on information from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation it appears a Federal case has been opened against former Buncombe County Manager Wanda Greene.
Commissioners OK early Sunday alcohol sales, punt on medical marijuana
Pre-noon alcohol sales in unincorporated parts of Buncombe County gain approval while pro-cannabis advocates urge commissioners to lean on state lawmakers for medicinal marijuana approval.
Duke’s no-coal goal moves forward
The Buncombe County Board of Adjustment unanimously approved Duke Energy’s conditional use permit to build a natural gas facility. The utility says the move will help it stop burning coal in Asheville by the end of 2019.
Phoning it in: Commissioners negotiate tax rate in private
Xpress takes a look at how Buncombe County commissioners set the tax rate during off-the-record phone calls and in-person meetings.
Social media-care expansion
Asheville, NC
Council to vote on RAD form-based code, election districts on July 25
On Tuesday, July 25, Asheville City Council will consider a new zoning ordinance for the River Arts District, a referendum on establishing election districts for City Council, a new Tunnel Road hotel, a self-storage facility and a plan to leverage $10 million in bond funding to promote the development of 485 units of affordable housing, among other items.
Buncombe County candidates file for municipal offices
With the deadline for filing to run for municipal elected office — noon on July 21 — now past, the slate of candidates for Buncombe County elected officials is complete.
YMCA hosts 50th Youth Conference on National Affairs at Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain
YMCA’s annual Youth Conference on National Affairs convened for its 50th session July 1 to 6, hosting over 600 delegates from around the country at the Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain. The students proposed a wide range of policies on issues as diverse as nuclear power, gerrymandering prevention, the school-to-prison pipeline and equal opportunity grants for foster children — to name just a few.
Commissioners get peek at debt transparency project, unpack budget process
Buncombe County commissioners heard a presentation about a new tool aimed at giving the public more insight on finances and talked about tweaking the budget talks in the future.
Debate over Asheville’s Confederate memorials continues
With the recent removal of Confederate monuments in New Orleans and other Southern cities capturing national headlines, local residents, historians and scholars once again turns their eyes to Asheville’s Confederate landmarks and what they symbolize to our community.
Rally against Senate health care bill brings hundreds to street in Asheville and fires up base
Just three days before Monday’s rally in Asheville’s Pack Square Park to oppose the U.S. Senate’s version of a bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Lindsay Furst, a local teacher and activist, went to a coffee shop with her fellow organizers who shared her lack of sleep, she told the crowd in front of […]