I believe the euphemism I’m looking for is,“Are you kidding me right now?” An Asheville rental at $3,160? This can only happen in a city government that has created an atmosphere and completely acquiesced to developers and special interests. Even people in New York are saying WT.
This is what happens when you have people in government who preach “affordable” housing and give you The District.
I find it hard to believe that somewhere among all the new hotels, cranes hovering over the city and $3,000 apartments, that somewhere there is not a quid pro quo as in “follow the money.” Perhaps a special counsel is needed in Asheville.
Sadly, the people who allowed this to happen will most likely be re-elected. Voters have short memories, rarely do their due diligence when it comes to candidates and are naive and clueless about the issues. Candidates rely on that.
The next time you hear someone running for office say the words “transparency,” “affordable housing” and “living wage” — run, don’t walk. As Tessio said, “It’s only business.”
— Jesse Junior
Fletcher
This is such a sad situation for Asheville…a city that professes to be forward-thinking and of having something resembling intelligence. Greed and stupidity infect Asheville, and there is actual pride in it! Embarrassing.
LOL and they point the fingers not at themselves. The more regulations we get, the more expensive it is. Merely because many who are in these commissions have conflicts of interests.
A couple of points.
The city did not give us the District. This is a private development with no public money involved by a developer that has the right to charge market rates for their units. Would you purposely suppress your house listing, if you chose to sell it, in the name of affordable? It should be noted that you referenced a rental on the very high end of the property that contained the most amenities. Everyone has an opinion about “affordable housing” until one is proposed within their neighborhood. The one proposed for Swannonao comes to mind. All of sudden there was this outcry about the possibility of increased crime and traffic. By no means is that the average rate at this complex. The hyperbole and selective “facts”does a disservice to your argument.
Second, it amazes me how those that live outside of the city, maybe to avoid paying city taxes, are most critical of Asheville’s Council actions. Living right on the periphery like for an example, Fletcher, yet enjoying the benefits and services that people like me who actually live in the city, pay for through our taxes. While I am not a fan of most of their (city council) actions, my local taxes help support this city.
So what we need is those who are most critical of this city is to get some skin in the game and start serving on the various boards and maybe become part of the solution. Of course, that would require you to become a city resident.
Gary Woods
Asheville
Well said.
Perhaps the letter writer suggests that it should be illegal for owners and landlords to set their own rents on their own property?
I have no idea why the letter writer thinks that setting of rents is a right or responsibility of Asheville City Council.
My thoughts exactly. Maybe the city should also dictate to them the maximum amount they can sell their house if they own one.
Already happening. Replace the word “house” with “property” and you have Eminent Domain.
That’s a false equivalency based on the obvious application alone. Eminent Domain is a legal process empowering the government to seize or acquire property for public use compensating the property owner based on fair-market value. That is not the same as mandating the price for which you may sell your property of which they would not compensate nor acquire.
Try going a year without paying property taxes and see how easily the government can acquire “your” property.
The market may have a say (for now), but the fair-market value of “your” property always has, and always will, be at the discretion of the government. How is that “fair”.
In the end, all property is merely on loan to those with enough wealth or power to lease it.
Huh??? Relevancy to the original subject and my subsequent point?
Because the writer is the kind of real Socialist that City Council only pretends to be.
The letter writer once again establishes that he has no clue about NC law or the function of City Council in regard to development.
I’m sure that when he sells his house (outside of the City, natch) he will discount his sales price substantially in order to give someone else an affordable unit. Meanwhile City taxpayers continue to fund the infrastructure he uses when he avails himself of the municipal amenities that drew him to the neighborhood when he retired here.
Jesse, my friend, you are entitled to your opinion, as are we all. But you’d be a whole lot more helpful if you didn’t pretend that municipal government had control over the things you claim we don’t care to regulate. Or worse, make allegations that we are corrupt.
I’ve noticed that City Council has done very little about the weather in recent years, too. I suppose that means we’ve sold out to the Weather Channel?
Cecil has sold out to the corrupt short-term-rental lobbyists. We have an epidemic of these short-term flophouses in our neighborhood. It used to be nice here until the rude and greedy outsiders came in buying up nice residential homes and converting them to motels. Thanks to Cecil and his amoral pals, Esther Manheimer, Brian Hayes, and Keith Young. Remember their names when these scoundrels come back up for reelection.