I live in Kenilworth and had a front-row seat as I watched the flooding of the Swannanoa in September. In fact, whenever there’s heavy rain, and I hear sirens, I know to check whether it’s that the river is rising and they’re closing the Biltmore Avenue bridge. That’s how common flooding is.
The tragic storm of 2024 wiped out many of the structures in the floodplain and the activity within them.
Wouldn’t it be great to remake this area?
It would be great to turn it into a floodplain with surfaces that are not impervious to rising water, like green space that people could use along the river. Extend the French Broad River Greenway along the Swannanoa. Help the people and businesses that are displaced to move into the blighted section of Biltmore Avenue north from Mission Hospital to South Charlotte Street/Southside Avenue.
This would extend South Slope excitement southward. It could be a new arts district.
Wouldn’t it be great?
— Wendy Ikoku
Asheville
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.