[Regarding “Liftoff: TDA Approves About $10 Million for Community Projects but Not Affordable Housing,” May 1, Xpress:]
The move to put one-third of occupancy tax revenues to capital projects is going in the right direction, but I think it could have gone further.
We need to protect visitors’ experiences with more police patrols, a continuous downtown shuttle originating from a satellite parking lot, better sidewalks, turning the pit of doom into a busking zone, etc.
I really wish they’d throw a ton of money at subsidizing workforce housing so we can keep good people who love that work in their jobs and give visitors the experience they want. I am sick of the city kicking this issue to developers who are having a tough time making market-rate apartment developments profitable.
I understand hotel and Vrbo stays are down most everywhere, so revenues aren’t going to be great at this transition point, but our brand is out there everywhere. We have a lot to sell, and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, the Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Chamber of Commerce sold it well.
— Bill Steigerwald
Burnsville
“The move to put one-third of occupancy tax revenues to capital projects is going in the right direction, but I think it could have gone further.” Yes, it was, and does. The sooner the better. Funding the downtown BID if it comes to fruition would be very helpful ..and more than appropriate too since it’s all about tourists.
Not sure why downtown residents are paying into this.
Looks like the TDA could help get some of the vital streets and roads fixed of potholes and/or repaving for the visitor experience because it is clear that the city is unable to do so !
As far as “ police services “ mentioned here by the original author — Bill Steigerwald of Burnsville I attempted yet failed to get my reply to a earlier piece of which an individual claiming to identify themselves as Virginia Ritter replied in letter “ APD deserves community support” author identifying as Dick Domann.
Her reply was “
There needs to be a landlord group formed to explore the possibilities of renting to officers or firefighters! I’m one landlord who would definitely participate in offering one of my homes at affordable rates to have a police officer in the neighborhood!”
In this article it was stated specifically about police presence.
“We need to protect visitors’ experiences with more police patrols, a continuous downtown shuttle originating from a satellite parking lot, better sidewalks, turning the pit of doom into a busking zone, etc.”
“I really wish they’d throw a ton of money at subsidizing workforce housing so we can keep good people who love that work in their jobs and give visitors the experience they want. I am sick of the city kicking this issue to developers who are having a tough time making market-rate apartment developments profitable.”
Could the city of Asheville not offer “ incentives “ to the landlords that offer lower rates to first responders? The tax rates are not going down nor is the itemization of which one must fill out forms by deadline then get the price they owe- on any rental that includes to Asheville every item so that’s -every rental utensil, every furniture piece, every electronic to even a hammock to a barbecue outside then of that form the landlords then pay as they then get a “bill” so see folks get hand -me downs from like great grandmas or a friend do kinda hard to put a price tag on but you must yet by law write any improvement and that included bedding to even beds and every bed sheet so why is it outlandish to ask since landlords must write of every single object in their home from every sheet to towel to tv set to any at all improvement even in the works that the city not give them so kind of incentive for “ lowering the debt” of which they have mandated everything to list -to a old heirloom rocking chair to even a hung up hammock to a vintage old swing set from a bygone era or a baby crib tallied up price tag on their front porch ? Would it not help to incentivize lowered rates to first responders?
I found Virginia’s reply insightful to offer police officers affordable rates so add why stop there and not give “ incentives of affordable rates to landlords that offer less rates to first responders on their taxes” of which Virginia mentioned police and add on firefighters and EMT?
Now I expect a bit of negative feedback as in preferential however I want to ask what first-if any statistics show a benefit in having for example a police presence actually living in a designated street or that of a firefighter or EMS as surely there is some data out there. I am only hiving a hypothesis that hopes the data shows less crimes and that envelops so many often not discussed often crimes be it just the follow up on arson, the ever rampant drug overdose scene, car thefts to car vandalism, breaking and entering, physical assaults, drug busts, bomb threats, shots fired, robbery etc. These are in fact the people first on the scene not the general population. These brave individuals save lives, these individuals give their lives daily to save lives, so these individuals are an asset to the community yet how many commute into Asheville as not able to afford the “livability score?”
Sincerely,
Kristen Burns-Warren
Canton