The City Council’s consideration of The Ellington is at the heart of Asheville’s challenges in this day and age.
I watched Tuesday’s Council meeting with great focus, and I believe City Council did a valiant job.
In my 50-year professional career, I have done cutting-edge work as an architectural designer, constructor and restorer of some 10 four-star grand hotels in New York, Boston, Palm Beach, Coral Gables, Nassau, Washington, San Juan and Phoenix. I have also worked on many significant buildings in Asheville and Western North Carolina in the past 20 years, including Douglas Ellington’s City Building.
My professional opinion at this hiatus in the Ellington process is: Reduce the entire scale of the building 20 percent. Reduce the building height 36 feet.
The Building site is totally inadequate and does not do justice to a significant structure, or to the neighborhood or streetscape.
I would be glad to help any way I can. Thank you.
— William Flynn Wescott, P.E.
Asheville
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