In a unanimous vote, the county Board of Commissioners directed staff to maintain the county’s current library branches — including those in Black Mountain, Oakley/South Asheville and Swannanoa — and explore other ways to improve the system.
Tag: Affordable housing
Showing 106-126 of 360 results
Formerly homeless residents discuss path toward self-sufficiency
To move clients from reliance on shelters and services to self-sufficiency, homeless advocates say, community support and permanent affordable housing are key — and their lack is the main barrier to reducing the homeless population in Asheville.
Council approves funding for Haywood Street development
The proposed location for the affordable development is located in the West End/Clingman Avenue Neighborhood. All of the apartments would be reserved for people earning less than 80% of the area median income ($60,100 for a family of four); up to half of those units could be available for those earning 30% AMI or less.
Council to review Haywood Street housing contract
Council will consider revising an agreement with the nonprofit after the group decided to drop one affordable housing proposal after significant community pushback.
What else ya got?
Council approves hotel expansion in 4-3 vote
The approval allows the existing Four Points by Sheraton hotel to more than quintuple its current size with a mix of uses including apartments, condominiums, extended stay hotel rooms, parking and ground-level commercial space.
Rooms to grow
Letter: Charlotte Street project will actually help Asheville
“Preservation at all costs is not the answer.”
Letter: ‘Out-of-towners’ label leads nowhere
“That phrase is blamed for housing, traffic, education, hotels, the homeless, the price of golf and other recreation, and on and on and on.”
Letter: The big picture of being priced out of Asheville
“The ‘housing boom’ that has upended Asheville is the inevitable outcome of the same economic policies that have created historically unprecedented income inequality in this country — specifically the relentless tax cuts granted the rich since 1980.”
Council debates COVID relief spending plans
Highest on city staff’s list of potential funding priorities were affordable housing, public engagement, homelessness, public and mental health, small business recovery and workforce development.
I accuse: Channeling Emile Zola in today’s Asheville
“I am certain the French author would take no offense at a less talented voice borrowing his ‘J’Acuse’ model. What better way to challenge a home community that is similarly darkened by discounted vanities, harms and pretense?”
Out-of-town interest drives local real estate market
According to Redfin, a nationwide real estate brokerage, the average real estate budget for an outsider moving to Asheville was $615,500 as of April, 31% higher than the average local budget of $469,000. That disparity between outside and local buyers was greater than in either Charlotte or Raleigh.
Letter: Charlotte Street development won’t destroy neighborhood
“The development is to be built on a main road, in the middle of a long-established commercial strip; it will not destroy some quiet neighborhood.”
Letter: Charlotte Street development: Your quiet street is next
“Every visionary city plan with citizen input here was created exactly to prevent this type of intrusion and destruction.”
Letter: Asheville, we need to invest in ourselves
“We need to invest in ourselves — pay living wages, build or convert affordable housing, expand public transportation, house the homeless, focus spending on the people who live here.”
Letter: Charlotte Street, affordable housing and Asheville’s lure
“We’re losing why people want to move here: nature and beauty.”
Letter: The onslaught against climate change resiliency
“Regarding Charlotte Street development, etc.: Outrageous that Avl taxpayers’ property tax is raised 22% without a plan to preserve trees that lure residents and tourists.”
Letter: Dense development will ruin Asheville forever
“The more people we pack into the urban center will eventually ruin our town and lead to the worst traffic imaginable — forever — and for everyone.”
A better solution for Charlotte Street
“Can we allow for growth and address our affordable housing needs while also combating climate change and maintaining the character of our neighborhoods?”
Letter: Cramming 10 gallons in 5-gallon bucket of Charlotte Street
“The view of Ms. Hudson and others that we have no choice but to be swamped under the deluge of people who want to be here is — in my opinion — misguided.”