What’s needed to solve Asheville’s housing crunch? Fewer development hurdles, a city “land bank” to preserve property for affordable housing, more density and a hard “target number” for units that need to be created each year— these are some of the ideas to come out of a recent meeting of the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee.
Tag: City of Asheville
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Group to rally for ‘transportation with representation,’ unveil plan on Jan. 14
This coming Tuesday, Jan. 14, a group of transit riders and citizens will assemble in Pack Square to call for an overhaul of the city’s system that “prioritizes the needs of the people who use public transit out of necessity.” The group has a 19-point plan to improve transit services and make the management of the system more representative of its ridership.
Survey says: developers tell city commission why they don’t build affordable housing
As part of a major effort to examine Asheville’s lack of affordable housing and possibly overhaul the way city government approaches the issue, the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee interviewed a range of developers to find out why many don’t build affordable housing. They replied that the costs of land, a lack of infrastructure, insufficient transit, city rules inhibiting denser development and neighborhood opposition all play a role in why many of them don’t build more affordable units.
A tumultuous year: Asheville City Council’s ups and downs in 2013
Asheville City Council’s 2013 was marked by financial turmoil, the first major tax hike in more than a decade, the demise of a long-standing festival, and major fights with the Legislature in Raleigh.
Destination Asheville: Local leaders chart course for tourism development
The tourism industry already brings in $2.3 billion annually to Buncombe County. That’s up from roughly $183 million 30 years ago. But to continue to grow local visitation, government officials and business owners need to “anticipate trends that are shaping the future,” says Mike Konzen, a leading global consultant.
Mystery over missing newspaper boxes deepens
Newspaper boxes are back in the news, with a downtown business owner saying this week that he saw city of Asheville workers removing boxes from a downtown sidewalk late one night, and this morning, some Downtown Commission members questioning the right of newspapers to place their boxes downtown with any legal protection.
Leaders gather to discuss local tourism development
About 150 community leaders gathered Dec. 11 to discuss Asheville’s strengths as a tourism destination, learn about new projects in the works, and share ideas for the future.
Asheville City Council: Round one
A new Asheville City Council met Dec. 10, with Esther Manheimer sworn in as mayor, Marc Hunt chosen as the new vice mayor, three development decisions postponed and neighborhood leaders raising concerns about issues in East Asheville. (Photo by Alicia Funderburk)
Some missing newspaper boxes found in abandoned parking garage
Late last month, multiple local publications reported that their boxes were missing from the streets of downtown Asheville. Late last week, some of the boxes were found in an abandoned Haywood Street parking garage. There is no word yet on who put them there.
Asheville City Council preview: swearing-in, a vice mayor and apartments
The new Asheville City Council and mayor take office next Tuesday, Dec. 10, at a swearing-in before the regular meeting. Council was facing a vote on a controversial development, but it’s likely that will be delayed, though there’s still decisions on a new vice mayor, an apartment project and an overhaul of oversight in the River Arts District.
Changing of the guard: Bellamy bids farewell, Manheimer takes mayor’s seat
This week Terry Bellamy gave her farewell address after eight years as Asheville’s mayor; a time of considerable change for the city. Here’s a brief look at her tenure, and more on Mayor-elect Esther Manheimer, who will take up the gavel this Tuesday, Dec. 10.
‘I have no regrets’: Asheville Mayor Bellamy says farewell
At a ceremony this evening, outgoing Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy’s portrait joined predecessors on the walls of City Hall. In her final speech, Bellamy touted the city’s low unemployment rate and improved relations with Buncombe County government, thanking many of her colleagues. (photo by Josh Vaughn)
Downtown newspaper boxes go missing
Almost 50 newspaper boxes from a variety of publications are missing from downtown Asheville, with some having mysteriously disappeared in recent weeks. Both city staff and representatives of some of the publications have no idea who is behind the disappearances. File photo by Max Cooper.
McKibbon will not develop city-owned Haywood Street property
The McKibbon Hotel Group will not develop city-owned property across from the Basilica of St. Lawrence. According to an announcement from the company, a lawsuit by other downtown hoteliers dragged on long enough that the project was no longer viable.
Groundbreaking: GE Aviation comes to Asheville
State, local and company officials met today, Nov. 14, to break ground on GE Aviation’s new 170,000-square-foot Asheville facility, being built next to an existing GE Aviation machining plant in South Asheville.
Asheville City Council preview: guns and design
At its Nov. 12 meeting, the last one with the current Asheville City Council, handguns on playgrounds and a changing design for a new A-B Tech facility are chief on the agenda.
In photos: Election Night 2013
A series of images by photographer Nick King showing a glimpse of election night, as Ashevilleans found out the results of the election for their next mayor and three City Council members.
‘A conflict of goals’: planning commission narrowly approves Chestnut project
After a discussion about conflicting city goals, the need for more density and the precedent for growth throughout Asheville, the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission narrowly approved a proposed 16-unit housing development on Chestnut Street at tonight’s meeting.
Battle over Chestnut development reaches city board tonight
After months of delays, a proposed housing development on East Chestnut makes its way to the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission tonight. The plans for a 16-unit development have become a flashpoint about larger development concerns in Asheville. In this case the plans have drawn opposition from some neighborhood residents and preservationists who believe it’s too dense and out of character for the area, while supporters assert the need to alleviate the city’s housing crunch means such projects are necessary.
It’s Election Day, Asheville
It’s election day in Asheville (and several other local municipalities), as citizens go to the polls to decide their next mayor and some Council members. Here’s a roundup of locals thoughts and experiences today. Photo by Max Cooper.
The Halloween Voter Guide to Asheville City Elections
With Halloween and the Asheville city elections so closely aligned, we offer both some scary art (by cartoonists Brent Brown and Randy Molton) and the candidates’ replies to five key questions.
Come midevening on Nov. 5, Asheville voters will have picked their new mayor and three City Council members. There are two mayoral candidates and five Council contenders (of whom two are incumbents). In a series of forums, what positions have the candidates taken? How have they responded to voter questions? Look for recent stories at mountainx.com/election, and check these excerpts from the candidates answers.