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.
Tag: City of Asheville
Showing 400-420 of 666 results
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.
In their own words: Asheville City Council candidates make their case
Over the past week, Xpress ran interviews with each of the five Asheville City Council candidates running this year. Here, for your voting perusal, are all the interviews in one place.
Candidates question each other, development at CIBO forum
The five Asheville City Council candidates squared off at the Council of Independent Business Owners’ forum yesterday afternoon as this year’s campaign entered its final stretch. Many of the topics discussed had been dealt with at previous forums, with some exceptions. In this case, the candidates questioned each other, and spoke frankly about their thoughts on development and NIMBYism.
Asheville City Council election interview: Mike Lanning
This is the fifth interview with Asheville City Council candidates, this time with former APD officer Mike Lanning.
Asheville City Council election interview: Cecil Bothwell
This is the fourth in a series of interviews with Asheville City Council candidates, this time with Council member Cecil Bothwell, who’s running for a second term. Photo by Max Cooper.
A full evening: Council takes on energy, development and civil liberties
Asheville City Council chambers were as packed as they’ve been in quite awhile as development teams, UNC Asheville staff, Boy Scouts and advocates of clean energy and civil liberties all filled City Hall for tonight’s meeting. (Photo by Max Cooper)
Asheville City Council election interview: Gwen Wisler
This is the third in a series of interviews with Asheville City Council candidates, this time with former Coleman CEO and business owner Gwen Wisler. Photo by Max Cooper.
Getting to the core: concerns aired at “downtown summit”
Attendees at a “downtown summit” this afternoon expressed concern about a variety of issues, including cleanliness, the homeless, affordability, and infrastructure in Asheville’s core. The forum was organized by city staff as an effort to gather input. (Photo by Max Cooper)
Asheville City Council preview: of lofts and liberty
At Asheville City Council’s Oct. 22 meeting, two major items come up for a vote: a civil liberties resolution and the 209-unit proposed RAD Lofts project.
Asheville City Council election interviews: Jonathan Wainscott
This is the second in a series of interviews with Asheville City Council candidates, this time with community activist Jonathan Wainscott.
Asheville City Council election interviews: Gordon Smith
This is the first in a series of interviews with the five candidates for Asheville City Council. First up: Council member Gordon Smith.
City holding summit on downtown Asheville issues Oct. 21
A meeting originally scheduled between the Asheville Downtown Association, city of Asheville staff and Council members is now a “downtown summit” in Pack Library at 3:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21, with the public invited to attend and weigh in on the issues affecting the area.
Off the records: no easy way to access Asheville’s housing complaints
Concerns about substandard rental housing in Asheville are nothing new. But assessing the extent of the problem has proved to be a slippery slope: Although tenant complaints are a matter of public record, there's no easy way to access or search them.
Breaking the mold: complaints spotlight Asheville’s rental housing issues
Multiple complaints about mold, rot, and other woes at a Merrimon Avenue apartment complex earlier this year casts doubt on the ability of local governments to deal with what many see as a serious health issue, leaving tenants feeling powerless to get their grievances addressed. And with the Asheville area having some of the highest housing costs in the state and one-third of its working population earning low wages, many local renters face similar issues.
Asheville Downtown Association to meet with city officials over trash, policing, toplessness
The Asheville Downtown Association will meet with city of Asheville staff and elected officials Oct. 21 to discuss a number of issues that “can no longer be overlooked,” according to an email to its members. The issues include trash, recycling, street sweeping, panhandling, transients, drugs and topless women.
Primary results by the numbers: Manheimer, Miall emerge from Asheville mayoral primary
With all precincts reporting, Asheville Vice Mayor Esther Manheimer emerged from the mayoral primary with a strong lead, racking up 60 percent of the vote. Former city risk manager John Miall was runner-up with 25 percent of the vote, and will go on to face Manheimer in the Nov. 5 general election. The third candidate, community activist Martin Ramsey, gathered 14 percent of the vote.
New Culture and Recreation Authority: Taxation without Asheville representation?
Following contentious Oct. 1 deliberations over who will head a powerful new government entity that will manage Buncombe County’s libraries, parks and recreation facilities, Commissioner Holly Jones expressed “deep concerns about the absence of a District 1 taxpayer voice at the table.”
The gravy train: Incentives, development major topics at CIBO meeting
Over biscuits and gravy this morning, city officials talked to the Council of Independent Business Owners about attempts to change the way development is regulated in West Asheville, and shifting the way they do economic development to better help small businesses.
Push for changes, skepticism at Asheville police forum
Amid concerns about the fairness of the Asheville Police Department and no small amount of skepticism, about 40 community members shared their thoughts this evening on how to improve the city’s law enforcement.