“By acknowledging both the positive and the negative, we can create a complete picture that can serve as a solid base from which we can move forward as a community.”
Tag: downtown Asheville
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WTF: Business improvement districts
In the latest edition of Xpress’ WTF feature, we explore this sometimes controversial concept of a business improvement district, which promises a steady stream of revenue to fund much-needed services downtown.
Letter: Asheville’s 21st-century monument
“I think the monument should celebrate protest.”
Letter: The ‘story’ Pack Square could tell
“The final piece in the ‘anywhere USA aesthetic’ has concluded with the dismantling of a time capsule dressed in ancient Egyptian fashion at Pack Square, done with such haste it’s partial and in legal limbo.”
Letter: More support needed for the homeless
“In order to move forward with a solution, more support must be provided to the homeless in the areas of affordable housing, mental health and substance abuse treatment and pet-friendly shelters.”
Letter: No more hotels!
“Back in 2001, downtown was not cluttered with tall commercial buildings such as hotels catering to tourists.”
Letter: On improving downtown Asheville
“The problems sound enormous and hopeless, and I’m an optimist. But some cities have found solutions.”
Homelessness, safety rank as top downtown concerns
Safety and reducing criminal activity downtown closely followed homelessness among the top concerns. Survey respondents were asked to evaluate downtown in terms of how safe they felt. The average score was 3.5 out of 5 for perceived safety during the daytime, dropping to 1.9 out of 5 at night.
Letter: Asheville’s homelessness predicament
“Signing off on discordant behavior, whether by ignoring it, being apathetic or taking the ‘easy’ way out and just not dealing with it helps no one.”
Letter: What about Sugar Britches?
“Sugar Britches features a range of found, handmade and upcycled clothing and accessories, provided by at least 15 of Asheville’s most talented designers.”
Letter: Article should have included science of noise pollution
“As with water and air pollution, noise pollution is a recognized public health issue that contributes to increased risk of diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, sleep disturbance, depression, stress and hearing loss.”
Safe and sounds
Letter: Keep noise ordinance as is
“I believe that we should leave it as is — that’s part of the charm of downtown Asheville.”
Letter: Missing the old Asheville
“Downtown did need help, but it didn’t need to be turned into the tourist-oriented, overbuilt, overdeveloped mess that it has become.”
Letter: Asheville needs a population cap
“Asheville’s not weird anymore, and I’m sad about that.”
Letter: Asheville area’s boom is ruining quality of life
“Ultimately, favoritism is handed toward developers and bottom lines, while major impacting projects are slipped past under the radar. People don’t get a fair chance to oppose such, let alone win.”
Letter: Will marketing make us ‘Myrtle Beach of the Mountains’?
“Isn’t this like telling a family of eight living in a two-room house that you’re persuading a couple of baseball teams to move in with them?”
Letter: The occupancy tax and the soul of the city
“The secret was out long ago. So, just how many millions do we need to promote, to advertise this town?”
How much has Asheville really changed? The Gospel According to Jerry
“I remember when the old passenger rail depot, now a restaurant, had a segregated waiting room.”
Letter: Fond memories of Cram’s legacy
“I never had the opportunity to meet John, but Laurey’s and Oscar’s high regard for him as well as his physical standing legacy speak volumes.”
Letter: Here’s to you, John Cram
“You were a major reason we can sometimes proclaim, without too much dripping disdain: ‘Asheville is the Paris of the South.’”