Why don't we just stop pretending that the citizens of Asheville have any say whatsoever in what happens here? City Council meetings that are supposed to encourage comment and input from citizens are a sham — a total waste of time, money and energy. The citizens did not want that monstrosity of a building at […]
Tag: McKibbon
Showing 1-17 of 17 results
It sure beats a hole in the ground
Now that the Council meeting drama is over and the McKibbon group won the right to build a hotel on the blighted property across the Basilica of St. Lawrence, I was left with the following observations. It is pretty obvious from the lack of attendance from the Kessler group that the Basilica had at best […]
Another done deal
As a downtown Asheville resident who has been involved with issues of development and “infill” projects from the beginning, I want to be clear about what I am for and what I am against. I am for good paying jobs for working people. I am for increased business for our local merchants. I am for […]
So much for that park
What makes Asheville a destination tourists want to visit (and spend their hard-earned dollars)? My guess is that visitors want to come here to experience the surrounding mountain beauty, in a town that also has a good dose of history attached to it. They like Asheville's earthy quality and laid-back vibe. It seems, too, that […]
Bird in hand: Council approves McKibbon hotel plan
After years of planning and months of heated public debate, the future of a prime piece of city-owned property finally came before Asheville City Council Sept. 11. By that time, a prominent activist group, a local religious institution and an expanding hotel company had all joined the fray. Totaling just under an acre, the several […]
Council puts water referendum on ballot
Asheville City Council put a referendum on the sale of the city’s water system on the Nov. 6 ballot at its meeting tonight, Aug. 14. Council also discussed a proposed hotel on Haywood Street and approved incentives for the Linamar plant expansion. (photo by Max Cooper)
Asheville City Council preview: beneath the water line
Putting a referendum on the fate of Asheville’s water system on the November ballot is front and center at tomorrow’s Asheville City Council meeting.
Can the Basilica be trusted to build a park?
Over the past few months there have been several letters objecting to the proposed hotel on Haywood Street across from the Basilica. I wonder if anyone remembers the particularly awful building called the education annex that the church itself built right across the street in its direct sightline. When they tore it down, it did […]
Mind the crack!
Now that a crack has been discovered in the dome of St. Lawrence Basilica, we know that heavy construction in the area is likely to bring down the wonderful Guastavino tiles, and perhaps the dome with it. We don't need another hotel near one of Asheville's most famous attractions. City Council member Cecil Bothwell is […]
Don’t destroy what makes Asheville great
It seems the city of Asheville is determined to destroy what makes it great. By giving power to rich landowners in downtown to decide the fate of downtown instead of small-business owners who make Asheville a great destination. And now they would allow a large corporate hotel in our downtown right across the street from […]
A green space befits our architectural treasure
The site of the St. Lawrence Basilica was significantly impaired with the building of I-240 behind it. A green space in front of it will rebalance it and help it regain its proper dignity, as befits an architectural treasure. — Lisa Ziemer Asheville
Please help keep Asheville green and beautiful
To Asheville City Council: Please set an example for future generations by creating a beautiful park in front of the Basilica. This park will live on for generations as a reminder of why people love to live in Asheville — its natural beauty. When you do this, you will be remembered as the City Council […]
City Council, what are you thinking?
It is hard to imagine that you are not awesomely happy with the proposal of St. Lawrence to buy the lot. Asheville is a tourist city. People don't visit cities to see hotels, they visit cities to see sights. Building a hotel where you could be enhancing the tourist attractiveness of Asheville is shortsighted and […]
Let us, the people, support a new park
Please have a park next to the Basilica of St. Lawrence. They have offered money for the lot. Let us, the people, support them even with our money, even with a small donation. We have enough hotels downtown. What we need is more green space with trees. — Harry and Genelda Woggon Asheville
Asheville needs this green space and the money
Goodness gracious, what a no brainer! And the diocese even offered $300,000 more for the parcel. The downtown area has only one small green space (Pritchard Park), which is severely overused. A landscaped green space in front of the U.S. Cellular Center and, of course, the treasured Basilica, is absolutely a no brainer. We the […]
Let’s learn from our mistakes
My daddy taught me to learn from my mistakes. Please remind City Council to learn from theirs. I am very unhappy about selling the property in [the area of] the U.S. Cellular Center, Basilica of St. Lawrence, Pack Library and Grove Arcade to McKibbon. Here are some examples Council can learn from. Staples: Council struggled […]
City will bring forward hotel offer on Haywood St. properties in March
The city of Asheville will examine an offer from McKibbon hotel group for property near the Basilica of St. Lawrence, city staff said at a meeting of City Council’s Planning and Economic Development Committee today, and bring forward more information in March. However, Council members are far from set on the hotel plans: one called the city’s approach “testing the waters.” Photo by Bill Rhodes.