The county funds represent half of the $70,000 price tag for hiring a consultant to determine what’s next for the location.
Tag: vance monument
Showing 43-63 of 122 results
Council votes to demolish Vance Monument
“I’m looking forward to the day we can have a centerpiece in our city that reflects Asheville today,” said Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer. “And I’m proud to be part of the Council that will make this change.”
Council faces cost of Vance Monument removal March 23
Removing Asheville’s Vance Monument will cost between $114,150 and $495,000, according to five bids submitted by North Carolina-based construction and demolition companies.
Letter: Could local Black artists ‘Advance Asheville’?
“Hiding history only tempts us to repeat it.”
Letter: Additions to obelisk could tell a story
“Displaying chains and manacles on the sides of the monument would be a similar thought-provoker. To explain the sight would be to consider our local history of slavery and convict labor.”
Letter: A five-letter word for reconciliation
“My proposal is to rename the shaft of stone on Pack Square as Peace Monument.”
Letter: Destroying monument would be shortsighted
“The uh-oh moment came when the appointed commission, conspicuously lacking local architects or representatives from historic preservation, came back with an 11-1 suggestion of removal.”
Letter: Repurposing monument would offer chance for learning, growth
“The repurposing of the Vance Monument would present an opportunity, not only for learning, but also to add yet another layer to the history and growth of this community.”
Moving the needle
Letter: Nothing to salvage in Vance Monument
“Please realize every day this statue remains intact is another day you’re not actively renouncing white supremacy.”
Letter: An excellent way to repurpose the obelisk
“If repurposing the obelisk can further balance our demonstrated duality, let’s go for it! Unity Tower sounds good and right.”
Letter: Mutually assured monument destruction
“But when we let frustration and fury drive us to demand retribution by destruction, we’ve moved beyond healing historic wounds to pushing the balance hard toward harm against others — and it’s bound to snap back as harm against us.”
Letter: City Council should focus on more urgent priorities
“I would have thought that it would be more advantageous for the City Council to redirect the resources and money that are being used on the street renaming and Vance monument removal projects to address more immediate issues caused by the pandemic.”
Can repurposing the Vance Monument help heal the divide in Asheville?
“We cannot avoid the hidden phantom side effects of the desecration of the monument, held so dear by so many.”
Campbell discusses next steps on Asheville street renaming, police budget
As Asheville takes steps to reckon with its long history of systemic racism and economic inequity, local business owners are wondering what impacts the city’s ambitious initiatives will have on them.
In 2020, readers sounded off about politics, COVID-19, race and more
“What issues did Xpress readers feel passionate enough about to write letters to the editor or commentaries during a year that promises to go down in history?”
Council votes 6-1 to proceed with Vance removal
On Dec. 8, Asheville City Council voted to move forward with the removal of the downtown obelisk, which memorializes Confederate Gov. Zebulon Vance. Sandra Kilgore was the only member in opposition.
Unanimous commission vote OKs Vance removal
Because the monument stands on city property, Asheville City Council will have the ultimate say; Council is expected to take that vote at its regular meeting on Dec. 8.
Council to vote on Vance removal Dec. 8
Mayor Esther Manheimer emailed Xpress the evening of Dec. 7 to say that Council was moving the Vance item from reports to new business, allowing for both public comment and a vote. She did not immediately respond to a request for clarification regarding the rationale behind that change.
Casting the first stone: The Gospel According to Jerry
“If we follow that logic, though, shouldn’t we also tear down Vance Elementary School rather than merely renaming it?”
Buncombe board to vote on Vance removal recommendation
On Monday, Dec. 7, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners will decide whether to accept the recommendation of the Vance Monument Task Force, a body jointly appointed by the county and city of Asheville, to take down the downtown obelisk that memorializes Confederate Gov. Zebulon Vance.