Projects for City of Asheville

A bond referendum allows voters to decide whether their local government can issue new debt to fund important projects. In Asheville, approved bond referendums in 2016 and 2024 involve general obligation bonds, which are secured by the City’s commitment to repay them through taxes or other revenue sources.

On February 5, 2020, City staff issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a mixed-use development on 5.3 acres of City-owned land at 319 Biltmore.

Construction is underway for a new affordable and mixed income community at 360 Hilliard Avenue, next to the Aston Tennis Center.

The City is committed to environmental, economic, and social justice. With our Equity and Inclusion Office's help, the City of Asheville will apply an equity lens to the work we do in every department.

The project will update the 2008 Affordable Housing Plan that was created by the Mayor’s Taskforce on Affordable Housing, which was last updated in 2015.

The City’s Living Asheville Comprehensive Plan calls for identifying strategies to honor the history and contributions of the African American community in Asheville. As a baseline for more fully documenting the rich history of the African American communities that have thrived here for generations, the Planning & Urban Design Department is currently facilitating an architectural survey of the city’s historically African American neighborhoods.

Project Overview The City will construct accessible sidewalk providing connection along approximately 0.6 miles of Airport Road (NC-280), including curb ramps, crosswalks, bus stop pads, and traffic signal upgrades, from Hendersonville Road (US-25) to the southernmost entrance of Walmart at 60 Airport Road. For project updates, timeline, and background information, click the button below.

The City of Asheville will be receiving $26.2 million in federal grant funding through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Government Fiscal Recovery Funds.

Project Overview The City of Asheville is launching the Asheville Rides Transit (ART) Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA) to improve public transit services and align resources with community needs. This project will analyze ridership data, demographic trends, and roadway conditions to develop short- and long-term strategies for enhancing the ART transit system. The project will identify techniques [...]

Art in the Heart is a way to unite, heal, and strengthen the community. Installations, artwork, and performances over the next 6 months will help spark important conversations on how to make this public space a place that resonates with Asheville’s diverse community and history. 

The Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care (CoC) is the collaborative planning body responsible for developing and overseeing a comprehensive and well-coordinated system of effective services designed to prevent and quickly resolve occurrences of homelessness in Asheville and Buncombe County. The CoC has four components: A membership body of individuals and organizations with an interest in understanding homelessness [...]

The purpose of the study is to identify regulatory or policy barriers that negatively impact the production of housing supply and to develop recommendations to help Asheville prioritize next steps to better align regulations with city goals. 

Asheville Unpaved is a community-supported initiative, led by Asheville on Bikes, Pisgah Area SORBA, and Connect Buncombe, dedicated to building a network of multi-use natural surface trails that will help Asheville-area residents and visitors connect with one another, their natural environment, and their city.

Project Overview The City of Asheville is restoring parks and infrastructure assets on Azalea Road that were damaged in September 2024 by Hurricane Helene. For project updates, timeline, and background information, click the button below. More Information

After Tropical Storm Helene, many of the light poles in Historic Biltmore Village were submerged in floodwater for several days. This project aims to assess and restore street lighting in the area to improve safety, support economic recovery, and ensure long-term resilience. The project includes a full assessment of the 92  City-maintained lighting structures and electrical components to develop plans and detailed cost estimates for repairs.  A timeline for construction of repairs will be available once the assessment has been completed.

The City of Asheville staff has created a proposal to realign the advisory boards to address challenges within the current system. 

The Boosting the Block project advances key elements in the Pack Square Plaza Vision Plan, including the planning, design and implementation of a gateway and cultural corridor along South Market Street. It incorporates place-based investments and programming that enhances the area’s physical and cultural environment.

In a continuing effort to document and honor the history and contributions of African American communities that have lived and thrived in Asheville for generations, the Department of  Planning and Urban design is assisting the Burton Street Neighborhood Association Leadership in the identification, documentation and dissemination of information pertaining to the history and character defining architectural and streetscape elements of the Burton Street neighborhood.

Outdoor infrastructure improvements at Burton Street Community Center include a new playground and swings, basketball court resurfacing, and enhancements to landscaping, lighting, and the open field.

Construction on the Carter - Ann - Patton Stormwater Improvements Project is underway. This is a Public Works Stormwater Capital Project with cooperation from several other agencies that are providing financial and other support for the project.

College and Patton Improvements Gallery Overview This project will implement improvements on sections of College Street and Patton Avenue in the core of Downtown Asheville with the goal of improving safety, accessibility, and equity for all users of the streets and users of the wider City transportation network. The project area specifically includes [...]

Project Overview The goal of this project is to transform Coxe Avenue to improve the safety and overall experience for pedestrians, bicyclists and other users of the street. The design will include improvements to sidewalks, stormwater and water infrastructure, lighting and streetscape elements and a reconfiguration of parts of the street. For project updates, timeline, and background [...]

The City of Asheville is working with their partner, the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville on a master plan for about 60 acres of land in Deaverview following the Purpose Built Communities model.

Project Overview The City of Asheville implemented a Downtown Improvement District (DID) in Downtown Asheville beginning July 1, 2024 following Council Action on June 11, 2024. A DID administers services within a defined district above and beyond those provided by the City. The services are funded through a special tax assessment added to property tax bills [...]

The purpose of the Patton Avenue Corridor Study is to develop transportation, land use, and urban design recommendations for Patton Avenue from the Jeff Bowen Bridge to the easternmost terminus at Pack Square. 

The Downtown Master Plan Updates will build on the Downtown Master Plan and Appendices (completed in 2009), to take a deeper dive into specific topics of focus related to the public realm. The Master Plan Updates will help address concerns about management of public spaces, enhancement of community character and expanded options for place-making.

The City is pursuing the purchase and installation of a prefabricated public restroom facility to be located in the public space on the College Street side of the Rankin Avenue parking garage. 

The City of Asheville is taking targeted steps to address the rise of crime especially in downtown Asheville.

Duke needs to replace or rebuild the substation at the rear of the Harrah’s Cherokee Center of Asheville and has approached the City to explore options to rebuild the substation on City property at 57 Rankin.

The area at the intersection of Edwin Place and Celia Place experiences significant flooding during high intensity storm events due to aged and undersized infrastructure. Additional areas in the contributing watershed along Sunset Parkway and Canterbury Road also experience flooding. To alleviate flooding, the City has produced construction plans for infrastructure replacement across Edwin Place, tying into the existing stream beyond Murdock Avenue.

Electrify Asheville-Buncombe County is a pilot program supporting home energy efficiency and electrification upgrades as one way to move toward the City supported goal of powering Buncombe county with 100% renewable energy by 2042.

The Food Waste Reduction Initiative aims to provide useful information and tips to residents seeking ways to reduce their household food waste, pilot opportunities for community compost drop sites, elevate the message of food waste reduction, and model food waste reduction initiatives in city facilities.

Project Overview The City of Asheville is restoring the storm-damaged parks and recreation system along the French Broad Riverfront after Hurricane Helene caused at least $25 million in destruction to the area that is home to 200+ acres of public parks, greenways and recreation facilities along the French Broad River. For project updates, timeline, and background [...]

The City of Asheville is in the midst of a large project to update the City’s Greenway Plan, ADA Transition Plan, and Pedestrian Plan.

Project Overview In September 2024, Tropical Storm Helene caused severe flooding throughout the region. The wash out of Gashes Creek Bridge restricted access to the Gashes Creek neighborhood, Highland Brewing, and the WNC Nature Center, prompting emergency coordination and temporary access planning.  In the long term, this project will restore permanent access to the area. Federal and [...]

The Greenway Connectors are on-road improvements in two project areas for bike and pedestrian safety and way-finding. The objective of this project is to connect greenways in the project area and provide safe passage for pedestrians and bicyclists from one greenway trailhead to another.

A Conceptual Master Plan for the long-term use of City-owned properties at Haywood Street and Page Avenue was approved by City Council in October 2020.

Project construction began in early 2020 and continued in phases, with substantial completion in November 2020 and final completion in early 2021.

Asheville City Council had adopted a Conceptual Master Plan for City-owned properties on Haywood Street and Page Avenue downtown.  Adoption of the Plan was a major step forward toward the community vision previously identified for these properties.  

Project Overview Stormwater crews have been working diligently since May 9 after heavy rainfall impacted the area. Crews have identified a significant number of utility conflicts in the area, preventing crews from installing the new stormwater lines. Staff are analyzing the possibility of rerouting and upgrading the line down Hiawassee St. from Rankin to North Lexington. 

The City of Asheville has prepared the Allocation Plan for the HOME Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) Program. The HOME-ARP Allocation Plan sets out how the City of Asheville and the Asheville Regional Housing Consortium propose to use an estimated $4,699,862 in federal HOME-ARP Program funds.

At their meeting on February 23, 2021, the Asheville City Council adopted new hotel development regulations that take effect immediately. The Hotel Moratorium also expired on February 23, 2021.

Project Overview This project includes the construction of approximately 1 mile of new 6-foot-wide sidewalk, including accessible ramps, crosswalks and drainage, along Johnston Boulevard from Patton Avenue to Johnston Elementary School. For project dates, timeline, and background information, click the button below. More Information Contact Information Dustin [...]

The City of Asheville is making improvements to sidewalks on both sides of the street on the northern section of Lexington Avenue between Walnut Street and Woodfin Street/Hiawassee Street. This 2024 GO Bond funded project will improve pedestrian safety and overall experience by restoring safe sidewalks and upgrading accessibility.  For more information, visit the

After hearing community input and gathering speed data, traffic calming is proposed for Livingston Street. This project would add speed cushions about every 300ft between Depot Street and Victoria Road. The speed cushions proposed are the same size as speed humps but would include a space between each cushion for emergency vehicles, pictured below.

Project Overview The City of Asheville is making improvements to the northern section of London Road (between Sweeten Creek Road and Belvedere Road) including the installation of continuous sidewalk and stormwater infrastructure upgrades. This project is funded by the voter-approved 2024 General Obligation Bond.  For project updates, timeline, and background information, click the button [...]

The City of Asheville is replacing the existing, aging, and unsafe municipal pool in Malvern Hills Park with a new, modern, and code-compliant aquatic facility that enhances community recreation opportunities and ensures accessibility for all residents.

Overview In partnership with the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, Buncombe County Government and the Asheville Tourists Baseball Club, the City of Asheville is spearheading a significant renovation project of McCormick Field.   For project updates, timeline, and background information, click the button below.   More Information Contact Information Chris Corl, [...]

Happening Now Starting in late summer 2024, Hyatt Pipeline, LLC will replace approximately 6,600 feet of 12-inch water line on Short McDowell Street and on McDowell Street from Meadow Road to Southside Avenue. As much work as possible will be done at night to minimize traffic disruption. (function (c, i, t, y, z, e, n, x) { [...]

Changes under consideration are proposed for the part of Merrimon Avenue between W.T. Weaver Boulevard and Midland Road (at Beaver Lake).

Project Overview The Municipal Building Capital Repairs & Restoration project is a structural repair project to demolish and replace the elevated slab floor of the Fire Station 1 apparatus bay.  In preparation for repair and replacement of the Fire Station 1 apparatus bay slab, Asheville Fire Department (AFD) administrative staff will relocate to nearby leased office space. [...]

  Project Overview The City of Asheville is restoring the Municipal Golf Course after Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic damage to the area. For project updates, timeline, and background information, click the button below. More Information

This greenway will feature a series of interpretive signs about the devastating impact of the razing of the Southside Community, a historically African-American community, due to urban renewal in the late 60s and early 70s.

Affordable housing has become a serious issue in Asheville, but the City is working to increase the number of affordable homes. The Neighborhood Lots for Affordable Housing project is smaller in scope but still an important part of the larger goal to develop more affordable housing options in the City.

This project area includes Brevard Road, Brookwood Road (North Asheville), Greely Street and Cove Lane, Joe Jenkins Road, Hazel Mill Road, Muirfield Subdivision, South Tunnel Road, and Swannanoa River Road.

This project area includes Old Shoals Extension, Monte Vista Place, Downing Street, Frederick Street, Britt Drive, Hilltopia and Plateau Road, Pine Tree Drive, Livingston Street and Depot Street.

Project Overview This City is constructing approximately 1 mile of new six-foot-wide sidewalk, including accessible ramps, crosswalks and drainage, along New Haw Creek Road from Beverly Road to Bell Road. Starting at Beverly Road, the sidewalk follows along the west side of New Haw Creek Road. Just north of Dogwood Grove the alignment shifts to [...]

Project Overview On June 2, 2025, City staff issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) on 3.72 acres of City-owned land at 29 Oak Hill Drive, off of New Leicester Highway. The City’s goal is to select a developer to work on a housing construction project that would increase the supply of safe, stable, and affordable housing [...]

The Old Toll Road Landslide Recovery Project addresses damage caused by Tropical Storm Helene, which triggered a landslide on Old Toll Road near the intersection with Sunset Drive on September 27, 2024. Public Works crews began repairs in March 2025, installing stormwater infrastructure and rebuilding the road.

A task force has been created to review the city’s open space zoning regulations and to consider amendments to update the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). These regulations relate to the open spaces that are required primarily for new development projects, not to be confused with larger public open spaces of city parks and greenways.

With consideration for physical distancing and other safety measures implemented by public health officials, the City has launched new ways to use outdoor spaces - like streets, sidewalks, parking areas and parks - differently, to support economic recovery and other community and business needs.

The City of Asheville and Buncombe County are partnering to document the community’s vision for the future of Pack Square Plaza, including the site where the Vance Monument was previously located. This project is a continuation of work launched by the signing of a joint resolution of the County Commission and City Council to create the Vance Monument Task Force in the summer of 2020. The findings of that initiative led to the signing of a City Council resolution in March 2021 to remove the monument, and to the dedication of funds to a planning process for the future of the site.

Project Overview The City of Asheville operates four parking garages in the Downtown Central Business District: the Harrah’s Cherokee Center, Wall Street, Rankin Avenue, and Biltmore Avenue garages. The facilities were built in 1976, 1988, 1988 and 2011, respectively.  As the facilities age the frequency with which they need to be inspected increases. A comprehensive parking facility [...]

This water system distribution  project is located along Patton Avenue (US-19) between Florida Avenue and Haywood Road. The project includes 7,000 feet of 24-inch waterline along with the installation of a 36-inch incasement pipe for a trenchless crossing of Patton Ave at New Leicester Highway, and other miscellaneous water system components including service connections and other appurtenances.

Project Overview Recognizing the tremendous local growth in pickleball, the City of Asheville plans to construct a pickleball complex with 8-10 courts dedicated to the sport with access to supporting facilities such as parking, restrooms, and lights. VIEW FULL PROJECT [...]

The housing focus of the Community & Economic Development Department is to partner with area non-profits, agencies, and for-profit developers to produce, preserve, and protect affordable and mixed-income communities in Asheville.

The City of Asheville received grant funding from the French Broad River Metropolitan Organization (FBRMPO) to conduct a $50,000 feasibility study for the remaining sections of the Reed Creek Greenway.

APR crews and community volunteers plan to increase hiking, walking, and biking options in Richmond Hill Park to include a 1.5-mile spur trail branching off of the existing Purple Trail.

Overview The purpose of this project is to replace a community-designed bus shelter in the Shiloh neighborhood near the intersection of Shiloh Road and Kent Street.  More Information Contact Information Jessica Morriss, Assistant Director, Transportation Department Nicole George, Project Manager, Capital Management Department

Over the years, the bottom of the culverts started rusting out in many spots, which has caused a depression in the ground at the walking track, near the Hampton Street side. Temporary repairs have been made in the past, but now it is time for a longer-term solution.

The City of Asheville Water Resources has received a $2 Million grant to help determine the water service line material on both sides of a water meter –  the utility- and customer-owned sections. The grant will allow the City to replace any water service lines that are found to be lead or galvanized iron pipe on both the utility- and customer-owned sections.

Asheville’s Stormwater program has been funded by a stormwater fee for more than 17 years in order to meet the requirements of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Stormwater Permit and Stormwater Management Plan. In order to better serve our community, the City is proactively  assessing our program and identifying areas where improvement is necessitated.

The City of Asheville’s Transportation Bond project will be engineering and constructing a section of the Swannanoa River Greenway.

The City of Asheville purchased a 10.88 acre tract of land owned by Carolina Day School adjacent to their athletic facilities at 2351 Sweeten Creek Road for future natural park development.

The purpose of the project was to develop a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary master plan intended to celebrate the literary accomplishments of Thomas Wolfe, better integrate the site into the Asheville park system and guide the restoration or rehabilitation of the cabin.

This project aims to enhance safety and accessibility for residents and visitors by replacing four traffic signals in well-traveled areas of downtown. The project’s comprehensive scope involves traffic signal analysis, infrastructure design and replacement, ADA/PROWAG compliance measures, and implementation of signalized pedestrian features. More Information Contact Information Susannah Horton, [...]

Early in 2022, the City of Asheville, Buncombe County, and Dogwood Health Trust formed a collaborative to respond to the increased need, and Dogwood Health Trust offered to fund a consultancy to bring national expertise to the local community to better understand and address the crisis of unsheltered homelessness.  The City is serving as the contracting point of contact for this collaborative, and published a Request for Proposals in February 2022 on behalf of the group.

The City Council adopted the Urban Place Form Code District on September 28, 2021. The new zoning district aims to implement the transit-supportive growth strategy that is identified on the Preferred Growth Scenario Map of Living Asheville: A Comprehensive Plan for Our Future.

Project Overview The City of Asheville Planning and Urban Design department is developing an Urban Forest Master Plan that will guide policies and recommendations for sustainable growth and preservation of Asheville’s urban canopy. The project started in September 2024 and is scheduled to conclude in late fall of 2025.  For project updates, timeline and [...]

In response to community demands, the City Manager’s 30-60-90 day plan called for a resolution to remove Confederate monuments and to work with the community on renaming of streets.

As part of the bond projects initiative, the City of Asheville is preparing to replace sidewalks on Vermont Avenue in West Asheville. This project focuses on pedestrian enhancements, including Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements and crosswalk improvements.

In collaboration with the Southside community, the City of Asheville aims to preserve the historic character of Walton Street Pool by retaining key architectural elements and honoring its legacy through a vibrant reimagined use that integrates modern amenities while respecting the pool and bathhouse's historic fabric to serve the surrounding neighborhood and be enjoyed for generations to come.

The City of Asheville is in the process of replacing all water meters with an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system.

Following improvements to courts, parking, and greenway circulation within Weaver Park, a new playground and ballfield improvements will expand recreation opportunities and continue the modernization of one of Asheville's oldest parks.

Project Overview The City will construct approximately 0.45 miles of accessible sidewalk along the eastbound lanes of travel on Patton Avenue from Druid Avenue to Louisiana Avenue. For project dates, timeline, and background information, click the button below. More Information Contact Jill Weissman, Project Manager jweissman@ashevillenc.gov 828-989-3289

The N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT), in coordination with the City of Asheville, is currently working with a consultant to design a 1.3-mile extension of the Wilma Dykeman Greenway. This new section, formerly known as the North River Arts District (RAD) Greenway, will run along the French Broad River and Riverside Drive (N.C. 251), from Hill Street to Pearson Bridge Road. Once constructed, this greenway will provide a key connection between Asheville’s River Arts District, the existing Wilma Dykeman Greenway, future Town of Woodfin and Buncombe County greenways, the Reed Creek Greenway, and the University of North Carolina at Asheville (UNCA). This project will tie into the greenway network that is part of the larger River Arts District  and supports our community’s priorities for safe, connected, and resilient multimodal infrastructure.

The Gateway to the Southern Appalachians exhibit advances key elements of the WNC Nature Center’s Vision for the Future including the planning, design, and implementation of new butterfly gardens and play areas, enlarged gift shop, and “gateway” entry experience. The project area covers the section of the Nature Center that is [...]