At the Nov. 10 meeting, City Council took action on and received updates for a range of agenda items. This meeting included actions and presentations on various issues from Helene Recovery items, including parks projects in Azalea, French Broad, and Montford, to speed limits and greenways – all designed to increase our community’s resilience, safety and connectivity.
Complete details on all agenda items and actions are available in the official meeting materials available on the City of Asheville website. A complete recording of the session is available on the City of Asheville YouTube channel.
Consent Agenda
This resolution authorizes the City Manager to execute a 15-year lease agreement with RiverLink, Inc. for the city-owned property at 91 Riverside Drive for $1.00 per year. It allows RiverLink to transform the vacant parcel into a nature-led preserve featuring environmental restoration, passive recreation, and art installations. Additionally, the resolution ensures that all site activities and development remain compliant with the property’s Brownfields Agreement and 100-year floodplain requirements.
“Partnering with RiverLink enables us to make the most of a disused, restricted-use property by transforming it into a vibrant nature-led preserve that revitalizes our urban space, protects the environment, and strengthens our community through environmental restoration and sustainable public access for our community,” said Economic Development Division Manager Rachel Taylor.
This resolution allows the City of Asheville to adopt a budget amendment transferring $30,375,000 in previously approved Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery funds to the General Capital Projects Fund. The original disbursement between projects remains, $9,000,000 for the Azalea Parks and Infrastructure Recovery Project and $21,375,000 for the French Broad Parks Recovery Project. These funds supplement existing capital resources to support the ongoing restoration and recovery of both park areas.
This project will repair Helene-damaged public infrastructure in Riverside Cemetery and Montford Park including reconstructing retaining walls with greater structural capacity at both sites, repairing the historic cemetery entry gate and columns, and repairing sinkholes and subsequent roadway and stormwater damage in the cemetery.
“Recovering from Tropical Storm Helene means doing more than just rebuilding infrastructure. It means honoring the historic character and unique heritage of Asheville,” said Asheville Parks & Recreation Director D. Tyrell McGirt. “Through the thoughtful restoration of our shared historic spaces, we ensure recovery preserves the legacy of our past while building a resilient future for our community.”
“With City Council approval and based on our traffic engineering reviews, we’re updating speed limits on these streets to encourage lower, safer speeds,” said Christopher Cairns, the City’s Traffic Engineer.
The proposed 1.6-mile Smith Mill Creek Greenway corridor is one of the top 10 greenway priority projects in the City’s GAP Plan. This grant would provide 80% of funding for the feasibility study, with the 20% City match provided through the 2024 Transportation General Obligation (GO) bond, which also identified the greenway study and design as a priority.
“I’m grateful to our staff for seeking to leverage grant funding combined with the bond funding we already have available to move this priority project forward,” said Transportation Director Ashley Haire. “Projects like this greenway will make it easier for everyone to move around Asheville.”
New Business
This funding supports community-identified improvements within the I-26 Connector footprint between the Haywood Road interchange, along Patton Avenue and north across the French Broad River to Broadway Street. The project also includes improvements along Riverside Drive between Hill Street and Broadway Street. The bicycle, pedestrian and aesthetic improvements are based on the work of the I-26 Aesthetics Committee appointed by Council in 2018.
“We owe a big thank you to the highly engaged and dedicated community members who worked with the City and NCDOT staff for years to develop the recommendations that led to these improvements,” said Transportation Director Ashley Haire.