Vermont Avenue Sidewalk Improvements Bond Project Happening Now Outreach to the community as part of the planning for this bond project has been happening since 2018. Residents were invited to give feedback on design options for this project in October 2018. Using that input, three design concepts will be taken to the neighborhood in June 2019. There will be a public meeting 5:30 to 7 p.m. June 24 at Vance Elementary School, 98 Sulphur Springs Road, and an online survey available on Open City Hall Asheville. This project is scheduled for construction in 2020. Background 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. Vermont Avenue is known for its vibrant Halloween celebration in which many homes are festively decorated. It’s a wider boulevard-style street lined with trees. The sidewalk project, however, poses some challenges. Built many years ago, the Vermont Avenue sidewalk does not conform to current ADA and City standards for width. City sidewalks are required to be a minimum of 5 feet wide. Vermont Avenue also has large trees lining the street. Over time, the tree roots have damaged the existing sidewalks. The trees are now aging, rotting and in decline, and so must be removed. There are also choices to be made in terms of whether to replace the existing sidewalk on both sides of the street, or replace sidewalk on one side of the street and extend it down to West Asheville Park for greater neighborhood connectivity. Under the bond program, $748,000 has been allocated for the Vermont sidewalk bond project. This is enough money to do either of these options but not extend the sidewalk all the way to the park on both sides. Timeline November 2016: Asheville voters pass Transportation bonds 2017: Capital Projects Department forms to manage bond program and capital project initiatives 2018-2019: Vermont Avenue sidewalk improvements planning phase 2019-2020: Vermont Avenue sidewalk improvements design phase 2020: Vermont Avenue sidewalk improvements construction Supporting Documents and Links Capital Projects Transportation and Infrastructure Dashboard Vermont Avenue Project Overview Presentation Online Survey on Open City Hall Asheville Contact Information Lora Sepion, Tranportation Project Manager – Capital Projects 828-575-4385 Related Services Sign up for city e-newsletter Receive City News in your inbox! Watch livestream of city council meetings View live televised Asheville City Council meetings, at 5 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month. Explore city data Public datasets and maps are available on the open data portal at data.ashevillenc.gov. Gun safety Learn how to prevent deadly gun accidents and teach your children what to do if they come across a firearm. More Related Services Vermont Avenue Sidewalk Improvements Bond Project News City of Asheville seeking nominees for Neighborhood Hero Award Posted on November 25, 2019 by Polly McDaniel Many things make a good neighborhood: sidewalks, shady trees and manageable car traffic come to mind. But most of all, it’s the people who take time to know each other, who care about the health, safety and rights of their neighbors, who help and look out for children, elders and others in need. These are [...] Asheville ghost story: Helen’s bridge Posted on October 30, 2019October 29, 2019 by Polly McDaniel With Halloween coming up, we thought you might be interested in a local ghost story. Helen’s Bridge, 201 Beaucatcher Road, is made of quarried stone and was constructed in 1909 to provide access to the nearby Zealandia Mansion. The legend speaks of a woman named Helen who lived at or near the mansion with her beloved [...] City of Asheville partners with Buncombe County and historically black neighborhoods to create African American historic markers project Posted on October 22, 2019October 22, 2019 by Polly McDaniel A series of historic markers celebrating the heritage of four historically black neighborhoods is in the works as part of a partnership between the City of Asheville and Buncombe County. During their Oct. 22 meeting, Asheville City Council adopted an interlocal agreement to work with the County on this project. The project is being led at [...] More Vermont Avenue Sidewalk Improvements Bond Project News
Watch livestream of city council meetings View live televised Asheville City Council meetings, at 5 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month.
Explore city data Public datasets and maps are available on the open data portal at data.ashevillenc.gov.
Gun safety Learn how to prevent deadly gun accidents and teach your children what to do if they come across a firearm.
City of Asheville seeking nominees for Neighborhood Hero Award Posted on November 25, 2019 by Polly McDaniel Many things make a good neighborhood: sidewalks, shady trees and manageable car traffic come to mind. But most of all, it’s the people who take time to know each other, who care about the health, safety and rights of their neighbors, who help and look out for children, elders and others in need. These are [...]
Asheville ghost story: Helen’s bridge Posted on October 30, 2019October 29, 2019 by Polly McDaniel With Halloween coming up, we thought you might be interested in a local ghost story. Helen’s Bridge, 201 Beaucatcher Road, is made of quarried stone and was constructed in 1909 to provide access to the nearby Zealandia Mansion. The legend speaks of a woman named Helen who lived at or near the mansion with her beloved [...]
City of Asheville partners with Buncombe County and historically black neighborhoods to create African American historic markers project Posted on October 22, 2019October 22, 2019 by Polly McDaniel A series of historic markers celebrating the heritage of four historically black neighborhoods is in the works as part of a partnership between the City of Asheville and Buncombe County. During their Oct. 22 meeting, Asheville City Council adopted an interlocal agreement to work with the County on this project. The project is being led at [...]