Downtown Master Plan Updates Happening Now Downtown Public Space Management – Thank you for your input! Staff is working with a Committee of the Downtown Commission on the development of Downtown Public Space Management Guidelines as the first section of updates to the Downtown Master Plan. The Public Space Management Committee is chaired by Andrew Fletcher and generally meets on the first Thursday of the month at 2 p.m. More information about the Downtown Commission and its Committees is here. A survey was available between August 12 and September 23 of 2019 to get feedback on how downtown public spaces (most specifically streets and sidewalks) are currently used and experienced, and to get input on what priorities should be considered in the guidelines. On October 22, 2019 the Committee participated in a workshop to review survey results, rank priorities and identify focus areas to be addressed by the Guidelines. Notice: summary of results Notice: full survey results Informed by survey feedback and guidance of the Committee, staff is currently drafting the Public Space Management Guidelines. Once a draft is complete, the Committee will reconvene to review and provide feedback. The Guidelines will then go to the Downtown Commission for review. Background 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 Updates will respond to the growing popularity and number of people experiencing downtown, with goals to expand downtown vitality, facilitate local business and enhance livability while managing growing demands on downtown services and competing interests for use of space. The Downtown Master Plan Updates will result in policy statements, best management procedures, possible UDO changes and downtown corridor/district studies to create better management guidance for downtown. There will be three sections of the updates. Public Space Management Public space management guidelines Management framework Urban Design and Ordinance Updates UDO amendments Zoning map amendments Design Guideline updates Preservation Plan recommendations Corridor and District Placemaking and Streetscapes Downtown-wide development/streetscape standards (such as lighting, signage, seating, crosswalks) Consideration of sub-district areas that may have unique elements/standards that pertain to the character area/neighborhood of downtown such as sidewalk patterns, trees, seating and other enhanced place-making Planning for additional green spaces in downtown in order to enhance quality of life and quality experiences Contact Information Dana Frankel, Downtown Specialist 828-251-4051 Todd Okolichany, Planning and Urban Design Director 828-259-5840 Updated 01/27/2020 Related Services MWSBE Certification Find information to register for certification as a Minority, Woman, and/or Small Business Enterprise (MWSBE) with the City of Asheville. Watch a live stream of the City channel View live televised Asheville City Council meetings, at 5 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month. Business Inclusion The Business Inclusion Office for the City of Asheville actively seeks to identify minority and women-owned businesses for an opportunity to participate as providers of goods and services to the city. Apply for a commercial film or photography permit Information about commercial filming and photography work involving city-owned property, sidewalks, streets, and parks. Apply for a special event or festival permit Information about hosting an event on city-owned property, sidewalks, streets and parks. Find cold weather emergency shelter When extreme cold weather is expected, the Asheville Homeless Coalition issues a Code Purple Alert. Participating homeless shelters voluntarily add space beyond their normal capacity to keep as many people as possible out of the cold. To find out when Code Purple is in effect, visit the Homeless Coalition’s Code [...] Sign up for city e-newsletter Receive City News in your inbox! 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. Find financial support for your Asheville business Learn about financial support that may be available for your business. Find or register a minority, women or disabled-owned business Resources for finding or registering a minority, women or disabled-owned business. More Related Services Downtown Master Plan Updates News Homelessness: How our whole community wins when we invest in ending homelessness Posted on September 27, 2021 by Polly McDaniel Read Part 1 and Part 2 of our series on homelessness solutions in Asheville. Homelessness issues in Asheville are long-standing and complex. Right now, the City of Asheville has an unprecedented level of resources available to help end chronic homlessness and build the homeless service system we need to best [...] City of Asheville to launch Neighborhood Grant Program Posted on September 22, 2021September 22, 2021 by Polly McDaniel As a part of this year’s budget process, City of Asheville staff heard from our community that new City investments in neighborhoods were very important. To respond to that need the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 budget includes $200,000 to launch a Neighborhood Grant Program. This program is designed specifically for neighborhood-based organizations: Neighborhood associations; Homeowners associations; Neighborhood coalitions; and Resident organizations [...] City of Asheville’s Business Inclusion Office launches AVL Pathways to Grow training program Posted on September 7, 2021September 7, 2021 by Angelica Driver The City of Asheville’s Business Inclusion Office is excited to announce a new training program for local small businesses, AVL Pathways to Grow. The training program is geared towards helping women and small business owners of color to grow and scale up their businesses. AVL Pathways to Grow is a collaboration between the City’s Business Inclusion [...] More Downtown Master Plan Updates News
MWSBE Certification Find information to register for certification as a Minority, Woman, and/or Small Business Enterprise (MWSBE) with the City of Asheville.
Watch a live stream of the City channel View live televised Asheville City Council meetings, at 5 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month.
Business Inclusion The Business Inclusion Office for the City of Asheville actively seeks to identify minority and women-owned businesses for an opportunity to participate as providers of goods and services to the city.
Apply for a commercial film or photography permit Information about commercial filming and photography work involving city-owned property, sidewalks, streets, and parks.
Apply for a special event or festival permit Information about hosting an event on city-owned property, sidewalks, streets and parks.
Find cold weather emergency shelter When extreme cold weather is expected, the Asheville Homeless Coalition issues a Code Purple Alert. Participating homeless shelters voluntarily add space beyond their normal capacity to keep as many people as possible out of the cold. To find out when Code Purple is in effect, visit the Homeless Coalition’s Code [...]
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.
Find financial support for your Asheville business Learn about financial support that may be available for your business.
Find or register a minority, women or disabled-owned business Resources for finding or registering a minority, women or disabled-owned business.
Homelessness: How our whole community wins when we invest in ending homelessness Posted on September 27, 2021 by Polly McDaniel Read Part 1 and Part 2 of our series on homelessness solutions in Asheville. Homelessness issues in Asheville are long-standing and complex. Right now, the City of Asheville has an unprecedented level of resources available to help end chronic homlessness and build the homeless service system we need to best [...]
City of Asheville to launch Neighborhood Grant Program Posted on September 22, 2021September 22, 2021 by Polly McDaniel As a part of this year’s budget process, City of Asheville staff heard from our community that new City investments in neighborhoods were very important. To respond to that need the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 budget includes $200,000 to launch a Neighborhood Grant Program. This program is designed specifically for neighborhood-based organizations: Neighborhood associations; Homeowners associations; Neighborhood coalitions; and Resident organizations [...]
City of Asheville’s Business Inclusion Office launches AVL Pathways to Grow training program Posted on September 7, 2021September 7, 2021 by Angelica Driver The City of Asheville’s Business Inclusion Office is excited to announce a new training program for local small businesses, AVL Pathways to Grow. The training program is geared towards helping women and small business owners of color to grow and scale up their businesses. AVL Pathways to Grow is a collaboration between the City’s Business Inclusion [...]