On Tuesday evening, members of City Council voted unanimously to convey City-owned property at 3 Hunt Hill Place for $1 to KL Training Solutions, a local non-profit that serves low- and moderate-income youth in Asheville. The site will host educational and mentorship programs, academic enrichment, community events and job training for youth ages 6 – 19.
According to the staff report, KL Training Solutions will use the property to house its programs, My Daddy Taught Me That, My Sistah Taught Me That and My Daddy Taught Me That Jr., which provide youth with college and career readiness and enrichment opportunities. The conveyance of the property for this purpose will provide community development services and support the City’s vision of reducing the educational achievement gap. The deed will include restrictions that the property may only be used for the public use of provision of community development programs and activities by this non-profit.
“The success of the My Daddy Taught Me That approach to violence interruption has been held up as a national model for fostering youth empowerment in the community, ” said Nikki Reid, Director of Community and Economic Development with the City of Asheville. “Conveying this property to KL Training Solutions will help them to continue their work, which ultimately benefits our community as a whole.”
The property itself was owned by the City since the 1940s and is considered part of the East End/Valley Street neighborhood. According to a staff memo on the real estate process, the property housed the City’s Purchasing Division offices and warehouse until 2017, when it became the interim location for the Parks and Recreation Maintenance Division. However, nearby residents brought forth concerns about traffic volume and noise coming from the facility, so the Parks Maintenance Division was relocated to 81 Thompson Street in the spring of 2023. It was at that time that Community Development staff saw an opportunity to repurpose the former operations facility for a community-driven program while reducing impacts on the surrounding community.
“KL Training Solutions demonstrated broad support from local nonprofit leaders,” said Reid .”We are excited to offer this level of support for the important work they are doing in the community.”