Social district downtown activation proposal not to be pursued

Asheville, North Carolina, USA skyline over downtown with the Blue Ridge Mountains.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Council members, staff and the community are collaborating on ideas to bolster our economy and local business. A thriving economy benefits our residents, our workers, and our shared economy.

Several activation efforts like TAP,  Event Support mini-grants and the Downtown Food Truck pilot have already been well received by the community and participating businesses.

As we move forward, creating opportunity while respecting the residential fabric that binds our community will continue to be our guiding aim.

“Revitalizing our local economy after Helene is crucial for community health and recovery. However, this must be carefully balanced with ensuring a high quality of life for all residents,” stated Mayor Esther Manheimer. “During the October 14 council meeting, it became evident that a social district fails to achieve this delicate balance as an activation strategy, and therefore, it will not be pursued at this time.”

Proposals will continue to be brought forth for Council discussion and action. The proposal to adjust the event noise exceedance ordinance will appear before Council again at the November 18 meeting. 

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