Community and Economic DevelopmentDowntownIn ProgressQuality Affordable Housing
On February 5, 2020, City staff issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a mixed-use development on 5.3 acres of City-owned land at 319 Biltmore.
Coords:
Construction is underway for a new affordable and mixed income community at 360 Hilliard Avenue, next to the Aston Tennis Center.
Equity and InclusionCitywideIn ProgressEquitable and Diverse Community
The City is committed to environmental, economic, and social justice. With our Equity and Inclusion Office's help, the City of Asheville will apply an equity lens to the work we do in every department.
Planning and Urban DesignCitywideIn ProgressEquitable and Diverse Community
The City’s Living Asheville Comprehensive Plan calls for identifying strategies to honor the history and contributions of the African American community in Asheville. As a baseline for more fully documenting the rich history of the African American communities that have thrived here for generations, the Planning & Urban Design Department is currently facilitating an architectural survey of the city’s historically African American neighborhoods.
City Manager's OfficeCitywideIn ProgressEquitable and Diverse Community
The City of Asheville will be receiving $26.2 million in federal grant funding through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Government Fiscal Recovery Funds.
Planning and Urban DesignDowntownAccepting InputIn ProgressConnected and Engaged CommunityEquitable and Diverse Community
Art in the Heart is a way to unite, heal, and strengthen the community. Installations, artwork, and performances over the next 6 months will help spark important conversations on how to make this public space a place that resonates with Asheville’s diverse community and history.
Parks and RecreationDowntownCompleteWell-planned and Livable Community
The City has identified needed improvements to the Asheville Skate Park located at 50 Cherry Street. These projects include the development of an entry skate plaza, restoration of the amphitheater seating and fencing, and engaging with local artists to enhance the park and re-brand the park through street art.
TransportationDowntownIn ProgressTransportation and AccessibilityWell-planned and Livable Community
Asheville Unpaved is a community-supported initiative, led by Asheville on Bikes, Pisgah Area SORBA, and Connect Buncombe, dedicated to building a network of multi-use natural surface trails that will help Asheville-area residents and visitors connect with one another, their natural environment, and their city.
Parks and RecreationEastCompleteClean, Safe and Healthy Environment
The City of Asheville Parks & Recreation Department has contracted with Wildlands Engineering, Inc. to complete an assessment and provide preliminary design information of improvements to ensure the long term integrity of the pond, enhance public safety and explore recreational and ecological opportunities that may be compatible with proposed improvements.
TransportationDowntownAccepting InputTransportation and Accessibility
In the summer/fall of 2022, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) will be re-paving and re-striping portions of US 25, including Merrimon Avenue and Broadway and Biltmore Downtown.
City ClerkCitywideIn ProgressConnected and Engaged Community
The City of Asheville staff has created a proposal to realign the advisory boards to address challenges within the current system.
Planning and Urban DesignWestIn ProgressEquitable and Diverse Community
In a continuing effort to document and honor the history and contributions of African American communities that have lived and thrived in Asheville for generations, the Department of Planning and Urban design is assisting the Burton Street Neighborhood Association Leadership in the identification, documentation and dissemination of information pertaining to the history and character defining architectural and streetscape elements of the Burton Street neighborhood.
Parks and RecreationWestIn ProgressWell-planned and Livable Community
Asheville Parks & Recreation is collecting input from the Burton Street neighborhood on how to prioritize the spending of $500,000 on new, expanded, and/or updated recreation features in the park that surrounds Burton Street Community Center. This neighborhood investment money has specifically been earmarked for recreation infrastructure improvements in the park.
Stormwater Services and UtilityDowntownIn ProgressWell-planned and Livable Community
Construction on the Carter - Ann - Patton Stormwater Improvements Project is underway. This is a Public Works Stormwater Capital Project with cooperation from several other agencies that are providing financial and other support for the project.
Capital ProjectsDowntownIn ProgressWell-planned and Livable Community
The three elevators at the front of City Hall date to the original construction of this beautiful building, back in the 1920s, and the elevator mechanicals are well past their useful life. The proposed scope of work includes the replacement of two out of the three elevators, with the third elevator being preserved for historic purposes.
TransportationDowntownIn ProgressTransportation and Accessibility
The City has been working with Asheville on Bikes and Connect Buncombe to develop a plan to install buffered bike lanes on College Street and Patton Avenue in the core of Downtown. These new bike facilities will connect to other existing bike lanes and future bike lanes that are planned. The City would like to gather feedback on the proposed design and plans from the public, Downtown businesses, and property owners prior to planned installation in Summer 2022.
Community and Economic DevelopmentWestIn ProgressQuality Affordable Housing
The City of Asheville is working with their partner, the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville on a master plan for about 60 acres of land in Deaverview following the Purpose Built Communities model.
Community and Economic DevelopmentCitywideIn ProgressThriving Local Economy
The City of Asheville’s Community and Economic Development Department has commissioned Miller³ Consulting, Inc. to conduct a five year comprehensive Disparity Study of its contractual awards in goods, professional and general services, and construction.
Planning and Urban DesignDowntownCompleteWell-planned and Livable Community
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.
Capital ProjectsCitywideDowntownAccepting InputIn ProgressClean, Safe and Healthy EnvironmentWell-planned and Livable Community
The City is pursuing the purchase and installation of a prefabricated public restroom facility to be located in the public space on the College Street side of the Rankin Avenue parking garage.
City Manager's OfficePoliceDowntownIn Progress
The City of Asheville is taking targeted steps to address the rise of crime especially in downtown Asheville.
Parks and RecreationDowntownCompleteClean, Safe and Healthy Environment
The City is currently moving forward with the architect to develop construction drawings in order to permit and bid the project for construction. Staff will take the construction bid to council for approval for an anticipated construction start date of summer/fall 2021.
Community and Economic DevelopmentDowntownIn ProgressWell-planned and Livable Community
Duke needs to replace or rebuild the substation at the rear of the Harrah’s Cherokee Center of Asheville and has approached the City to explore options to rebuild the substation on City property at 57 Rankin.
Stormwater Services and UtilityNorthIn ProgressWell-planned and Livable Community
The area at the intersection of Edwin Place and Celia Place experiences significant flooding during high intensity storm events due to aged and undersized infrastructure. Additional areas in the contributing watershed along Sunset Parkway and Canterbury Road also experience flooding. To alleviate flooding, the City has produced construction plans for infrastructure replacement across Edwin Place, tying into the existing stream beyond Murdock Avenue.
Capital ProjectsFireNorthIn ProgressWell-planned and Livable Community
This facility will be home to Fire Station 13, a Police Substation, the relocated Emergency Operations Center, and a small community conference room.
SustainabilityCitywideIn ProgressClean, Safe and Healthy Environment
The Food Waste Reduction Initiative aims to provide useful information and tips to residents seeking ways to reduce their household food waste, pilot opportunities for community compost drop sites, elevate the message of food waste reduction, and model food waste reduction initiatives in city facilities.
Stormwater Services and UtilityEastCompleteWell-planned and Livable Community
Project construction began in the fall of 2021 with substantial completion this winter 2021.
TransportationCitywideIn ProgressTransportation and Accessibility
The City of Asheville is in the midst of a large project to update the City’s Greenway Plan, ADA Transition Plan, and Pedestrian Plan.
TransportationDowntownSouthAccepting InputTransportation and Accessibility
The Greenway Connectors are on-road improvements in two project areas for bike and pedestrian safety and way-finding. The objective of this project is to connect greenways in the project area and provide safe passage for pedestrians and bicyclists from one greenway trailhead to another.
Parks and RecreationNorthCompleteWell-planned and Livable Community
The City of Asheville and the Grove Park Sunset Mountain Neighborhood Association have been working together to make improvements at three parks located in north Asheville: E.W. Grove Park, Sunset Park and Griffing Rose Garden Park.
Community and Economic DevelopmentPlanning and Urban DesignDowntownThriving Local Economy
A Conceptual Master Plan for the long-term use of City-owned properties at Haywood Street and Page Avenue was approved by City Council in October 2020.
Planning and Urban DesignDowntownCompleteThriving Local Economy
Project construction began in early 2020 and continued in phases, with substantial completion in November 2020 and final completion in early 2021.
Asheville City Council had adopted a Conceptual Master Plan for City-owned properties on Haywood Street and Page Avenue downtown. Adoption of the Plan was a major step forward toward the community vision previously identified for these properties.
Community and Economic DevelopmentCitywideAccepting InputWell-planned and Livable Community
The City of Asheville has prepared the Allocation Plan for the HOME Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) Program. The HOME-ARP Allocation Plan sets out how the City of Asheville and the Asheville Regional Housing Consortium propose to use an estimated $4,699,862 in federal HOME-ARP Program funds.
Planning and Urban DesignCitywideCompleteThriving Local Economy
At their meeting on February 23, 2021, the Asheville City Council adopted new hotel development regulations that take effect immediately. The Hotel Moratorium also expired on February 23, 2021.
Capital ProjectsParks and RecreationSouthCompleteClean, Safe and Healthy Environment
Recent improvements to Jake Rusher Park in south Asheville will be complete with the installation of playable art in the late spring of 2022.
A Public Works Stormwater Operations team replaced failing pipes that ran underneath Kenilworth Road near its intersection with Rosefield Drive with a new larger pipe. This work was particularly challenging because of all the underground utilities surrounding the pipe. The headwalls were also replaced and the creek banks stabilized in this area as part of this work.
This project involved grading and removal of sediment from the site to improve flood capacity near Azalea Road and John B. Lewis Soccer Fields. Work included erosion control, grading, removal of sediment, and reseeding to establish ground cover.
WaterCitywideIn ProgressClean, Safe and Healthy Environment
The City of Asheville’s Water Resources Department has been proactively preparing for changes to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule since early 2019. Now that the changes have been finalized, the City of Asheville has a strategy in place to meet three key mandates of the revised rule: the creation of a Service Line Inventory, lead testing in elementary schools and daycares, and Lead and Copper Rule sampling.
Improvements are currently underway at the Linwood Crump Shiloh Complex including the Community Center, the ballfield area, and park spaces throughout the Complex.
Capital ProjectsParks and RecreationNorthCompleteWell-planned and Livable Community
It is anticipated that the project will include a new entry sidewalk, new play equipment and surfacing, repaving the walking path, new park lighting, removal of the bathroom building, refreshed landscaping, improved ADA accessibility and fencing improvements.
Planning and Urban DesignTransportationNorthIn ProgressTransportation and Accessibility
Changes under consideration are proposed for the part of Merrimon Avenue between W.T. Weaver Boulevard and Midland Road (at Beaver Lake).
Planning and Urban DesignCitywideIn ProgressWell-planned and Livable Community
The purpose of the study is to identify regulatory or policy barriers that negatively impact the production of housing supply and to develop recommendations to help Asheville prioritize next steps to better align regulations with city goals.
Capital ProjectsParks and RecreationDowntownIn ProgressClean, Safe and Healthy Environment
Beginning in summer 2021, the project will include turf replacement in the stadium, stormwater repairs and upgrades and ADA access to existing stadium seating.
The goal of this project will be to evaluate the existing stormwater system in order to develop engineered stormwater solutions and associated cost estimates to improve conditions throughout the Asheville Municipal Golf Course.
The Municipal Climate Action Plan will incorporate all new additions of policies and resolutions while creating a roadmap on how to accomplish adopted goals and identify those most impactful at carbon mitigation and climate resiliency.
Parks and RecreationEastIn ProgressWell-planned and Livable Community
Murphy-Oakley Park’s updated playground will intentionally address needs of this community through an innovative, inclusively-designed environment supporting physical, social-emotional, sensory, cognitive, and communication development.
TransportationDowntownIn Progress
This greenway will feature a series of interpretive signs about the devastating impact of the razing of the Southside Community, a historically African-American community, due to urban renewal in the late 60s and early 70s.
Community and Economic DevelopmentCitywideCompleteQuality Affordable Housing
Affordable housing has become a serious issue in Asheville, but the City is working to increase the number of affordable homes. The Neighborhood Lots for Affordable Housing project is smaller in scope but still an important part of the larger goal to develop more affordable housing options in the City.
WaterCitywideIn ProgressFinancially Resilient City
This project area includes Brevard Road, Brookwood Road (North Asheville), Greely Street and Cove Lane, Joe Jenkins Road, Hazel Mill Road, Muirfield Subdivision, South Tunnel Road, and Swannanoa River Road.
This project area includes Old Shoals Extension, Monte Vista Place, Downing Street, Frederick Street, Britt Drive, Hilltopia and Plateau Road, Pine Tree Drive, Livingston Street and Depot Street.
Capital ProjectsSustainabilityCitywideCompleteClean, Safe and Healthy Environment
The City of Asheville and Buncombe County are contracting with M.B. Hayes to install solar photovoltaic power generating systems (“PV Systems”) at 45 sites throughout the county. Construction will occur between March 2021 - February 2022 at several local public agencies, including the City of Asheville, Buncombe County, AB Tech, Buncombe County Schools and Asheville City Schools. The four City sites are Burton Street Community Center, Shiloh Recreation Center, Fire Station 10 and Fire Station 11.
Planning and Urban DesignCitywideIn ProgressThriving Local Economy
A task force has been created to review the city’s open space zoning regulations and to consider amendments to update the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). These regulations relate to the open spaces that are required primarily for new development projects, not to be confused with larger public open spaces of city parks and greenways.
Capital ProjectsParks and RecreationCitywideCompleteWell-planned and Livable Community
Outdoor sport court replacements with enhanced features such as new retaining walls, new fencing, new lighting, and improved ADA accessibility were completed at Murphy-Oakley Park (Park District: Southeast), Malvern Hills Park (Park District: West) and Montford Park (Park District: West Central).
With consideration for physical distancing and other safety measures implemented by public health officials, the City has launched new ways to use outdoor spaces - like streets, sidewalks, parking areas and parks - differently, to support economic recovery and other community and business needs.
Planning and Urban DesignDowntownIn ProgressEquitable and Diverse CommunityWell-planned and Livable Community
The City of Asheville and Buncombe County are partnering to document the community’s vision for the future of Pack Square Plaza, including the site where the Vance Monument was previously located. This project is a continuation of work launched by the signing of a joint resolution of the County Commission and City Council to create the Vance Monument Task Force in the summer of 2020. The findings of that initiative led to the signing of a City Council resolution in March 2021 to remove the monument, and to the dedication of funds to a planning process for the future of the site.
WaterWestIn Progress
This water system distribution project is located along Patton Avenue (US-19) between Florida Avenue and Haywood Road. The project includes 7,000 feet of 24-inch waterline along with the installation of a 36-inch incasement pipe for a trenchless crossing of Patton Ave at New Leicester Highway, and other miscellaneous water system components including service connections and other appurtenances.
Funding from the bond referendum passed in 2016 was used to renovate and replace playgrounds at Herb Watts Park in Southside (Park District: South Central), Leah Chiles Park in Kenilworth (Park District: East Central), and the Augusta Barnett Playground in West Asheville (Park District: West).
Parks and RecreationCitywideDowntownEastNorthSouthWestAccepting InputClean, Safe and Healthy EnvironmentConnected and Engaged CommunityEquitable and Diverse CommunityWell-planned and Livable Community
Recreate Asheville will serve as a road map for the next 10 years to connect, fix, build, and preserve recreation programs and parkland.
Community and Economic DevelopmentCitywideIn ProgressQuality Affordable Housing
The housing focus of the Community & Economic Development Department is to partner with area non-profits, agencies, and for-profit developers to produce, preserve, and protect affordable and mixed-income communities in Asheville.
TransportationNorthIn ProgressTransportation and Accessibility
The City of Asheville received grant funding from the French Broad River Metropolitan Organization (FBRMPO) to conduct a $50,000 feasibility study for the remaining sections of the Reed Creek Greenway.
Since June 6, City Council has voted to remove or repurpose the Vance Monument, passed a resolution supporting community reparations, and passed a budget that only funded departments for three months so that City staff could work with the community to reimagine public safety.
Capital ProjectsParks and RecreationWestCompleteWell-planned and Livable Community
Construction is complete on a new community picnic shelter and restroom facility at Richmond Hill Park. Key features of this project include a covered picnic shelter, winterized restrooms, an updated water fountain with bottle fillers and a pet dish, a new disc golf tee box at hole one, an expanded green space, and new walkways connecting park features.
Capital ProjectsParks and RecreationWestIn ProgressClean, Safe and Healthy EnvironmentWell-planned and Livable Community
In order to expand recreation opportunities in West Asheville, improvements at Roger Farmer Park include court resurfacing and field conversion.
Parks and RecreationCitywideCompleteWell-planned and Livable Community
Pickleball and tennis are currently experiencing significant participation increases in Asheville and have ardent supporters advocating for their respective sport. In order to support both racquet sports, all public outdoor hard surface tennis courts in the Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) are now dual-lined shared use courts supporting tennis and pickleball. This short-term solution immediately increases the City of Asheville’s outdoor public pickleball courts from 12 to 22 while retaining all 11 outdoor public hard surface tennis courts.
Stormwater Services and UtilitySouthIn ProgressWell-planned and Livable Community
Over the years, the bottom of the culverts started rusting out in many spots, which has caused a depression in the ground at the walking track, near the Hampton Street side. Temporary repairs have been made in the past, but now it is time for a longer-term solution.
Asheville City Council has directed the Sustainability Department to take a phased approach to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic.
Capital ProjectsParks and RecreationDowntownCompleteWell-planned and Livable Community
Splasheville, the very popular interactive splash pad located in Pack Square Park went under a major renovation beginning in spring, 2021 including replacing the controls, wiring and plumbing and repairing or replacing many of the surface tiles and their supporting gridwork.
WaterCitywideCompleteClean, Safe and Healthy Environment
Two separate events caused discolored water for Asheville area residents in late March and early April 2019. This page summarizes information shared with the community and addresses frequently asked questions.
Public WorksStormwater Services and UtilityCitywideAccepting InputIn ProgressClean, Safe and Healthy Environment
Asheville’s Stormwater program has been funded by a stormwater fee for more than 17 years in order to meet the requirements of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Stormwater Permit and Stormwater Management Plan. In order to better serve our community, the City is proactively assessing our program and identifying areas where improvement is necessitated.
Public WorksStreet ServicesWestIn ProgressTransportation and AccessibilityWell-planned and Livable Community
This street was selected to be resurfaced by the 2016 General Obligation Bond. Estimated quantities for the work were developed and the contract was advertised on May 9, 2022 with bids opening on June 9, 2022. City Council awarded the contract to French Broad Paving, Inc. on July 26, 2022.
Stormwater Services and UtilityWestIn ProgressWell-planned and Livable Community
A new drainage system, as well as an upgrade to a smaller existing stormwater system, was installed primarily along Sulphur Springs Road just past the recently renamed Lucy S. Herring Elementary School to Carrier Street.
TransportationDowntownEastIn ProgressTransportation and Accessibility
The City of Asheville’s Transportation Bond project will be engineering and constructing a section of the Swannanoa River Greenway.
Parks and RecreationSouthIn ProgressWell-planned and Livable Community
The City of Asheville purchased a 10.88 acre tract of land owned by Carolina Day School adjacent to their athletic facilities at 2351 Sweeten Creek Road for future natural park development.
Key features of the project included a new playground, expanded parking, new outdoor classroom, room to expand existing orchard, new outdoor table tennis, and new walkways connecting park features.
Planning and Urban DesignEastCompleteThriving Local Economy
The purpose of the project was to develop a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary master plan intended to celebrate the literary accomplishments of Thomas Wolfe, better integrate the site into the Asheville park system and guide the restoration or rehabilitation of the cabin.
The City of Asheville Parks & Recreation Department is making improvements to Triangle Park in downtown. The project includes re-sodding grassed areas, installation of an irrigation system throughout the sod areas, mulching under trees and other areas where grass isn’t feasible, limbing and pruning trees for better visibility and replacing the park furnishings such as trash/recycling cans, benches and picnic tables.
Community and Economic DevelopmentCitywideIn ProgressWell-planned and Livable Community
Early in 2022, the City of Asheville, Buncombe County, and Dogwood Health Trust formed a collaborative to respond to the increased need, and Dogwood Health Trust offered to fund a consultancy to bring national expertise to the local community to better understand and address the crisis of unsheltered homelessness. The City is serving as the contracting point of contact for this collaborative, and published a Request for Proposals in February 2022 on behalf of the group.
The City Council adopted the Urban Place Form Code District on September 28, 2021. The new zoning district aims to implement the transit-supportive growth strategy that is identified on the Preferred Growth Scenario Map of Living Asheville: A Comprehensive Plan for Our Future.
Public WorksStreet Services
Heavy rains that occurred in April of 2021 caused a landslide on the east side of Vance Gap Road near the Trailridge Road intersection. City of Asheville Streets Division operations crews conducted repairs to stabilize the slide and the City issued a Request for Qualifications for a design firm to design permanent repairs for the slide and to also perform a general stability analysis for the rest of the road.
Equity and InclusionDowntownIn ProgressEquitable and Diverse Community
In response to community demands, the City Manager’s 30-60-90 day plan called for a resolution to remove Confederate monuments and to work with the community on renaming of streets.
Capital ProjectsWestIn ProgressTransportation and Accessibility
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.
Parks and RecreationDowntownIn ProgressClean, Safe and Healthy Environment
Improvements are underway in Walton Street Park including parking lot repairs, seasonal tree pruning and the replacement of park benches and grills.
Planning and Urban DesignDowntownIn ProgressWell-planned and Livable Community
In 2018, the City of Asheville began researching and documenting historic resources specifically related to African American heritage in Asheville. During the first phase of architectural survey, it was determined that the Walton Street Pool is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The City has received an application from the Preservation Society of Asheville & Buncombe County to designate the pool as a Local Historic Landmark, which is currently under review by the Historic Resources Commission.
WaterCitywideIn ProgressWell-planned and Livable Community
The City of Asheville is in the process of replacing all water meters with an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system.
Parks and RecreationNorthIn ProgressWell-planned and Livable Community
The project will include rebuilding the tennis courts, resurfacing the basketball court, replacing the park bridge, improving the parking lots, landscaping, and installing new park lighting.
September is Emergency Preparedness Month - Week 4: A community approach can save lives