PRESERVING ASHEVILLE
An Investigative Series
PUBLISHED PIECES
ASHEVILLE REMEMBERS THOMAS WOLFE
Written September 1, Published October 17, 2021
An angel stands guard over the visitors of Pack Square in downtown Asheville. It stands just outside the north entrance of the Asheville Art Museum, a monument clothed in bronze and humility, the head downcast and the right arm raised. There lies beneath the feet a plaque which states:
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“Whereon the pillars of this earth are founded, towards which the conscience of the world is tending—a wind is rising, and the rivers flow.”
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MOVING FORWARD WITH URBANIZATION PLANS
Written October 7, Published October 24, 2021
The Asheville Planning and Zoning Commission voted on Oct. 6 to move forward with the second phase of the city’s urbanization plan.
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The Urban Centers initiative aims to expand the city’s urban corridors and includes transitioning the area along South Tunnel Road, including the Asheville Mall, toward dense urbanization. This would mean fewer single-story, stand-alone buildings in large, empty parking lots, and more multi-story buildings combining both commercial and residential space.
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“They’re catering to the developers and ignoring the concerns of the residents of the city,” said Eric Fisher, a local resident.
SELF-PUBLISHED
WOMAN DEDICATES HER LIFE TO PRESERVING LOCAL HISTORY AND CULTURE
September 17, 2021
A young girl wanders aimlessly through the streets of Dollar Bay, Michigan, a small town - less than 26 square miles, less than 2,000 people. She knows every dip in the road, every crack in the sidewalk. She comes across an old building and, camera in hand, pushes aside the creaky door and marches inside, ignoring the faded sign that reads “Private Property - No Trespassing.”
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One might picture this child growing into a delinquent, a troublemaker, but no. Erica LeClaire, 25-years-old, was always a model child, despite her mild acts of trespassing.
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“I was an angel!” she said. “I did everything anyone told me to do. I got straight A’s. I was not going to step a toe out of line - unless it was one of those things that was widely accepted that everyone just did.”
SAVE CHARLOTTE STREET: DEVELOPERS WITHDRAW ORIGINAL PROPOSAL, A SMALL VICTORY FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS
October 1, 2021
The neighborhood surrounding Charlotte Street just north of downtown Asheville remains quiet and quaint, the type of neighborhood where you find people taking a leisurely stroll, where bikes ride up and down the streets from dawn to dusk, where grandparents play with little children in front yards.
One of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, it exhibits a multitude of craftsman style homes and bungalows, mostly from the post-WWI era, but some as far back as the 1880s.
PRESERVING ASHEVILLE’S HISTORIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL CULTURE
November 19, 2021
Between 2010 and 2019, Asheville’s population grew by 11.3% and Buncombe County’s population grew by 9.6%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In 2019, Buncombe County saw over 11 million visitors, including more than 4 million overnight guests, according to the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority’s annual report.
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“Right now, part of what makes Asheville such a desirable place to come visit is our historic architecture,” said Jessie Landl, executive director of the Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County. “How does the city balance this thing that makes us so special - our historic architecture - with this need and desire for more housing and hotels and the whole deal?”