UP|Asheville http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/forums.html Sun, 11 May 2008 19:17:50 -0500 30 UP|Asheville http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/forums.html <![CDATA[Human Services building & deck]]>


The old Sears building is a bit of an odd one, so the new building makes no attempt to fit in with the old one. This looks like it will result in a pretty long, blank, steril space along Coxe, which needs all the activity it can get. The downtown commission suggested putting a small retail use like a coffee shop at the NW corner to activate the parking deck, but the county appears to have declined. I wonder if, with this new addition, they can convert the old street entrance to the Sears into a retail space. I doubt it, the county doesn't want to be a commercial landlord.]]> Thu, 08 May 2008 11:10:46 -0500 orulz Carolina First Center
However, it's a sterile box with retail that's nicely oriented to the street. Somehow I pictured it being set back 10 or 20 feet from the sidewalk behind some planters, but it's not... and that's a good thing.]]> Tue, 06 May 2008 09:04:46 -0500 orulz Carolina First Center
]]> Mon, 05 May 2008 11:12:28 -0500 artworks1437 More new construction in Biltmore Village?
There's an item on the May 5th TRC agenda called "Pickwick Lofts / Swannanoa River Road." Seems to me like this would be right next to the "Silverman" project, since there's a street off of Caledonia called Pickwick just across from the Silverman lot.]]> Fri, 02 May 2008 12:38:46 -0500 orulz <![CDATA["The Block" revitalization back on the table]]> here.

The proposal looks something like this:

]]> Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:05:42 -0500 orulz More new construction in Biltmore Village?
The fact that this is a flood zone leads to the disappointing design decision of dedicating the ground level to parking. However, it does seem that there will be a walkway that extends the entire length of the building's second level, which could serve kind of like a sidewalk.

Check the elevations and site plan on the Development Mapper.

This location is pretty well cut off from Biltmore Village proper, but it seems like it would be technically possible to build a street linkage from Reed street in BV over the tracks to Decatur Street, and then across the Swannanoa River from Thompson Street to Swannanoa River Road. The 2004 Wilma Dykeman Riverway plan calls for several new connections across the Swannanoa. While this isn't one of them, why couldn't it be? Such a connection would also be very important, since the proposed train station is along Decatur Street.]]> Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:43:43 -0500 orulz Asheville Gateway Westgate Expansion is up on the Development Mapper. Plans include a new 7 story retail/residential building, a 5-story parking deck, a new 3-story office/retail building, and another 1-story retail building. The plan pretty much looks like a strip mall with a tall apartment building and a parking deck attached, not really very urban.

I'm disappointed that the new 1-story retail building they're planning will preclude the possibility of building anything right up to the sidewalk of Patton Avenue, which will hopefully be a pretty nice stroll into downtown once the I-26 connector project is done.

A few renderings are on the FIRC group website..




]]> Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:26:16 -0500 orulz Grove Arcade Tower plans dusted off? Red = footprint of hotel tower designed like the Grove Arcade tower
Green = new retail "arcade" space
Blue = footprint of new modern condo tower
Purple = Haywood Building (1917)
Cyan = Bon Marche / Starnes Building (1923)
Yellow = Haywood Park Hotel atrium (1987)

The first drawing below is a depiction of the current plan, as best as I can tell. Note how the condo tower impinges on the footprint of the Haywood Building. The Haywood building would be demolished (with facade possibly though unlikely preserved) and replaced with a 5-story structure.


The second drawing is my change for the complex. The condo tower is pushed back ~50 feet from Haywood Street, outside of the footprint of the Haywood Building. The Haywood Building is left alone.


The aerial shows that the 21 Battery Park driveway is more than wide enough to handle the traffic for both 21BP and this project, but I don't expect that to happen due to the difficulty of drafting an agreement with the 21BP developer and HOA to share the driveway. Nevertheless, there are still alternative locations for parking entrances than right off of Haywood Street.]]> Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:08:58 -0500 orulz Grove Arcade Tower plans dusted off?

The second clearly shows that something will be built that is "taller than" the haywood building. East of the Starnes bldg, you will see that it steps up to 5 stories, though stories 4 and 5 are set back slightly. The Haywood building is 3 stories tall - this makes me think there is a slight chance its facade will be preserved and used as the non-setback portion of that building. However, notice in the 3rd bay from the left on the building, how there is an archway that corresponds to the main entrance. There is no such feature on the Haywood building. Also, the furthest bay to the right is a parking entrance (though one of the retail bays of the Haywood Bldg facade could potentially be converted to a parking entrance.)


I would rather they push the condo building back from the street by 40 or 50 feet, which is how deep the Haywood building is and explore ways to make the complex work without the parking entrance on Haywood Street (Share the 21 Battery Park driveway, or letting all vehicular access be from the alley off Page Street, for example.) This would leave the Haywood Building intact, and preserve the very attractive Haywood Street facade of the entire Haywood Park complex.]]> Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:51:24 -0500 orulz Grove Arcade Tower plans dusted off?
QUOTE (orulz @ Apr 23 2008, 11:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Did you happen to hear about the Haywood Building (built 1917) - whether that would be demolished, modified, the facade preserved, or what?



To my knowledge they plan to renovate the existing structure for office and retail.

I personaly think it would be a disaster not to build it Especially with the plans they have for the hotel it is resurecting history of a prominent individual in Asheville, plus the condos, newly renovated and extended arcade to turn it in to a "Epicenter" type project. The area would thrive off of the revenu and become an attraction to highend retailers and Travelers. In turn making the city more of an attraction.

Of Course this is a optomistic view.]]> Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:28:46 -0500 password Grove Arcade Tower plans dusted off?
QUOTE (hauntedheadnc @ Apr 3 2008, 10:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
-- No art deco buildings will be harmed in the construction of this building.

Did you happen to hear about the Haywood Building (built 1917) - whether that would be demolished, modified, the facade preserved, or what?]]> Wed, 23 Apr 2008 10:16:09 -0500 orulz 2008 Brewgrass Festival Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:48:21 -0500 Sparkleman French Broad Place, Brevard
QUOTE (CapeFearRiver10 @ Apr 11 2008, 02:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Any updates?



Construction has started on this building.]]> Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:05:53 -0500 artworks1437 Asheville Development Plan 2025 http://www.ashevillenc.gov/business/develo...lt.aspx?id=1144


"The Asheville City Development Plan 2025 was prepared under the direction of a diverse and dedicated group of volunteers, the City Plan Advisory Committee. This committee ensured that public involvement was maximized and that the resulting plan reflected the issues and concerns identified by the community. The committee also made sure that the plan focused on issues of critical relevance to the future of the City."

I love looking at NC cities plans!]]> Fri, 11 Apr 2008 01:27:30 -0500 CapeFearRiver10 Asheville Gateway http://www.ashevilledesigncenter.org/index...ew&extid=43

The Downtown Master Plan
The first public meeting which will be on Thursday, May 8, 6-8:30 pm at the Asheville Civic Center.
]]> Fri, 11 Apr 2008 01:13:09 -0500 CapeFearRiver10 French Broad Place, Brevard
QUOTE (orulz @ Mar 6 2007, 09:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Stumbled upon this one today.
Here is the rendering:

And the ground floor site plan:

And then the article.

This is a plan for four a four-story mixed use building at the corner of Broad and French Broad in Brevard. This building will have one story of retail, one story of offices, and two stories of (expensive) condos. This is right at the bottom of the hill leading up to downtown on Broad Street (US 64/276), across the way from Brevard College (where all those old strip malls are.) The site plan isn't perfect, but it seems pretty good to me. I like how they incorporated the bank into the ground floor, even the drive through.

Brevard has always been a neat town, and I'm glad to see some downtown development going on there.


Any updates?]]> Fri, 11 Apr 2008 01:07:59 -0500 CapeFearRiver10 The Ellington Construction is supposed to start sometime this year I believe. Tue, 08 Apr 2008 21:55:09 -0500 hauntedheadnc The Ellington
]]> Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:33:09 -0500 artworks1437 60 North Market Street, downtown Asheville
QUOTE (NcSc74 @ Nov 12 2005, 05:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I agree totally. I think most Carolinians tend to forget about Asheville. It is a very engaging city. Is it me or does Asheville kinda feels out of place in terms of NC city wise. I think the distance has shaped the city in a totally different direction...and I like it. Grow Asheville but grow smart and never sacrifice you character.


I think Asheville and Greenville are pretty connected to each other. They both use the mountains to their advantage as a tourist draw. They are growing very similiarly also. Both cities dont really have any super tall 50+ story buildings but they do have a nice dense atmosphere and street scene that many other NC and SC cities would like to have. I would like to see even more of a connection be made between Greenville and Asheville. I have always liked Asheville for it being different from the other NC cities. I think Willminton also has that feel about it.
]]> Sat, 05 Apr 2008 09:57:19 -0500 erm1981 Grove Arcade Tower plans dusted off?
-- No art deco buildings will be harmed in the construction of this building.

-- The shopping arcade on Page Avenue will be designed to look similar to the Grove Arcade.

-- Atop the Page Avenue arcade will be an amenity floor for the hotel, featuring a green roof and a pool, among other things.

-- Atop the Haywood Street deck will be an amenity floor for the condo tower, featuring similar amenities.

-- The developers are considering adding a public outdoor ice skating rink that can be turned into a bistro area during warm weather months. Very preliminary.

-- The developers are considering adding an affordable residential component to the project, either by putting it in this project directly, building it directly elsewhere downtown, or contributing to a fund for it a la the Ellington.]]> Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:42:09 -0500 hauntedheadnc Grove Arcade Tower plans dusted off? Haywood Building might be demolished, have its facade preserved while the structure behind is demolished, or be otherwise structurally modified to allow for the condo tower planned along Haywood. I wish they wouldn't; there's plenty of area for the tower without tearing this guy down.

Something that we've maybe forgotten is that The FIRC Haywood Park proposal abuts city land that was put out for RFP last year, and was originally acquired for the new parking deck project that died a couple years ago. Wonder if Fraga could use his weight to get the city to turn that into a park rather than selling it off to a developer. He could then construct his development to address that park. Seems like a pretty good idea to me...]]> Thu, 03 Apr 2008 14:37:17 -0500 orulz Grove Arcade Tower plans dusted off? In that case, this development is really something to celebrate! Wed, 02 Apr 2008 22:36:48 -0500 hauntedheadnc Grove Arcade Tower plans dusted off?


This rendering shows a partially obsucred view of Haywood Street, but you can see that the buildings along Haywood will be unaltered.



]]> Wed, 02 Apr 2008 20:58:09 -0500 orulz Grove Arcade Tower plans dusted off? Wed, 02 Apr 2008 20:10:58 -0500 hauntedheadnc Grove Arcade Tower plans dusted off?
QUOTE (hauntedheadnc @ Apr 2 2008, 08:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Okay... there's been more talk of this story in the paper. I've also managed to track down some renderings, but I'm alarmed. It's very hard to tell, so I hope some other folks here will take a look and see what they can see -- but it appears that there's going to be some significant demolition to make way for this project, including the destruction of two art deco buildings!

Take a look and see if you can see what I hope I'm missing. If this project is going to take out some art deco buildings, I'm going to bring the hammer down on it -- as much as I can as a private citizen anyways. Nobody messes with art deco in my town.

http://www.fircgroup.com/residential/asheville/haywood-park

Luckily, I think you ARE missing something. To me, it seems that the two things that look like they will be demolished are 1. the Kostas building (which is a boring brick box), and 2. the Haywood Park parking deck (which, who cares?) Seems like they will leave the two historic department store buildings that now constitute the Haywood Park complex, and perhaps even the atrium, which was a (pretty well executed) 1980s addition, untouched.

Expect this to be ultra-upscale, as this is definitely the classiest part of downtown. And it looks to me like they're being pretty good citizens and keeping all the historic stuff pretty much intact. That can't be cheap...

The question is, is there room in this market for this AND the Ellington? I for one doubt it, especially considering how stingy banks are with loans.]]> Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:58:52 -0500 orulz Grove Arcade Tower plans dusted off?
Take a look and see if you can see what I hope I'm missing. If this project is going to take out some art deco buildings, I'm going to bring the hammer down on it -- as much as I can as a private citizen anyways. Nobody messes with art deco in my town.

http://www.fircgroup.com/residential/asheville/haywood-park]]> Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:27:46 -0500 hauntedheadnc Biltmore Square Mall Biltmore Mall considers upscale outlet concept

My wife said she heard several weeks ago that the mall would soon be remodeled. I guess she was on to something.]]> Wed, 02 Apr 2008 08:35:31 -0500 rooster8 Parkside Condos
My only problem with this building is that it's yet another yuppie hive. As if we needed any more of those.]]> Wed, 19 Mar 2008 13:41:47 -0500 hauntedheadnc Parkside Condos
I don't see any substantial changes in the elevation. The site plan clearly shows the new street planned in front of the building.

I like how this provides a defined edge to the southern side of the park, but it seems there's absolutely nothing going on on Marjorie or Spruce streets other than parking deck entrances. Marjorie not being a major street, generaly I wouldn't mind that too much, except that the lot on the south side of Marjorie is one of the places that is being considered for a performing arts center to replace the aging Thomas Wolfe Auditorium.


]]> Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:34:49 -0500 orulz Zona Lofts, Zona Village, Chrysler Building ]]> Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:22:06 -0500 orulz Ingles: A Changing Business
QUOTE (orulz @ Apr 20 2005, 09:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Up until the early 90s, Ingles stores had a very "funky" logo and the bright orange-and-yellow sheet metal facades. They stood out, sure enough. But as time progressed, that look became more and more dated to the point of being just plain tacky. Then, they came up with the idea of a "Super Ingles", for which I believe the store on Merrimon Avenue in Asheville (Store #2; #1 closed a long time ago) was the prototype. That was the grocery store that was closest to my home growing up, so it was where we always shopped.

I remember that after the early 90s update, the store included a pharmacy, video rental, a cafe, and a florist. The concept was fresh: on the outside there were earthy tones, a modernized logo, and stucco facades; in the inside things were brightly lit, always clean, and always modern. They've been tweaking things here and there to perfect the image since the Merrimon Avenue store was remodeled back in the early 90s, but the general concept has remained the same. It's a small touch but I believe they're a bit stricter with their employee dress code than Harris Teeter or Food Lion, and it really makes a difference in the atmosphere. None of that trendy, slightly dimmed "warehousey" feel you find in the newest Krogers or Teeters. The inside is bright, well layed out, and just pleasant overall.

Their prices have stayed competitive to boot, with the exception of Wal Mart. Food Lion can be dirty and just unpleasant, but yet their prices really aren't any lower.

Since I moved to Raleigh I've gone to a bunch of different kinds of grocery stores but every time I go back to the Ingles on Merrimon Ave. in Asheville I realize that "Yeah, this really is better."


Since my mom, is training at the starbucks there, for the starbucks on weaver blvd. in weaverville to open next month, all management at the merrimom avenue store, seems too weird.

she will become a starbucks manager.]]> Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:47:55 -0500 danbel89 Biltmore Square Mall
QUOTE (mallguy @ Sep 10 2006, 03:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
This mall is an attractive shopping center that at least has most of its anchors remaining and at least a few national chains inside, but it looks as if it's heading towards mall death. I'd say there is some hope, but I don't know the area or the mall's history.

Does it even have a webpage anymore?


www.mybiltmoresquare.com]]> Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:00:00 -0500 danbel89 Zona Lofts, Zona Village, Chrysler Building Council approves an 11-story building in south side of downtown

There was a general discussion of whether or not parking should be provided for. The developer stated that parking would be included in future stages.]]> Wed, 12 Mar 2008 09:44:34 -0500 rooster8 Ravenscroft Project
QUOTE (otis-t @ Mar 11 2008, 09:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I see what you're saying about the relative safety or blandness of these designs -- but what contemporary architecture -- in or out of North Carolina -- of a similar use and scale to these Asheville projects -- have you seen that floats your boat? Is there anything going up in Raleigh or Charlotte that's a better or more innovative design?


Nothing in Charlotte or Raleigh floats my boat, and if it did, I'd be there instead of here. Half the reason half of Charlotte and Raleigh head up here on the weekends is because we aren't them despite developers best efforts to change that. The reason I rail on this kind of architecture so much is because it's exactly the same sort of boring crap going up all over Charlotte and Raleigh, easily two of the most architecturally somnolent cities in the nation. Asheville has a legacy and a history of good architecture and we deserve better. All the new residential or mixed-use buildings and projects going up down in Charlotte and Raleigh tend to look alike, down to the "flare" of a cylindrical tower feature at the street corner.

I'm not at all against development downtown or near downtown, but I demand something better than "contemporary boring." Buildings like this are the reason that most local residents around here want buildings that look old, as developers prove more and more every day that they are too bloody incompetent to deliver a decent modern or postmodern product. However, we're finding out that the beotchs are too stupid to even copy historical styles correctly, as with the Ellington. They all want to cash in on what the architects and developers of the past were able to do, yet nobody wants to contribute to the present or enhance the future. Do you honestly think anyone is going to point proudly to 12 S. Lexington, or to these clones of it in the Ravenscroft Project in the future? Hell no. These buildings don't contribute to anything. They just take up space. That's what most new development in Asheville does. It just takes up space, without adding a thing to the community as a whole.]]> Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:52:35 -0500 hauntedheadnc Ravenscroft Project Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:13:58 -0500 otis-t Ravenscroft Project Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:31:27 -0500 orulz Ravenscroft Project
You'd think I would have learned by now not to get my hopes up. On paper the Ranvenscroft Project is a good idea, but without decent architecture it's just another leech, sucking up the appeal of everything else downtown without contributing to it in the slightest, just like 12 S. Lexington, 21 Battery Park, the Griffin Apartments, the Ellington, and every other boring, ugly, or boring and ugly project built or planned for downtown. Just what the hell is it going to take for developers to stop building this novocaine architecture?]]> Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:29:45 -0500 hauntedheadnc Ravenscroft Project renderings and a master plan available on the Development Mapper.

The elevations (of building 'b') show a building of a very similar in design to 12 South Lexington.

It took a while for me to figure out exactly what's going on with the site plan, but I think I get it now. There are five buildings. The entire development will be built on what seems to be one large parking deck, which will have just once entrance, accessible from Collier Avenue. There will be two new internal streets, between Ravenscroft and Collier. There will be a triangular plaza located where Collier and Ravenscroft come to a point, with the third side being defined by one of the internal streets. The grove of trees on the hill behind 120 Coxe will be kept as a "natural amenity area." Two new buildings (6 and 7 stories each) will face Banks Avenue, which will be given a streetscape treatment similar to Collier with Zona Village.

There will be lots of stairs and pedestrian paths to connect places where there are no streets.

Here is the site plan, with some colors added to illustrate.
Green is green space & the triangular plaza. Red are the new streets. Blue is the existing Ravenscroft. Gray is the parking deck entrance. Purple are the pedestrian connections.
]]> Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:14:47 -0500 orulz 60 North Market Street, downtown Asheville
That whole Renaissance property is such a missed opportunity. In my imagination the part that fronts on College would be replaced with a deck with offices/retail wrapped on the front (similar to the L Building in Raleigh).

I can dream. smile.gif]]> Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:36:36 -0500 rooster8 60 North Market Street, downtown Asheville ^ Did they try? Hopefully it will be reopened if the Renaissance parking lot is ever redeveloped. Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:16:27 -0500 orulz 60 North Market Street, downtown Asheville Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:08:04 -0500 rooster8 60 North Market Street, downtown Asheville Ooh. I did not realize this building had a construction cam. Thanks! Mon, 10 Mar 2008 09:30:18 -0500 orulz 60 North Market Street, downtown Asheville
http://oxblue.com/pro/open/?webPath=coxschepp/60nmarket]]> Mon, 10 Mar 2008 09:23:34 -0500 28202 Zona Lofts, Zona Village, Chrysler Building Sun, 09 Mar 2008 15:27:04 -0500 hauntedheadnc Zona Lofts, Zona Village, Chrysler Building

If Alexander Reagan really can pull off Zona Lofts and Zona Village, I would really love to see them set up shop in some other NC cities as well. I doubt they could make it work in a city like Raleigh with pretty severe restrictions on max density and parking requirements, but there are other cities such as Greensboro with no such restrictions where I imagine there would be great demand for affordable high rise living. The best thing about them is that their buildings are composed of perhaps 30% high-end and 70% average income (perhaps 80%-120% of average area income) units, with 100% of units being market-rate. A more typical approach is to build 80% or 90% high end, plus 10% or 20% "affordable," income-restricted units targeted at folks making 80% or less of the average area income.]]> Sat, 08 Mar 2008 08:44:37 -0600 orulz Capital Center, Asheville The parking lot across Commerce from this building is owned by the same folks. Maybe there is potential for future development that will help to improve the business activity of this street. Thu, 06 Mar 2008 10:23:54 -0600 rooster8 Capital Center, Asheville article in today's paper about this project.

Construction will wrap up before the end of '08. The office space (floors 2-7) is 65% sold. There will be a restaurant and bar on the 8th floor. Ground floor (Commerce) will house a kitchen, mechanical stuff, and 2877sf of retail; 1st floor (Patton) will be 4993sf of retail.]]> Thu, 06 Mar 2008 09:03:16 -0600 orulz Pack Square Renovation According to this article the projected completion date of Pack Square Park is now April 5th, 2063.

The latest complaint is that "all of a sudden" NCDOT wants an erosion and stormwater control plan before they'll give any money to the project. No explanation of why they didn't try to figure this sort of thing out when they got federal money through DOT in the first place...

Seriously, whoever is in charge of this thing needs to be sacked. They are completely inept at getting their ducks in a row, dealing with bureaucracy, and using politics to cut through red tape.]]> Thu, 06 Mar 2008 08:53:08 -0600 orulz Downtown Development Moratorium? downtown development moratorium until the master plan can be completed, which may take a year. The idea is, to not continue approving anything downtown until we're sure what we want downtown to look like in the end.

I, personally find that to be preposterous. The current CBD zoning regs and review process pretty much ensure that nothing that's absolutely objectionable will get built. While the master plan will provide structure and direction for downtown growth, I think that an outright ban on all development in the CBD is exactly what we DON'T want to happen. Downtown may very well stagnate for a year anyway because of the economic downturn. Don't make it even more hopeless by using council's regulated authority to mandate stagnation.]]> Thu, 06 Mar 2008 08:40:58 -0600 orulz <![CDATA[Modify the S&W Building?]]> MountainX.com, a high end restaurant called S&W Steak & Wine will open in the former cafeteria space. The article states that the developer is planning to put a coffeehouse in the space next door.]]> Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:38:27 -0600 rooster8