RIVERARTS NEWS

100 Park Avenue Revisited

On Monday, June 25, 2007 neighbors from WECAN got a chance to voice their opinions with Hank Joiner & Smith Wilson, the developers for the old Pioneer Welding site. The neighbors present were Pattiy Torno, Joe Fioccola, Byron Ballard, Jessie Coleman, Bret Frk, Marjorie Vestal, Luella & David Heetderks.
In two hours, Smith & Hank gave an overview of their project, which at this point is substantially the same as the plan that was denied at Planning & Zoning on June 6,2007.  The main adjustment was to include 4 affordable units for a total of 41 units.  Joe Fioccola also asked if building #6 could be split/shifted to allow for a drive to come through the middle of its current foot print.  This would leave the possibility for a loop drive if and when the Transit Authority is brought back into the fabric of our neighborhood that might help address Luella's continuing traffic concerns.  Marjorie Vestal commented that her biggest problem in the neighborhood was the Bus Facility and that she was looking forward to as many new neighbors as possible to help convince the City of Asheville of the need for its relocation.
The neighbors made clear that they prefer the walk from Jefferson Drive up to the 100 Park Avenue site to stay to the north side of Pop's House.
The price points of this project hover around $250 per square foot... which means 4 affordable units for $100,000 to $150,000 and 37 units from $230,000 to $330,000.  While recognizing the pressure this will put on our property taxes, no solution was offered.
The architect for the project, Jane Matthews, showed us photoshop versions of what the top of the hill is projected to look like once this project is completed from Clingman Avenue at the bottom of the hill and from Curve Studios Parking lot.  In my opinion, with some trees, it is not so bad.  Smith Wilson has already purchased a windmill from some of his friends in Amish Country and hopes to put it on top of the hill, perhaps to generate some electricity for 100 Park Ave?  Bret Frk spoke to the issue of all the buildings looking the same, counter to the current flavor of the variety of style exsisting, side by side in the neighborhood.  The development team seemed open to talk about varying the colors as well as some "cool features", an architecture term coined at the meeting to include the possibility of handmade (by River Arts District Artists) exterior design elements.  Hank has voiced his desire to install some sculptural pieces on the 100 Park Avenue site.
Because of the addition of affordable units to this project, the development team will be required to go back to P&Z.  There will also be at least one more neighborhood meeting where the development team will  show WECAN the revised set of plans for the 100 Park Avenue Project, that we hope will address all of our concerns.
As i said in an e-mail to Hank & Smith the next day:
"WECAN is very appreciative of your sharing your time with us.
We are grateful for your willingness to sit down, talk, listen and respond.
I do feel we are finally on the right track."
I think that WECAN neighbors are scared of what this project will bring, but some of us took pause to think when Marjorie Vestal said she does not have a right to tell someone else what to do with their property. I think that the general feeling is one of trying to make the best of it, whatever comes.  That is what this neighborhood has been doing all its life.  And it has worked so far.

Clingman Lofts really go to TRC

Here is the first color rendering of the Clingman Lofts proposed for the northwest corner of Clingman Avenue and Owens-Bell Lane.  As I have said before, there will be 21 units with 51% of them meeting the City of Asheville's criteria for being "affordable".  The project formally goes to the Technical Review Committee on July 2, 2007 where i have been asked to go and express WECAN's appreciation for this project.  MHO continues to bring an appropriate mix of housing opportunities to our neighborhood.  We are so lucky to have them as neighbors.

Mrs. Greene of Greene's Mini Mart

Frances Green

Asheville - Frances Louise Young Green, 70, of 40 Greenleaf Circle, died peacefully on Saturday, June 9, 2007, at Mission Hospitals, St. Joseph's Campus.

Frances was a daughter of the late Lawrence and Maggie Fuggs Young. She was a former resident of Cleveland, Ohio, prior to moving to Asheville to establish Green's Mini Mart with her husband.

Frances is survived by her husband of 46 years, James A. Green; sons, Kevin L. Green (Cleopatrick V.) and Keith R. Green (Kishaun) of Asheville; grandchildren, Brea, Keyona, Azana, Kennedi and Tobias; brother, Lawrence Young Jr., of Phoenix; other relatives and friends.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Ray & Allen Funeral Service.

A private family service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations in memory of Frances for cancer support to Mission Foundation, Oncology Unit, 428 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, NC 28801.

Acknowledgments may be received at RayandAllenFS@aol.com.

100 Park Avenue Denied

On June 6th, 2007, the Planning & Zoning Commission voted 4 to 2 to deny the application for conditional use of the old Pioneer Welding Site, also known as 100 Park Avenue.  5 of our neighbors spoke out  against various aspects of the plans that you have been seeing posted here.
Jessie Coleman spoke of the class of people a high end development would bring to the neighborhood as being inconsistent WECAN's current more working class composition. One commissioner noted that it is unusual for them to hear of a neighborhood asking for more affordable house.  Luella Heetderks did a power point presentation to clearly illustrate the parking and traffic issues on Park Avenue. 
Pattiy Torno focused on a section of the UDO (#4 of Section 7-16-2(c)) that states: the proposed use or development or the land will be in harmony with the scale, bulk, coverage, density, and character of the area or neighborhood in which it is located. Scale seemed the key word in this debate.  Once it was made clear that this project would be 40 feet tall, on top of a 40 foot grade change down to Jefferson Drive, with another at least 40 foot drop down to Clingman, it was clear that the project does not belong. 
Alphie Rogdriguez spoke with passion about her neighborhood and our neighbor who lives at 1 Park Avenue, Bret Frk, who is an urban planner, spoke on the parking issues.
We are so fortunate to have such a strong, diverse set of neighbors.  This lovely fact came shinning thru last night and i am so proud.
It has never been the intention of WECAN to stop this project.  We just want the voices of our neighbors to be heard and respected, in physical form.  We hope very much to continue dialog with Smith Wilson and Hank Joiner who are the developers for this piece of property and look forward to some new neighbors to join in the fun that is WECAN.