If you missed the May 7-8 public meetings on the City of Asheville’s Urban Centers initiative, we offer our residents a video version of the presentation given at these meetings. Watch the video, then scroll down for more information below this initiative.
About the Urban Centers initiative
The City of Asheville is working on a plan for the potential future zoning of properties at/near Kmart (Patton Avenue), Innsbruck Mall (Tunnel Road), Steinmart (Merrimon Avenue) and Walmart (Bleachery Boulevard) in a project called the Urban Centers initiative.
Creating Urban Centers is part of the City’s Comprehensive Plan, Living Asheville, which calls for the City to foster higher density, mixed-use development that is economically viable and pedestrian oriented in a way that contributes to the placemaking character of the city.
City Planning staff are reviewing how the properties may be used in the future and what they could look like if redeveloped. The initiative will look at land use, mixed-use higher density residential, and features such as walkability, bikeability and open spaces.
The vision is to support reinvestment through denser land use patterns and enhanced multimodal transportation. It is designed to improve walkability and neighborhood quality of life. Another goal is to bring housing closer to jobs by focusing on property located on high-frequency transit corridors to help the City grow in a smart way.
More opportunities to weigh in
City staff held two meetings about the Urban Centers initiative May 7-8. And opportunities to discuss these projects continue.
An online survey on Open City Hall Asheville remains open through May 31.
Planning staff are also hosting Open Office Hours for discussion on this project. Come by to review concepts and provide input:
9-11 a.m., 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., and 3-5 p.m. May 13, 15 and 17
Asheville City Hall, Fifth Floor Design Studio, 70 Court Plaza
Stay tuned for additional input opportunities, including Planning & Zoning Commission and City Council public hearings. Information is available online at www.ashevillenc.gov/urbancenters.