Haywood Street Temporary Uses

Happening Now

Temporary uses of the City-owned properties on Haywood Street and Page Avenue downtown continues.

68 Haywood Street
This site is available for outdoor special events. Find more information about outdoor special event permitting here.

33 Page Avenue
A temporary community garden continues to be in-place. This is one of several sites included in the City’s Community Garden Program as part of the Asheville Edible’s Initiative.

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. More information is available here.

Background

In December 2015, City Council directed a community visioning process to inform long-term uses of City-owned properties on Haywood Street and Page Avenue. In March 2016, the City contracted with the Asheville Design Center to facilitate this work with an appointed Community Advisory Team. (The resulting Vision Report was accepted by City Council in March of 2017.)

Concurrent to soliciting public feedback and developing a community vision for the properties, the Community Advisory Team also considered temporary uses that could both activate the site and help inform next steps of the planning and design process. In December 2016, the Advisory Team presented the following recommended temporary uses and installations:

Raised garden beds
Mobile food vending
Open vendor markets
Movable seating
Interactive public art
Designated performance space

With City Council support, staff proceeded to implement the recommended temporary uses, including programming and flexible use of 68 Haywood and the creation of a temporary community garden at 33 Page Avenue.

To kick-off programming at 68 Haywood, a Request for Expression of Interests (RFEI) process was conducted in June 2017 for individuals or organizations interested in organizing regularly scheduled pop-up programs on the site. The resulting programs/activities are here.

A Mobile Food Vending Pilot program was launched in December 2017 to further encourage activation of 68 Haywood Street. The program utilized a simple application process that enabled site access on a first come, first serve basis (7 AM – 10 PM) when the site was not otherwise being utilized by an outdoor special event.

The planning process to determine long-term use of the properties began in fall 2020. A final Conceptual Master Plan was approved by City Council in October 2020. More information is available here.

Timeline

Spring/Summer 2021 – 68 Haywood available for outdoor special event use

October 2020 – City Council approves long-term Conceptual Master Plan

January 2020 – March 2021 – 68 Haywood utilized for construction staging to support the Haywood Streetscape Improvement project

May 2018 – Mobile Food Vending program re-opens for the season

September 2018 – Temporary Mural Installed (launch event on October 4)

December 2017 – Mobile Food Vending Pilot program launches

August 2017 – Scheduled programming begins; site made available through existing outdoor special event permitting process

July 6, 2017 – Site opens to the public for passive use

June 2, 2017 – Request for Expressions of Interest for temporary programming at is launched

May 23, 2017 – Staff presents an update to City Council on implementation of temporary programming at 68 Haywood Street

May 2017 – Community Garden opens at 33 Page Avenue

April 2017– Site preparation and improvements begin (creating an accessible surface, installation of electricity, site plan review for a food truck lot, purchase and install of amenities)

March 28, 2017 – Informed by a proposed implementation and management plan, City Council directs staff to proceed with implementation of Temporary Uses.

March 28, 2017 – Haywood Street Advisory Team presents final report on long-term vision to City Council. Council directs staff to develop an RFP/RFQ to hire a design team to develop design options based on the vision presented. (More information about long-term planning is here.)

December 13, 2016 – Haywood Street Advisory Team presents recommendations for temporary uses to City Council.