QUESTIONABLE
Deaverview Mountain Park could transform the neighborhood – but for whom?
Buncombe County will consider a $1.34 million contract to plan and engineer a major new park on 342 acres at Deaverview Mountain. Living near a beautiful public park could be a tremendous benefit for residents of the surrounding community, but only if they are able to remain and enjoy it. The proposed planning process does not appear to ask whether this investment could also increase housing pressures or unintentionally push residents out. The federal grant that financed much of the acquisition was available in part because the project serves a community designated as “disadvantaged.” As the County plans a park intended to benefit this neighborhood, it should also consider whether existing residents will be able to remain and enjoy it. The County should assess the displacement risk for this project, determine whether closer analysis is warranted, and then take action to ensure that existing residents are protected.
REPORT BACKS
Asheville Should Adopt “No Rent for Slumlords”
Asheville City Council unanimously adopted the “No Rent for Slumlords” ordinance requested by the Asheville Area Tenants Union. The ordinance makes it unlawful for a landlord to collect rent from a home that the City has found unsafe and unfit for human occupancy. This is a meaningful recognition that landlords should not profit while leaving tenants in life-threatening conditions, but it’s important to note that state law limits its practical reach. For example, tenants should not stop paying rent on their own and may withhold it only after an authorized City or court order. The ordinance’s impact will therefore depend on how clearly and assertively the City implements it, and on vulnerable residents understanding and advocating for their rights.