Government Accountability Project of Asheville

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• Community needs a seat at the table as Asheville considers Performing Arts Center on The Block (resolved for now)

• Asheville needs to adopt an anti-displacement policy (updated)
• Buncombe County needs to adopt an anti-displacement policy

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Updated Item: Community got their seat at the table as Asheville explores possibility of Performing Arts Center on The Block

As we reported late last week, City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday, March 24, to place a two-year land hold on the “Parkside” parcels to explore the building of a downtown performing arts center in Asheville. Importantly, the final approved version of the resolution stipulates that the City will “create and utilize, as part of this process, meaningful and robust partnerships [emphasis added] with the surrounding communities, including but not limited to the Block and East End.” This status of “partner” is of great significance to these communities–earlier drafts had merely offered “engagement”–so this commitment is a win. Read our report back here for more information, and consider sending an email of appreciation for this outcome and the anti-displacement one (see next item).

Updated item: Important progress toward an anti-displacement policy in Asheville

City staff recently presented promising plans for developing an anti-displacement policy, and Council appeared very receptive. The strategy is in direct response to the priorities the Legacy Neighborhood Coalition has put forward, and calls for “authentic community engagement and cross-departmental coordination.” While this is still a plan, and not yet a reality, the way the City is approaching this issue is very encouraging. Read more below and consider sending an email of appreciation for this outcome and the performing arts one above.

Take action with us:
Here are all active email templates:

• Email City Council and staff to express appreciation for their recent actions on the performing arts center and an anti-displacement policy
• Email the Buncombe County Commission about the need for an overarching anti-displacement policy

Resources:

We prepared a three-part Special Report on the history of the proposed performing arts center called “Before Parkside: An Active Eagle Street Community.”

• Click here to read our introduction
• Click here for Part 1
• Click here for Part 2
• Click here for Part 3 

Click here to read our full proposed anti-displacement policy proposal.