After a second visit by developers Global Development Resources and their attorney Craig Justus, Asheville City Council gave the nod to a 132-unit gated development at the historic Thoms Estate in Beaverdam. In return, the developers said the gates would close only at night, and that there would be pedestrian access to the neighborhood for area residents.
Lead poisoning remains a major environmental-health concern, and though it is commonly associated with youth, high levels of lead exposure are linked to serious adult health conditions, such as high blood pressure and dementia. The Lead Poisoning Prevention Program works to promote lead-safe environments in Buncombe and Henderson counties by providing the community with educational … Read more
When Rep. Heath Shuler was sworn in back in January, it looked as though the neophyte lawmaker was destined to spend some time in the political wilderness. It didn’t help that he was returning to the city where a promising career as an NFL quarterback had quickly turned sour, making Shuler a pariah among rabid … Read more
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners tossed off a thin agenda in short order at their April 2 session. The high point of the meeting came when Swannanoa resident Eric Gorney, a former candidate for a seat on the board, presented Commissioner David Young with a pair of pink flip-flops. During the public-comment period, Gorney … Read more
An April 2 decision by Woodfin’s Zoning Board of Adjustment has at least temporarily derailed Progress Energy’s plan to build a diesel-fired power plant on land adjacent to the old Buncombe County landfill. But the company still holds a $1-per-year, long-term lease on the property as well as an option to eventually buy it. Power-less … Read more
On the heels of the warmest winter on record, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released its latest climate-change assessment on April 6. The report, which draws heavily on data provided by the Asheville-based National Climatic Data Center, summarizes climate-change impacts that have already been observed and projects future increases in drought, hunger, thirst, floods … Read more
In order to create an environmentally sustainable community, both elected officials and citizens must be open to policy and lifestyle changes, Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy said in her April 3 State of the City address. Hand it to ya: Mayor Terry Bellamy applauds city staff during her State of the City address. The speech highlighted … Read more
As a rule, people don’t usually think all that deeply about buildings. Sure, we all know that at some point, someone must have put them there, but we rarely think about the stories behind them. Built to last: The Asheville Citizen-Times building was designed by Anthony Lord, the man for whom Pack Memorial Library’s Lord … Read more
