This post provides twitter-based coverage of the 11th Annual Asheville Metro Economic Outlook, which took place Wednesday evening, July 28, 2010. Above: A graph showing the rate of employment change since January 2007. According to local economist Tom Tveidt, the area is only 600 jobs away from experiencing positive growth.
A proposed ordinance that would allow considerably more density — and faster approval — for green, affordable development saw a reversal last week when the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission voted it down 3-2 and recommended a scaled-down version instead. The rules triggered a debate about exactly how Asheville will pursue the oft-touted goal of sustainability.
A “scheduled water interruption” in the South French Broad Avenue area has shut down water to homes, along with the YWCA’s child care center and summer camp. According to YWCA marketing director Ami Worthen, however, the organization received no notice of the interruption beforehand. Shortly after 2 p.m., water returned to the area.
In this week’s podcast, Xpress film critics Ken Hanke and Justin Souther: Dismiss Ramona and Beezus and noncommittally shrug off Salt; experience gross-out glee at The Fly; don’t reveal the secret of The Crying Game; and guess about the quality of soon-to-be-released flicks Dinner for Schmucks, The Kids Are Alright, Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore and Charlie St. Cloud.
Some Buncombe County residents may soon be Asheville citizens: At its July 27 meeting, Asheville City Council approved beginning the process of two annexations — Coopers Hawk and Royal Pines. Council member Bill Russell voted against both annexations; Mayor Terry Bellamy joined him in voting against an annexation in the Royal Pines area, citing concerns about the size of the annexed area and about providing service. Mountain Xpress Senior News Reporter David Forbes reported on the meeting via the social-media outlet Twitter. Other discussions included incentives for a Montford development, handicapped parking downtown and domestic-partner benefits.
