I recently read the article on creating around 200 new homes in the Starnes Cove area that are supposed to be affordable for a regular worker making around 35K [“Buncombe Commissioners: Not Tonight,” Oct. 15]. I think it’s a wonderful idea to have affordable housing, but have they taken into consideration what kind of impact popping up 200 more houses is going to cause on the environment?
The people of Asheville scream and cry and they all try so hard to keep this city green, but it seems like Council/commission members and lead officers aren’t hearing their pleas. Have the commissioners considered EarthShip homes that are made from recycled goods, use solar power and are still reasonably affordable? With the economy in that area, too, even my own place of business is going under. Will there be enough employment for those new homeowners to be able to keep their payments up to date?
I think the commissioners really need to think things through about affordable and still energy-efficient housing. Even someone who works at a fast-food place can pay their house payments if they get free electricity from the sun.
— Cheri Blutreich
Asheville
