Asheville Joins Forces for Home Repair Initiative
The Asheville City Council has taken a significant step by agreeing to collaborate with the N.C. Department of Commerce’s Division of Community Revitalization. This partnership will enable full access to the RenewNC Homeowner Repair and Reconstruction Program for residents whose homes sustained damage during Hurricane Helene, thanks to federal Community Development Block Grant funding.
Additionally, the council has reopened applications for four Helene Recovery Boards to oversee the allocation of recovery funds. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on October 21, with council appointments expected on October 28.
Debate Delays ‘Sip-and-Stroll’ District
A proposed pilot initiative to establish an event-based social district in South Slope faced a delay. The proposal, designed by the Asheville Downtown Association, aimed to boost post-Hurricane Helene business activity by permitting patrons to “sip and stroll” with beverages from local bars and restaurants during festivals such as Mardi Gras and Oktoberfest.
Vice Mayor Sheneika Smith voiced concerns over the speed at which business-centric proposals progress, citing a four-year wait for ordinance changes requested by Asheville’s historic Black neighborhoods. “Legacy neighborhoods have been waiting literally four years for a requested change to the ordinance,” remarked Smith. “And tonight we’re considering two ordinance changes for downtown businesses.”
Sekou Coleman of the Legacy Neighborhoods Coalition addressed the council, emphasizing that any new downtown initiative should also serve long-term residents. “Downtown businesses are still recovering from Helene, and the goal is to bring people back for special events,” Coleman stated. “But the more important issue is cultural and social displacement — that happens when city actions prioritize the people who come here over the people who live here, grew up here, and built culture here.”
Following a lengthy discussion, the council unanimously agreed to postpone the decision until November 18 to integrate Coleman’s input and gather further community feedback.
Noise Ordinance Amendment Requires Further Debate
A split vote on a temporary amendment to Asheville’s noise ordinance ended without resolution. The proposed change would allow certified venues to increase the number of outdoor amplified events from 30 to 50 annually. Currently, Asheville Yards is the only venue meeting the requirements for this adjustment.
While supporters argue the amendment could attract visitors to the South Slope area, some critics caution against advancing such changes for a single venue before revisiting broader noise regulation updates. With a requirement for a supermajority of five votes for ordinance changes, the proposal will undergo a second vote on October 28.
Additional Council Actions
- An agreement with Buncombe County was approved to support Code Purple emergency shelter operations for the winter season.
- The Community Reparations Commission was officially dissolved after its final report submission last month.
- Progress was made on several capital and infrastructure projects, including enhancements to Malvern Hills Park, Recreation Park, and the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium roof, with a 5-2 vote approving the measures.
The Asheville City Council convenes regularly at 5 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, at the Council Chamber, City Hall, 70 Court Plaza. The upcoming meeting is scheduled for October 28. For more information, view the full recording and the action agenda of the October 14 meeting.
