Amidst the historic charm of Biltmore Village, a crucial decision looms for the City of Asheville. As the community grapples with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the fate of more than sixty trees in this historic area hangs in the balance, drawing public interest and input.
Backed by a significant $2.5 million grant from the North Carolina Department of Commerce, plans are underway to refurbish the pedestrian infrastructure of Biltmore Village. The challenge lies in safeguarding the trees while honoring the original designs by Frederick Law Olmsted and Richard Morris Hunt.
During an event at Standard Pizza, city officials presented the proposed changes to the public. David Hazzard, Asheville’s interim division manager for urban design, highlighted that the funding will support various infrastructure improvements, including brick sidewalks, granite curbing, and ramps that comply with ADA standards. “One of the key elements here is accessibility improvements to make sure that when we replace the sidewalks, that they meet accessibility guidelines and codes, along with the ramps and so forth,” he remarked to BPR.
Most of the rehabilitation efforts focus on a central seven-block section, encompassing Biltmore Plaza/Kitchin Place, Boston Way, and Swan Street. However, the historical essence of the district poses unique challenges.
Originally crafted in the late 1800s as a residential area for workers of the Biltmore Estate, the district features streets lined by uniform rows of trees, known as allées. Over time, these trees have become intertwined with infrastructure issues, as Hazzard explained, “There’s a lot of mature trees. In some of the areas, the sidewalk issues we’re having have been caused by the tree roots.” The damage was exacerbated by Hurricane Helene, which saw the Swannanoa River rise to over 27 feet, worsening the condition of the sidewalks.
Community members were shown three potential strategies for restoring the district’s trees. Options ranged from preserving the existing trees to replacing many of them to realign with Olmsted’s original allée vision. The city aims to balance scientific approaches with community feedback, as Hazzard emphasized the importance of local input.
Neal Reed, a local business leader, stressed the importance of respecting historical evolution rather than strictly adhering to Olmsted’s original design. He praised the city’s efforts, noting, “The city really needs to be applauded for all their efforts. And they listen and they’re working hard.”
Kara Irani, representing the Biltmore Village Association, highlighted the community’s resilience and the long-term advantages of the planned upgrades, stating, “For us, the short-term challenges of disruption are far outweighed by the long-term benefits of getting everything back up and running.”
The project, funded by the N.C. Department of Commerce Small Business Infrastructure Grant program, continues to gather public feedback through an online portal here until August 11.
