At its meeting on October 14, the Asheville City Council addressed several agenda items related to ongoing recovery efforts from Tropical Storm Helene. The actions covered areas such as housing repair, economic stimulation, water infrastructure, recreation resources, and public facilities.
The council unanimously approved a consent item authorizing the City Manager to enter into an agreement with the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Division of Community Revitalization. This agreement will support the repair and reconstruction of homes for Asheville residents impacted by Tropical Storm Helene. Nikki Reid, Director of Community and Economic Development, stated: “The City of Asheville is excited to partner with the State of North Carolina’s RenewNC Homeowner Repair and Reconstruction Program. This agreement is an effort toward efficiency, collaboration, and resilience that will make the RenewNC program fully available to all Asheville homeowners who qualify.”
Other initiatives discussed included downtown activation strategies such as event mini-grants and a food truck pilot program. These do not require council action but aim to encourage business activity in affected districts. Dana Frankel, Downtown Planning Manager for the city, commented: “In the wake of Helene, staff, council and community partners have worked together to support activities that can help promote business district activity and recovery. We are excited to see what activation the Event Support mini grants and food truck pilot programs can bring to our community and collaboration efforts as we continue Helene recovery.”
A proposed ordinance change regarding temporary noise exceedance permits did not pass due to lack of a supermajority; it will be reconsidered at a future meeting. Another ordinance concerning a downtown social district was postponed until November 18.
On infrastructure matters, council authorized submitting grant applications for both an Arts and Entertainment Facility and a fourth water treatment plant through the Economic Development Administration. Interim Water Resources Director Bill Hart said: “Adding a fourth water treatment facility will increase production capacity and resilience to our water system in times of increasing demand. This grant could allow us to focus on pre-development and planning activities for a fourth location.”
The council also accepted a donation for new playground equipment at Stephens-Lee Community Center from Superior Recreational Products and MAPA Recreation via the Superior HOPES program. The new playground is intended as both a resource for families recovering from storm impacts and a symbol of community resilience. Parks & Recreation Director D. Tyrell McGirt stated: “We are profoundly grateful for the kindness of Superior Recreational Products and MAPA Recreation to support our commitment to long-term health and wellbeing of our community. This generous donation is a powerful reminder of the support shown to our region by others from around the nation and serves as a symbol of resilience as we continue the hard work to rebuild following Helene’s destruction. The Stephens-Lee playground will be more than just a safe place to play; it is an essential space for our children and families to reconnect, heal, and find joy on our path to recovery.”
Additionally, council approved contracts related to infrastructure repairs including replacing the roof at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium—funded by federal dollars—and advancing phase two design work on Azalea Park improvements along Azalea Road and Swannanoa River.
Chris Corl, Director of Community and Regional Facilities, commented on auditorium repairs: “Harrah’s Cherokee Center staff is very excited to move this roof replacement project forward. Repairs to the roof will allow staff to address interior water damage which adversely impacts the guest experience. We look forward to welcoming the community to experience our lineup of future events without concerning themselves with the weather forecast.”
McGirt also noted opportunities presented by Azalea Park improvements: “We have a unique opportunity to look collectively at the entire area, from the pool at Recreation Park to the John B. Lewis Soccer Complex and the dog park at Azalea Park. We are focused on transforming these spaces into a cohesive park that offers seamless connectivity and a unified recreation experience for all residents.”
