Recent questions have arisen about the future of Asheville’s River Arts District (RAD), specifically whether the city is considering relocating it. City officials responded to these concerns, stating that no decision has been made to move the RAD and that recent headlines may have caused unnecessary worry.
According to the City of Asheville, recommendations presented by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) are not binding decisions. “To be clear, the City of Asheville has made no decision to relocate the River Arts District, nor have any decisions been made on how recommendations from the ULI’s presentation to the community could be incorporated into our long-term recovery. These were recommendations only, and the City understands that ULI still intends to refine them before delivering a final report,” city officials said.
The ULI team toured flood-affected areas in Asheville and consulted with various stakeholders before offering suggestions for resilient recovery. However, many properties in the RAD are privately owned or belong to entities such as railroads or NCDOT. The city emphasized that choices regarding redevelopment or reinvestment in this area rest largely with property owners and local community members.
Community feedback since recent flooding events has focused on rebuilding with resilience. This input led to a $30 million allocation for revitalizing commercial districts impacted by floods through the city’s CDBG-DR Action Plan.
“The City values local artists and entrepreneurs and is making recovery investments like the French Broad Riverfront Recovery Project. We look forward to engaging with RAD stakeholders and surrounding neighborhoods on these long-term investments,” officials stated.
The RAD community itself is working on its vision for recovery through Unified RAD, a coalition representing property owners, residents, businesses, and artists. Their approach addresses immediate reactivation, medium-term rebuilding, and developing a long-term vision that considers economic needs alongside environmental concerns and creative interests. The city supports this effort: “The City supports this effort and hopes to continue to work with the group to incorporate their vision as applicable to long term recovery.”
Officials also referenced ULI’s core vision for Asheville’s future as being rooted in resilience—integrating parks, water management, housing equity, and arts within one system while addressing public safety risks associated with flood-prone areas.
City staff are currently reviewing ULI’s initial recommendations for alignment with existing council priorities and plans such as Recreate AVL, Close the GAP, and the Comprehensive Plan. A more detailed analysis will follow after ULI submits its final report later this year.
“Now is the time to work together to consider ideas that respect the unique nature of the RAD as we build towards a future that allows the area to grow with resilience and appreciation for its economic, environmental and cultural role,” officials said.
The city maintains that every decision regarding post-flood recovery aims at helping affected areas recover effectively while supporting their ability to thrive amid future challenges.
