Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Here’s the Wednesday open thread. I’m interested in knowing what’s on everybody’s agenda these days. I still feel like I’m running in 10 different directions, all at the same time. Just not totally in synch. Must be all the pollen in the air. And that damn swine flu still kicking my butt.
More tidbits:
–Asheville City Council eased the restrictions on people keeping chickens in city limits on Tuesday night, and also made changes to rules dealing with bears, bees and goats. What amazes me is the passion these animal issues always arose in people. Why can’t we get the same outcry, the same button-wearing zeal, when it comes to people issues?
-The Asheville Citizen-Times cites the Ashvegas blog by name in a brief on the Mountains section front. The newspaper followed up on the photo I posted on Monday showing a passive aggressive note left by a Buncombe County Sheriff’s Department officer. The citation is progress. Thanks guys! Last year, columnist John Boyle unjustly raked this blog over the coals and never once mentioned it by name.
-I mentioned earlier this week that a group in Asheville is quietly continuing work on a plan to build a new performing arts center in downtown Asheville. There’s long been talk, and the proposed price tag is out of sigt – $80 million. But that hasn’t slowed the group down. Loyal reader Tara asked for more information. Here you go:
The nonprofit Asheville Area Center for the Performing Arts, Inc., group has a slick web site and in January announced that it had hired a hot shot director of development and marketing. Board members of the organization include Mack Day, Calvin Kelly, LaVoy Spooner and former state Rep. Charles Thomas. Bill Massey is president of the group, Carol McCollum is secretary and Jack Sherman is treasurer.
Keep tabs on these guys. They’ll be announcing the hiring of a design team this summer, and they’ll start a master planning process after that.
-There was an awesome, impromptu May Day parade through downtown last year. Anybody know if there are plans to do that again this year? May Day is Friday, after all.
–Alli just showed me Facebook in pirate. Awesome.
Collin County arts hall, already facing shortfall, now needs new director
11:48 PM CDT on Sunday, June 15, 2008
By ED HO– — USEWRIGHT / The Dallas Morning News
[email protected]
The troubled Collin County arts hall, which faces an $18 million shortfall and uncertain date for a groundbreaking, needs a new executive director.
James Baudoin, who has overseen design for the $85 million performance center, has taken a similar job in Asheville, N.C.
Mr. Baudoin said Sunday he had hoped the Collin County hall – a joint project of Allen, Frisco and Plano – would be further along by now.
"It’s not moving at a galloping speed," said Mr. Baudoin, who was hired in 2005. "It will get built. But it’s moving incredibly slow, slower than I care to work."
He said he’s excited about the chance to design the hall in Asheville, a city of about 75,000 in western North Carolina. Like the Collin County hall, it will have 2,100 seats and host a wide range of performances.
Frisco Mayor Maher Maso, a longtime supporter of the Collin County hall, said he does not believe Mr. Baudoin’s departure indicates the project is in jeopardy.
"This is nothing negative," said Mr. Maso, who also serves as vice president of the Arts of Collin County Commission. "I hope it’s not perceived that way. The reality is, we’ve accomplished a lot. It’s moving slower because of the number of entities involved."
The hall, to be built near State Highway 121 in Allen, has been planned for almost a decade. Voters in Allen, Frisco and Plano have approved $57 million for construction. Collin County commissioners kicked in $3 million, and private donors have given $7 million.
But construction costs have risen to $85 million, leaving an $18 million shortfall. The three participating cities now must decide whether to allocate more public funds after repeated assurances they would not.