Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
The opponents of Mountain Housing Opportunities’ proposed affordable housing development in north Asheville have an online petition going, and there are lots of interesting names on the list. Jimi Rentz (owner of Barley’s), Anna Warren (owner of Jobbitz) , Kathleen Mosher (director of communications, Biltmore Estate), Tommy Tsiros (restauranteur), Pamela L. Myers (executive director of Asheville Art Museum) and former Asheville City Councilman Chris Peterson are just a few. Go read the petition for yourself.
Meantime, here’s a sampling of signers and their accompanying comments:
Laura Bowers on Jan 26, 2010 Comments: This is a very serious matter that could negatively impact current residents and future residents of the housing development. Is this proposed development creating a safe environment or a slum?
Elizabeth Pope on Jan 27, 2010 Comments: I oppose having 60 units in this location. It is far too dense. I do believe 32 units would be more suitable. Thank you.
Marilyn Cook on Jan 29, 2010 Comments: There are locations that are more to the advantage of the Mountain Housing residents, as well as to the whole of North Asheville. In searching for a business site a few years ago, I found that Merrimon was the most trafficed road in Asheville. It will get even worse, bad for current businesses, and bad for the affordable housing residents and their children! Dr. Marilyn Cook
Jack Westall, Jr on Jan 31, 2010 Comments: Edgewood Road is already a speedtrack between Kimberly and Merrimon, and it is not unusual at all to see cars speeding well in excess of 50 MPH on Edgewood. The added flow of traffic on Edgewood from the proposed high-density development (Edgewood is not policed) is unreasonable and unnecessary and is not beneficial to anyone, including the new residents that will occupy the added housing. The only other access is to Merrimon by the Post Office, unless the unopened section of Larchmont is opened to Melrose, which presents other problems. There are no sidewalks on either Long Street or Larchmont.
Mary And Angelo Pappas on Feb 3, 2010 Comments: We have lived here 55 years and now our view and privacy will be gone. We are against 60 apartments.
George Ibrahim on Feb 7, 2010 Comments: How much more traffic can we have on Merrimon and KIMBERLY ????
Matthew J Morrissey on Feb 10, 2010 Comments: Not only do I reject the rezoning of this property. I feel we have enough low income properties throughout Asheville. I am originally from Chicago IL. were we have proved that low income tenement style housing fails every time. Please don’t destroy our community we have spent years building. Thanks, Matt Morrisseey
Christian Zamarra on Feb 10, 2010 Comments: Have you tried to make a left turn at a non-lighted intersection on Merrimon Avenue? Please re-consider your plans to dramatically increase density in this area.
I have to apologize for being very misinformed. I was told by a co-worker the prospected plan was to be Sec. 8 housing. Aside from my bad information, I strongly oppose the plan for the size and location.
In addition I would like to add that MHO are just a bunch of developers looking to make a buck. An affordable house in Asheville should reflect the pay scale of Asheville. The Clingman Lofts (which they have yet to sell) are from $196.00 per. sq/ft – $226.00 per sq/ft, then you have association dues from $83.00 per month – $136.00 per month.
This doesn’t sound like an "opportunity" to me.
you can fight this even more with a state law called protest petition where every municipality has this . We had to fight to get Greensboro to pass a law to be like every other city in this state but if you want a lot of history of this law there is a blogspot called protest petition for greensboro, here is the link
http://protestpetitiongreensboro.blogspot.com/
I’m not worried about the extra traffic on Merrimon. A few left turn signals would be nice. I’m not too worried about the vista out my front door. I know the project will not be a slum. I am worried that it is a done deal before comments were taken. It seems the only way to get the comments in public were to sign a petition. I worry that the UDO is a worthless piece of paper that applies only to someone when someone in charge wants it to. I am for affordable housing and applaud MHO’s latest projects. Good work and keep it up. The job before you and the city is to persuade instead of force feed. Sometimes a lawmaker, blinded by the nobleness of an idea, cannot or will not see the negative or positive secondary or tertiary effects of an action. P.S. As for heavy hitters, I do hope you were referring to the others in that opening paragraph.
I don’t know how it works in Chicago, but affordable does not always mean "low income."
Concerns about traffic are one thing, but people assuming that this will be a slum just because it’s affordable housing need to look at some of MHO’s other properties, such as Clingman Avenue Lofts and the Glen Rock Depot development currently under construction. MHO developments have a history of complementing — or often even improving — neighborhoods, and the quality of the homes and high standards MHO demands of homebuyers make these properties anything but slums.