Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Letter here from well-known Asheville affordable housing proponent Beth Maczka:
Dear Mayor Bellamy and Members of Asheville City Council,
I am writing in support of the proposed work-force housing development on Larchmont Road in North Asheville because it meets the City’s plans and goals for affordable, green, transit oriented development.
I have lived in North Asheville since 1993 – first in the Norwood neighborhood, and more recently off of Lakeshore. I travel on Merrimon Avenue at least twice a day as I have two children and a full time job downtown.
I would welcome these residents, some of whom will likely have jobs on the Merrimon Corridor and either walk, bike, or use public transit to work. A commercial development at that site would produce much more traffic.
I am excited about this project for a number of reasons.
• It addresses a critical need for work-force housing for our citizens.
• It is sited on a major transit-corridor – a primary goal of the recent housing plan.
• It provides important amenities like a playground, community garden and local artwork.
• It will provide on-site management of the units.
• It will support economic diversity in our neighborhood.
I know that MHO has always set the goal of passing the “bus stop test.” That means that children getting off the bus won’t have a stigma of living in subsidized housing. MHO developments are attractively designed and well maintained.
Finally, I hope that more transit corridor development will lead to the increase in frequency, and ultimately the ridership, on the bus routes along our main corridors.
Thank you for your consideration of my comments.
Best regards,
Beth Maczka
