Asheville News

Asheville City Council approves Larchmont project

Jason Sandford March 24, 2010

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

Asheville City Council on Tuesday night approved a 60-unit apartment complex in north Asheville known as the Larchmont project.

Council’s vote was unanimous. The motion to approve the project was made by Vice Mayor Brownie Newman.

In summing up the difficulty in making her decision on the project, Councilwoman Esther Manheimer, who lives close to the north Asheville development, said: “I think the politically easy thing to do is say no, but i think the right thing to do is say yes, and that’s what I’ll be doing.”

Mayor Terry Bellamy, commenting on the debate and discussion over the project, said: “I think this project has been made better because of the dialogue we’ve had

The controversial development has divided the neighborhood – some have argued that the project is too big and out of scale with adjacent homes, while others have said the project will provide much-needed affordable housing and represents smart, in-fill growth.

Mountain Housing Opportunities is the developer on the project.

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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4 Comments

Dismayed No Longer March 25, 2010

A whole new and different side of Mannheimer is emerging and it’s not attractive.

Re-zone the neighborhood to allow a project much too big for the site.

Parking for HALF the units. That should work out well.

Traffic problems on Merrimon but a 62 unit complex (think planned tenement) should fix that.

And then…. Holly Shriner on P&Z…. and don’t you dare ask us why we didn’t know she had personal financial interests that just might preclude her from P&Z. How dare anyone question our sterling character and loudly proclaimed ignorance!

Shazam!

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Former manheimer Supporter March 24, 2010

The way this was handled should outrage EVERYBODY in this town. Regeardless of what you think of the project, the travesty seen yesterday was a frightening expose of the character of the individuals who sit on Asheville City Council. This goes far beyond the placement of some workforce housing.

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Politics Watcher March 24, 2010

" . . too bad you had already advertised for the developer in you emails (to be made public at some fujture date) . . "
Can you go ahead and make the e-mails public so the voters can understand what you’re referring to?

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Steve Westernard March 24, 2010

So, in the end, Council chose to stay with the decisions they made months and maybe years ago. The 400 petition signers lose and the Mayors old employer wins. The County gets an F for their shady dealing and believe you me, this is not over.
Esther, you put on a great show you made a few believe you had real concern over this, too bad you had already advertised for the developer in you emails (to be made public at some fujture date). Your credibility lack is showing.(I want my vote back),
All in all nothing changed from the first public meeting in December, the fix ran all the way to the top but how proud we are that all the officials took time to let the opposition speak, they never heard them as prior decisions had to be defended or justified, but the opposition spoke.

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