Asheville development roundup: New Haywood Street condos planned, more

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Here’s a quick look at some development action around Asheville, including plans for a new condo building on Haywood Street.

-There are plans in the works for what appears to be a four-story condo building called The Haywood at 123 Haywood Street in Asheville. The location is the corner of Haywood Street and the on/off ramps to Interstate 240. The spot is a surface parking deck just west of the Basilica of St. Lawrence. I haven’t seen any official plans submitted to the city yet, but there’s a website up, as well as a sign at the location advertising luxury condos with prices “starting in the 500s” and “available in 2020.”

-Construction work has finally started on SoundSpace, a mixed-use project that includes rental studio space for local bands and a restaurant. The studios are expected to be up and running in January or February. he location is the former Rabbit’s Motel on Biltmore Avenue, just south of downtown Asheville. The project is the brainchild of Claude Coleman Jr., drummer for Ween, as well as a handful of other bands, and musician Brett Spivey.

SoundSpace plans to partner with Clarence Robinson, a graduate of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College’s award-winning culinary program and a local chef who grew up behind the motel, according to a 2018 press release. Robinson is a relative of the original owner of the motel, which members of touring Negro baseball leagues used.

-A proposal to build a 22-unit apartment complex in the historic Montford neighborhood has been withdrawn, according to Historic Resources Commission Chairman Bryan Moffitt, who made the announcement at the commission’s recent meeting. The proposal had drawn stiff opposition from residents.

-Crossroads at West Asheville, a proposed development on South Bear Creek Road, is set to come back to the Buncombe County Board of Adjustment next month. A hearing this month was delayed. Charlotte-based Catalyst Capital Partners proposes to build 802 units of multi-family residential housing on a piece of property under the jurisdiction of Buncombe County, even though it’s surrounded by city of Asheville-zoned property.

-The proposed redevelopment of the Sears property at the Asheville Mall, which had been scheduled to be heard again at the Oct. 22 meeting of Asheville City Council, has once again been continued. It is now scheduled to go before City Council in December.

The Seritage Growth Properties plan initially called for the demolition of the large existing store and the construction of a new six-story building with 205 apartments and a parking deck, as well as a new movie theater (can you say Alamo Drafthouse Cinema?) and retail space. But when the $45 million redevelopment project came before Asheville City Council back in March, several council members criticized the plans, most notably for its lack of affordable housing units. It has been postponed month after month, for apparent re-working. No new plans have emerged yet.