A comment from loyal reader Luke, as part of the ongoing discussion about the changes happening in the River Arts District:
I happened to run into these guys while walking in the district on Thanksgiving. I think they are planning to convert the hatchery to studios and “clean up” the area. The guy really seemed to feel that they were doing something good (which may or may not be true depending on your point of view).
It’s really just another step in the inevitable commercialization/gentrification of Asheville that’s been going on for the last 20 years. Change is the only certainty I suppose. I just hope that once everything is “cleaned up”, we don’t lose a large part of what has made the town so interesting.
I’ll add that I would be much happier about someone buying and renovating a local area if I thought that it would bring living wage jobs to the area, but alas, it looks like just more real estate to rent out.
7 Comments
Kate, you make me sick and angry. People in this area do live in mobile homes, and frankly they are just as ugly as the BB&T building and all those cookie cutter neighborhoods chock full of homes that site mere feet from the property line (much like trailers in a mobile home park). People make sacrifices to live here, and some would prefer to work their crappy jobs (like cleaning your house or checking out your groceries) and live in a less than stunning abode in order to enjoy the views
Looks to me like they are literally removing numerous truckloads of garbage people have left over the years, getting the buildings up to city code, and increasing the appeal of the RAD.
Gentrification?
What are YOU really doing to improve the city for everyone?
Without a doubt Asheville is in a beautiful location and the mountains are the main attraction and appeal. As far as gentrification, I agree that the city is not all that unique since there are the very same stores, restaurants, etc. that you can find anywhere in the country. Downtown area has some great architecture and some really horrible buildings too, much as you would find in a lot of other cities.
There are also many areas of Asheville that are really ugly and the thing that still drives us crazy are the trailers (mobile homes) that seem to appear like ugly mushrooms. In the winter with no leaves you can really see them in so many unexpected places, in the city and county as well.
We enjoy living here, but only wish Asheville had a better economy and job opportunities. The prospects for making even a decent, middle class income here are far lower than most other cities in the USA. The lack of a good economy and decent jobs are the real down side of Asheville.
14 years ago, I was sleeping on a former Carolinian's couch in her new home in Sebastapol, CA. Just back from 8 months in Antarctica, cooling out before coming home.
Flipping through the myriad of channels, I see an ad for Asheville. I yelled. "It's over! it's been discovered…"
We had a good laugh. 10 months later my loft downtown went condo for $325,00 (funny, they used the same drywall we put up drunk one night…).
Yes, Asheville has been sold down the river. The only thing that will fix it? A long economic decline nationally.
Hmm. Maybe it's not over after all…
I respectfully disagree with Mr. Knight. Asheville is uniquely set in a high valley, with beautiful views in embarressing abundance. We have some very unique architecture in our city, thanks to the craftsmen and architects brought here to build Biltmore estate. I know of no other small town with such riches. I think we're very unique, and I'm proud to say I live here.
The build up of the arts district into a gentrified area is inevitable….looking at other river districts, many have gone this way. I was in New Orleans 20 years ago when their riverside gentrification began in earnest. Same with Savannah, Baltimore, San Antonio, Boston and other cities whose warehouse district became obsolete and the change began. Those old well built buildings make great loft apts.
LOL…..Asheville is already very gentrified and has been sonfor the last 10 years. All this copycat stuff about keeping Asheville weird (a slogan ripped off from other places like Austin) is meaningless. There is little to truly differentiate this city from many other similar places In the US….gentrification and homogenization are the norm for every city today. Asheville is a nice city for sure, but certainly not world class in terms of being unique or special.
I would suggest that the "gentrification" of Ashvegas began when George Vanderbilt moved to town.