Nice park, enjoy it, dont hate itJanuary 26, 2011 - 5:11 am
In the summer, the fountains are great for the kids to play in. The venue is good for music, especially Shindig. The unique architecture of City/County buildings make a nice backdrop. Packs Tavern is a nice addition too. Great food, service and atmosphere. The park itself is better than the alternative. No park? A hotel? Condos? Strip mall? Whatever. Get over it and enjoy it.
craggybenderJanuary 24, 2011 - 9:49 pm
The Park went over budget, took a long time, and hurt businesses surrounding it in the process. However, you can't deny that it turned out great. People actually go down that end of the street and can enjoy what they have done. Would I put the same planners/builders in charge of my next park venture? Nope. But this one finally looks great.
judgeyallJanuary 23, 2011 - 11:56 pm
Wow. Taken aback! I love the new park, and the restrooms and pavillion were part of the second stage anyway… right?
The development began when the market crashed, I am sure they lost backers.
Pack Place is such a stunning place compared to before! went there twice this week just to hang out, some of you sound like you have never been there. Shame. Discover and love downtown.
Fat GeorgeJanuary 23, 2011 - 2:26 pm
The so-called "redevelopment" of Pack Square has been a total mess and a stain on our city….What a joke…..It took years, cost a bloody fortune and wasn't even finished….WTF! The city govt and the Pack Square Conservancy are pathetic. Who does this guy Giniat think he's fooling?
ThePhanJanuary 23, 2011 - 3:26 am
@Helen–Giniat didn't arrive as executive director until very late in the process. He was in place well after most of the well-documented problems with the park's construction.
BethelJanuary 21, 2011 - 10:03 pm
I actually don't find the new Pack Square Park all that much different than what was there before. Sure it has been redeveloped with a new fountain and all, but it just doesn't seem to show the goods after being under construction for about 4 years.
Aren't there rest rooms there already? Hard to believe they would build a new public park in downtown without rest rooms! How much did they spend on the park so far? How much will the new rest rooms cost? Someone ought to let citizens know.
JayJanuary 21, 2011 - 9:57 pm
I'm sure it will be botched just like the construction of the park was. I'm guessing it won't be finished until 2012! It's a disgrace that rest rooms were not part of the original construction effort.
HelenJanuary 21, 2011 - 9:55 pm
This guy deserves to be fired for all the delays, cost overruns and general mismanagement of the new Pack Square. Only in a small town like Asheville could someone as incompetent survive. Same applies to the entire Pack Sq Conservancy, an organization that had great potential but blew it big time.
8 Comments
In the summer, the fountains are great for the kids to play in. The venue is good for music, especially Shindig. The unique architecture of City/County buildings make a nice backdrop. Packs Tavern is a nice addition too. Great food, service and atmosphere. The park itself is better than the alternative. No park? A hotel? Condos? Strip mall? Whatever. Get over it and enjoy it.
The Park went over budget, took a long time, and hurt businesses surrounding it in the process. However, you can't deny that it turned out great. People actually go down that end of the street and can enjoy what they have done. Would I put the same planners/builders in charge of my next park venture? Nope. But this one finally looks great.
Wow. Taken aback! I love the new park, and the restrooms and pavillion were part of the second stage anyway… right?
The development began when the market crashed, I am sure they lost backers.
Pack Place is such a stunning place compared to before! went there twice this week just to hang out, some of you sound like you have never been there. Shame. Discover and love downtown.
The so-called "redevelopment" of Pack Square has been a total mess and a stain on our city….What a joke…..It took years, cost a bloody fortune and wasn't even finished….WTF! The city govt and the Pack Square Conservancy are pathetic. Who does this guy Giniat think he's fooling?
@Helen–Giniat didn't arrive as executive director until very late in the process. He was in place well after most of the well-documented problems with the park's construction.
I actually don't find the new Pack Square Park all that much different than what was there before. Sure it has been redeveloped with a new fountain and all, but it just doesn't seem to show the goods after being under construction for about 4 years.
Aren't there rest rooms there already? Hard to believe they would build a new public park in downtown without rest rooms! How much did they spend on the park so far? How much will the new rest rooms cost? Someone ought to let citizens know.
I'm sure it will be botched just like the construction of the park was.
I'm guessing it won't be finished until 2012!
It's a disgrace that rest rooms were not part of the original construction effort.
This guy deserves to be fired for all the delays, cost overruns and general mismanagement of the new Pack Square. Only in a small town like Asheville could someone as incompetent survive. Same applies to the entire Pack Sq Conservancy, an organization that had great potential but blew it big time.