What is the state of downtown Asheville? Well, you can find out Thursday. There’s a lot happening, from a new downtown master planning document in the works, to continued concerns over everything from predatory towing and graffiti to panhandling and the construction of the new Pack Square Park. Press release here:
The Asheville Downtown Association (ADA) will host the State of Downtown Luncheon on Thursday, January 8, 2009 from noon to 1:30pm in the Civic Center’s banquet room. The event is co-hosted by the City of Asheville.
2008 ADA Board Chair Joe Eckert will address the association’s program of work for the past year as well as the membership’s top priorities and challenges facing downtown merchants and residents.
“Our goal for the State of Downtown Luncheon is to bring together downtown stakeholders and talk about where we are, what’s important and what our priorities are going into 2009,” Eckert said.
Pat Whalen, 2008 chair of the Asheville Downtown Commission, will discuss the downtown master plan process. The final plan is scheduled to be introduced in early 2009.
Mayor Terry Bellamy will review the City’s accomplishments and actions as they pertain to downtown. She will also give her thoughts on the key downtown issues like parking, panhandling, small business retention and graffiti.
The luncheon finishes with a question and answer session with all presenters moderated by Downtown Asheville Residential Neighbors (DARN) Chair Susan Griffin.
Tickets are $10 for members of the Asheville Downtown Association and $12 for potential members, and include lunch. Tickets and information are available online at ashevilledowntown.org.