Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
The city of Asheville has been odds with Staples over their Merrimon Avenue store and sign ever since the place was built a few years ago. Looks like the two sides have finally hashed some things out. This, from the city flak:
WHAT: The City of Asheville and Staples will host a joint press conference to present proposed site enhancements for the Staples store on Merrimon Avenue.
The proposal is expected to include elements that would soften the building’s overall appearance and reduce the size of its signage. The public is invited to attend the presentation.
WHERE: City of Asheville Public Works Facility, 161 S. Charlotte St., Rooms A109-111
WHEN: Monday, Jan. 28, 2 p.m.
BACKGROUND: For the past several months, Staples has been working closely with Mayor Terry Bellamy to develop solutions that address community concerns raised about the store on Merrimon Avenue. Mayor Bellamy traveled to the Staples corporate offices in Framingham, Mass., in early September to ask Staples to consider alternatives that would enhance the Merrimon Avenue site. Staples has worked since then to develop a proposal addressing community concerns and is traveling to Asheville to publicly present its ideas.
I just have a few questions: Did Staples pick up the tab for Bellamy’s visit to Framingham, or did taxpayers? If taxpayers paid, how much did the trip cost? What exactly happened on the trip? Couldn’t business have been conducted by phone, fax or e-mail?
The Citizen-Times has the story:
ASHEVILLE – The office supply company Staples has offered to reduce the size of its sign and add landscaping to “soften” the appearance of its Merrimon Avenue store.
The building on Merrimon has drawn the ire of neighbors since being built in 2005.
Some residents said it violated city building rules on appearance, distance from the street and sign size and height.
This afternoon, the city and Staples said it would announce details Monday about reducing the sign size and landscape changes.
Amy Shanler, spokeswoman for the Massachussetts-based company, said officials would talk about the cost to the store and other details next week.
Residents said they were happy to hear the proposal, but were reserving judgement.
“I’m glad to see that they are planning to reduce the size of the sign,” said Ben Gillum, Five Points Neighborhood Association president. “But without knowing what they are actually going to propose it is hard for me to say a lot more.”
