Lexington Ave Arts Festival: Change in the air

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

1

The Lexington Avenue Arts Festival has really grown over the past several years. I remember when it wasn’t much more than a few hippies with some card tables and patchouli.

Not the street is packed with freakniks. It’s a great scene, one vital sector of Ashvegas that makes this town so diverse and wonderful. I didn’t do a very good job of capturing this fest. Guess I was tired and distracted by the scene. But here are a few.

There are all kinds of cool artists in town, and they all come out for this gathering. The news of this year’s festival, though, is what might happen to the historic heart of Ashvegas’ funky district.

The street, once the sole domain of cruisers and hookers who frequented the Interstate Motel, has changed drastically, and some say it’s on the verge of changing again. The “no-tell motel” has been remade into high-priced condos. Glass blowers and music stores and cool restaurants have moved out the prostitutes.

Now rumors are churning that more expensive development threatens the small businesses that give Lex. Ave. its unique flavor. Vincent’s Ear has closed down, as well as a couple of other core businesses that fed the scene. Nobody seems to know what’s in the works – some say more high-rise condos, or a fancy hotel complex to boost the nearby Civic Center, or a chain store or something.

We’ll have to wait and watch, and hope that this unique piece of Ashvegas doesn’ get lost in the shuffle.