Rumor control: Are problems with signature fountain in Asheville’s $21 million Pack Square Park keeping it dry?

4 Comments

1. 

   In the mix April 23, 2010

   First hand info, for what it’s worth, confirms that several sections of the new park have failed inspection and will require exstensive additional work and money to repair or rebuild. Only problem is the conservancy is bailing out of the project now that they have covered their shoddy work in grass and increased to cost to fix the defects. Now they have dumped it on the city who will have to fix it with our tax dollars which are already in short supply. The conservancy is well aware of their mistakes but they keep painting the project as a completed success and patting themselves on the back. As typical, the city is going to let them slide, brush it under the rug, and let the taxpayers take it on the chin. Again, while the local "media" misses the boat on the entire issue and hides from any journalistic responsibility.

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2. 

   Bruce April 23, 2010

   Rumor mill has it that the pipes actually froze over the long winter because they were not emptied as part of the winterization plan that someone (?) was in charge. May not be operating for a long time- but not confirmed.

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3. 

   ashevillain April 23, 2010

   Just curious why they "need final approval" when both fountains were running for close to 2 months last year? That doesn’t sound like "testing" to me. Both fountains were fully operational except one of the lights was out in the Splasheville fountain. My guess is that they are waiting until the 3rd and final fountain is up and running (the one in the the most recently opened section of the park) and then turn on all 3 at once.

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4. 

   Bernhard Grier April 23, 2010

   If it is at all like the rest of the park project, the fountain is not workign because the Pack Square Conservancy, City of Ashevillle, and whoever else is involved have no idea who is in charge, no idea how to get the requisite permits, and no idea how to raise the needed funds. But they won’t let that stop them from proceeding as if everything is well in hand, despite the enormous burden on the local business who have had to deal with their incompetence for all these years.
   It’s a shame that even the signature fountain has managed to slip through the managerial cracks, but hardly a surprise. Give it an extra 6 months and 6 million, and they’ll have it up and running "just like they planned."

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