Sold! 13 acres in heart of Asheville’s River Arts District for $1.3 million

Jason Sandford

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

1

A 13-acre parcel of land in the heart of Asheville’s River Arts District sold recently for $1.3 million. The property at 339 Old Lyman St. sold to Foundation Studios LLC, a partnership formed by Brent Starck, Eddie Dewey and Chris Eller.

The property, which sits behind Riverview Station (home to more artist studios) includes eight different buildings, including several graffiti-covered warehouses that were once home to artist studios. The city of Asheville cut electricity to the site in the summer of 2014, declaring the buildings unfit for occupancy. At the time, property owner Robert Camille said he was allowing artists to improve the space and occupy the buildings in an effort to give them affordable space to work.

The buildings included The Tannery studios, Switchyard Studios and space for Terpsicorp dance company. The site is also home to a skate park built by local skate board enthusiasts known as the Foundation Spot.

I’ve got a phone call out asking for more information about future plans for the site. Word on the street is to keep the skate park and fix up the existing buildings so that artists might return.

GM Property Group had the property listed back in the spring for $3.995 million.

Starck was a member of another partnership that spent $2.2 million to buy two massive warehouses on the northern end of Riverside Drive. Starck and his partners purchased 750 Riverside Dr. just north of the Bywater bar and announced plans to renovate the space for a woodworking shop, glass studio and other affordable studio space for artists. Other plans include space for a tenants such as a coffee roaster or a pizza maker.