Supporting a Vibrant Downtown Community: Updates and Initiatives in Asheville

City of Asheville Embraces Proactive Approach to Enhance Downtown Experience

The City of Asheville is dedicated to supporting a vibrant and welcoming downtown for residents, businesses, and visitors. Through exploring, testing, and refining strategies for ongoing and improved service delivery, the city is committed to ensuring that downtown Asheville reflects the very best of the community.

One of the latest developments in this effort is the approval of funding for a Solid Waste Master Plan at the City Council’s meeting on May 28, 2024. The plan, which received $350,000 in the FY 2023-2024 budget, aims to evaluate the City’s existing solid waste management system and provide recommendations to enhance efficiency, quality, and waste reduction. A downtown-specific Waste and Storage Collection Plan will be included in the Solid Waste Master Plan, with community input playing a crucial role in the project.

In addition to infrastructure improvements, the City is also focusing on community engagement initiatives to foster connections between residents and law enforcement. The Asheville Police Department’s Community Engagement officers have been hosting Chess Wednesdays at Pritchard Park, where community members can gather for friendly chess matches with officers. This initiative aims to build bridges and strengthen relationships between the police and the community.

Furthermore, the Environment and Safety Committee of the City Council meets monthly to review policy updates and make recommendations to ensure the well-being of natural resources, public health, climate resilience, and public safety. The upcoming meeting on June 25, 2024, will include updates on the recently updated Solicitation Ordinance.

Capital Projects Director Jade Dundas provided updates on various capital improvement projects at the May 28, 2024 City Council meeting, including downtown projects and communications improvements. The City has also dedicated a new position to support communications needs for capital projects, with a focus on enhancing accessibility and parking garage improvements in downtown Asheville.

To stay informed and engaged with the City’s efforts to enhance downtown Asheville, residents can sign up for the newsletter and visit the City’s website for updates and ways to contribute to a safe and welcoming downtown. By working together, the community can continue to support a thriving downtown that reflects the very best of Asheville.