Asheville for All

Asheville For All sent the following letter to Asheville City Council ahead of the council’s February 25th meeting.

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Dear Asheville City Councilors,

We are writing to express support for the two conditional zoning requests for multifamily housing on the February 25th agenda.

The first conditional zoning request also requires funding from the Housing Trust Fund. This funding was already approved on April 23rd, 2024. We see this new approval as a formality. The proposed development will bring 126 homes for families at sixty percent AMI or lower adjacent to Brevard Road, which is a transit-supportive corridor.

The technical modifications that move this project into the conditional zoning realm—unit threshold aside—are quite minor.

The second conditional zoning request, at 3183 Sweeten Creek Road, features similarly minor technical modifications, including some that might be seen as an improvement. Reduced setbacks for the townhomes, for example, are in line with the staff’s current Commercial Zoning reforms. And, as the Planning and Zoning Commission discussed at length, the proposed sidewalk strips may be safer than the ten foot sidewalks that may be technically required.

Both of these multi-family projects will bring more housing stock that is desperately needed. Both market-rate homes and below-market-rate homes have a part to play in making Asheville more affordable for all kinds of working people and families.

We are aware, from the January 22nd Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, that there are some residents currently residing at 3183 Sweeten Creek Road, and that once construction begins, they will be required to move. This is deeply regrettable. However, we don’t believe that blocking construction of more multi-family homes is a valid solution. Denying this conditional zoning would not empower tenants, or in any way guarantee real housing stability for these residents. Nor would it aid in the creation of more housing choices that might foster tenant mobility. Tenants will only be empowered when our housing market offers abundant options at all income levels, and vacancy rates rise enough that landlords will compete for tenants and not the other way around.

Thanks as always for your consideration,
Asheville For All Lead Organizers