Asheville CBAH Site

Location: Asheville, Buncombe County

CDC Partner: Mountain Housing Opportunities CDC

Land Trust Partner: Black Family Land Trust

Site Description: This heavily wooded 10-acre property is located within a highly developed and growing part of Asheville. An unnamed tributary, with significant volume, runs through the property.

Challenges: This site faces significant development pressures, especially given its location in downtown Asheville. Located in such an urbanized area, the stream is susceptible to water quality issues. The site is also part of the Asheville Parks and Recreation Department’s greenway project. Although challenging, the ultimate goal is to protect a continuous greenway on the property while still allowing for enough housing to make the project financially viable.

Solution: A conservation-based development plan will protect the stream buffers, ensure high water quality standards are met and preserve many of the hardwoods on the property. By conserving the stream and a significant buffer, a continuous greenway will also be created, further advancing Asheville Parks and Recreation’s greenway project. Clustering the homes in areas deemed to have less conservation value will meet the CDC’s development requirements and ensure conservation amenities are provided to residents.

A conservation plan for this site is scheduled to be created in early 2008.