Updated: Nonprofit that oversaw revamping of downtown Asheville park is considering dissolving, options

5 Comments

1. 

   peace is better May 23, 2012

   Now the taxpayers of Asheville and Buncombe County will have to foot the bill for this project since the promised endowment is gone, spent on overruns. Free land, way over budget, poorly supervised, it needs an investigation before everyone involved leaves town for “greener pastures”. And the final phase was completed in an economic environment that should have produced more for a lot less. No wonder the Pack Place Conservancy board wants to dissolve and avoid any deep look into their process, funding and accountability. Where are and were our gutsy watchdogs on City Council? It seems painful that the PPC would squander the generous community donations for so little result. It could very well hurt any future ask for private/public civic projects.

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2. 

   Agnes Cheek May 22, 2012

   Is the money for this and other projects going to come from the proposed “Business Improvement Districts” that will raise taxes on downtown businesses?

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3. 

   Agnes Cheek May 22, 2012

   From a city concilman June 2010: “The Conservancy has raised lots of money, and there’s plenty of reason to expect they’ll raise the rest. Should they fail, then there are other options to pay off the park rather than bonds.”

   Im curious as to what those other options are almost a year later…

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4. 

   Blueridge May 22, 2012

   I have heard that the proper type of power supply that is required to run concerts’ electrical needs was not put in place in the park. Jason, can you confirm this? And if so, why not? Wasn’t the park supposed to become the home of Downtown After 5 and other events?

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   1. 

      Jason Sandford May 25, 2012

      blueridge, i recall some discussion about that but will have to research details.

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