Open houses scheduled to share upcoming changes to transit system
ASHEVILLE - Beginning Monday, May 21, the city’s bus system, currently operating as Asheville Transit, will begin operating as ART (Asheville Redefines Transit). In addition to introducing a new look, new routes and new rides, the launch will celebrate the first phase of transit master plan implementation. The new ART transit network will demonstrate the City of Asheville’s commitment to multi-modal transportation, affordability and sustainability.
In advance of the May 21 launch, the City of Asheville will host six informational drop-in sessions. Seeking to encourage citizen engagement, the sessions will use interactive tools to share information about the upcoming changes. New schedules and maps will be available to take home and opportunities to get hands on experience learning to navigate GoogleTransit, a new online tool riders can use to plan bus trips, will be available. Staff and transit commission members will be onsite to answer questions.
The April 30 session at the U.S. Cellular Center will have a new hybrid bus on display for family friendly activities and a "load your bicycle on the bus" competition.
The public can drop-in between 4-7 p.m. on any of the following dates:
Monday, April 30, U.S. Cellular Center Banquet Hall, 87 Haywood St.
Tuesday, May 1, West Asheville Community Center, 970 Haywood Rd.
Thursday, May 3, Reid Memorial Recreation Center, 133 Livingston St.
Monday, May 7, Linwood Crump - Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Rd.
Monday, May 14, East Asheville Community Center, 906 Tunnel Rd.
Tuesday, May 15, Grace Episcopal Church - Parish Hall, 871 Merrimon Ave.
For more information about Asheville Transit, contact 253-5691, e-mail iride@ashevillenc.gov or visit www.ashevillenc.gov/transit
This release can be found at www.ashevillenc.gov.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
WECAN April 2012 Board Meeting Minutes • Draft
WECAN Board on Thursday April 5, 2011 at Merritt Park Meeting Room
Members present: Byron Ballard, Joe Fioccola, Yuri Koslen and Luke W. Perry. Members not present were: Jeff Carnivale, Jessie Coleman, Bret Frk, Tom Gibson, AnnaBeth Hardcastle, Mike Kenton, Joanne Skinner, and Suzanne Willis.
Also present were Pattiy Torno and Susan Roderick.
Luke called the meeting to order at 6:42 AnnaBeth has been named Foreign Language Student of the Year.
The March Meeting Minutes were approved as distributed with one correction that Pattiy was listed under 'members present' instead of 'also present'
ASHEVILLE GREEN WORKS: Susan Roderick with Asheville Green works reported on the several plantings in and around WECAN. She has a 'DOT approved' but casual plan for the areas along I-240 from the Smokey Park Bridges to Clingman Avenue. They have a contract with Freckle Farms for mowing and will over time plant daylilies and forsythia and small trees like dogwoods in addition to the roses already planted along the chain link fence. The plan is for an informal and more natural look. She has heard that ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) is interested in a community garden. Byron and Susan will arrange a meeting to discuss a location in WECAN near the Pepsi Billboard. Kudzu removal will be a priority and Susan has received a large Grant from REI Outdoor for maintenance. She is planning a big work day on Saturday May 26 (The Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend.)The date will be confirmed by the May WECAN Board Meeting and Luke will coordinate with the Hillcrest group, which has just elected new board members. There was general agreement that WECAN should partner with Greenworks to help maintain the level area between the base of the bridge and the top of the staircase. Some ideas mentioned included low maintenance fern beds; a trash can and repair of the fence, a picnic or cookout on 'Boy Scout Hill' which is properly named 'Chicken Hill'. Susan also has access to several service groups who could help maintain some areas. Susan also reported that you can get FREE MULCH during April at the land fill.
EAST OF THE RIVERWAY: surveys have begun early reports have 25-35% coverage. Jeff Staudinger has put out RFQ's (Request For Qualifications) for consultants for greenways and is looking for community participation in the form of a volunteer to assist a committee in reading and scoring applications, and selecting and interviewing the best candidates. Luke suggested Brett and will ask him and if he cannot then Pattiy volunteered to be the back up volunteer.
OWENS BELL PARK: KIOSK: Luke will have a 3-d mock up for the next meeting and Pattiy has gotten the contact number for Duckett Bell who wanted to sponsor something in the park. Apparently some dead ivy covered trees have been removed making a little less work for the Garden Club.
Pattiy reported that Riverlink has requested that the new sidewalk [going in on Depot St and across the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks all the way to the Curve Studios] use historic granite curbstones. Though more expensive cost may not be such an issue as sidewalk funds must be spent before the fiscal year ends. The issue arose that there is still resentment that granite curbstones were harvested from Park Avenue, and West Haywood Street when new sidewalks went in with no consultation with the neighborhood and that there remain some sections of original granite curbstones in WECAN and that some on Roberts Street might also be at risk. It was suggested that any community support for this be linked to prioritizing sidewalks on Roberts Street between the traffic circle and the White Duck Taco. Roberts St is listed as a 'Needed Linkage' on the 2005 City Sidewalks Plan but not a priority as Riverside Drive is characterized.
COMMUNICATIONS SUB-COMMITTEE: Pattiy will create break-out lists of addresses in the several blocks and potential contacts to become 'Block Jessies.' Luke also offered thanks to MHO for their assistance making copies of the brochure.
CLINGMAN CELEBRATION: Some new striping has appeared. Pattiy updated the official city sponsored celebration plans: There needs to be a short and catchy name rather than the "WECAN Clingman Avenue Streetscape Community Parade and RADBA Fundraiser at the Grey Eagle." Some suggestions included: RAD Roundabout Parade// WECAN Roundabout Parade and RAD Benefit// WECAN Wander// WECAN Wonder// WECAN Walk// WECAN Roundup// Clingman Connection// Clingman Strut// Clingman Avenue Circle Parade// Clingman Circle Celebration//. The city will pay for invitations and some comp tickets to the benefit. There will be a Boy Scout Troop marching the colors. Also the Hillcrest High Steppers are expected. Participants will gather at the Car lot at Clingman and Hilliard and the parade will begin around 6-ish. Depending on the Asheville Transit buses. There will be speeches at the traffic circle and the benefit will follow at the Grey Eagle with a silent auction and live bands playing. The funds raised will go to Asheville Green Works to pay for plantings and maintenance and also to fund the "One Neighborhood Initiative" which will mentor neighborhood children in River District Artists studios.
NEW BUSINESSES: New Belgium: It was announced today that they will build a major facility across the river between the Riverlink Bridge and the Smokey Park Bridges with a large contribution from the State and other partnerships and a lot of things that are not yet known such as neighborhood impacts and traffic modifications. FLS: First Light Solar on Roberts St. also a new business at 87 Roberts St that makes memory foam mattresses. Also a new African-American Salon at the Glen Rock. Also a Bike Courier Business, Fast Lane Electric Bikes at 363 Depot St and Alternative Health Care Clinic at 372 Depot St.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Luke announced that there will be a Southside Community Day in April to address youth engagement and transitioning the Reid Center. There may also be another Design -Build Project.
Meeting adjourned at 8:13
Minutes submitted by Joe Fioccola.
Next BOARD Meeting 6:30p.m. on Thursday May 3.
Next GARDEN CLUB: OWENS BELL PARK Sunday April 15 @ 10 a.m.
Members present: Byron Ballard, Joe Fioccola, Yuri Koslen and Luke W. Perry. Members not present were: Jeff Carnivale, Jessie Coleman, Bret Frk, Tom Gibson, AnnaBeth Hardcastle, Mike Kenton, Joanne Skinner, and Suzanne Willis.
Also present were Pattiy Torno and Susan Roderick.
Luke called the meeting to order at 6:42 AnnaBeth has been named Foreign Language Student of the Year.
The March Meeting Minutes were approved as distributed with one correction that Pattiy was listed under 'members present' instead of 'also present'
ASHEVILLE GREEN WORKS: Susan Roderick with Asheville Green works reported on the several plantings in and around WECAN. She has a 'DOT approved' but casual plan for the areas along I-240 from the Smokey Park Bridges to Clingman Avenue. They have a contract with Freckle Farms for mowing and will over time plant daylilies and forsythia and small trees like dogwoods in addition to the roses already planted along the chain link fence. The plan is for an informal and more natural look. She has heard that ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) is interested in a community garden. Byron and Susan will arrange a meeting to discuss a location in WECAN near the Pepsi Billboard. Kudzu removal will be a priority and Susan has received a large Grant from REI Outdoor for maintenance. She is planning a big work day on Saturday May 26 (The Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend.)The date will be confirmed by the May WECAN Board Meeting and Luke will coordinate with the Hillcrest group, which has just elected new board members. There was general agreement that WECAN should partner with Greenworks to help maintain the level area between the base of the bridge and the top of the staircase. Some ideas mentioned included low maintenance fern beds; a trash can and repair of the fence, a picnic or cookout on 'Boy Scout Hill' which is properly named 'Chicken Hill'. Susan also has access to several service groups who could help maintain some areas. Susan also reported that you can get FREE MULCH during April at the land fill.
EAST OF THE RIVERWAY: surveys have begun early reports have 25-35% coverage. Jeff Staudinger has put out RFQ's (Request For Qualifications) for consultants for greenways and is looking for community participation in the form of a volunteer to assist a committee in reading and scoring applications, and selecting and interviewing the best candidates. Luke suggested Brett and will ask him and if he cannot then Pattiy volunteered to be the back up volunteer.
OWENS BELL PARK: KIOSK: Luke will have a 3-d mock up for the next meeting and Pattiy has gotten the contact number for Duckett Bell who wanted to sponsor something in the park. Apparently some dead ivy covered trees have been removed making a little less work for the Garden Club.
Pattiy reported that Riverlink has requested that the new sidewalk [going in on Depot St and across the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks all the way to the Curve Studios] use historic granite curbstones. Though more expensive cost may not be such an issue as sidewalk funds must be spent before the fiscal year ends. The issue arose that there is still resentment that granite curbstones were harvested from Park Avenue, and West Haywood Street when new sidewalks went in with no consultation with the neighborhood and that there remain some sections of original granite curbstones in WECAN and that some on Roberts Street might also be at risk. It was suggested that any community support for this be linked to prioritizing sidewalks on Roberts Street between the traffic circle and the White Duck Taco. Roberts St is listed as a 'Needed Linkage' on the 2005 City Sidewalks Plan but not a priority as Riverside Drive is characterized.
COMMUNICATIONS SUB-COMMITTEE: Pattiy will create break-out lists of addresses in the several blocks and potential contacts to become 'Block Jessies.' Luke also offered thanks to MHO for their assistance making copies of the brochure.
CLINGMAN CELEBRATION: Some new striping has appeared. Pattiy updated the official city sponsored celebration plans: There needs to be a short and catchy name rather than the "WECAN Clingman Avenue Streetscape Community Parade and RADBA Fundraiser at the Grey Eagle." Some suggestions included: RAD Roundabout Parade// WECAN Roundabout Parade and RAD Benefit// WECAN Wander// WECAN Wonder// WECAN Walk// WECAN Roundup// Clingman Connection// Clingman Strut// Clingman Avenue Circle Parade// Clingman Circle Celebration//. The city will pay for invitations and some comp tickets to the benefit. There will be a Boy Scout Troop marching the colors. Also the Hillcrest High Steppers are expected. Participants will gather at the Car lot at Clingman and Hilliard and the parade will begin around 6-ish. Depending on the Asheville Transit buses. There will be speeches at the traffic circle and the benefit will follow at the Grey Eagle with a silent auction and live bands playing. The funds raised will go to Asheville Green Works to pay for plantings and maintenance and also to fund the "One Neighborhood Initiative" which will mentor neighborhood children in River District Artists studios.
NEW BUSINESSES: New Belgium: It was announced today that they will build a major facility across the river between the Riverlink Bridge and the Smokey Park Bridges with a large contribution from the State and other partnerships and a lot of things that are not yet known such as neighborhood impacts and traffic modifications. FLS: First Light Solar on Roberts St. also a new business at 87 Roberts St that makes memory foam mattresses. Also a new African-American Salon at the Glen Rock. Also a Bike Courier Business, Fast Lane Electric Bikes at 363 Depot St and Alternative Health Care Clinic at 372 Depot St.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Luke announced that there will be a Southside Community Day in April to address youth engagement and transitioning the Reid Center. There may also be another Design -Build Project.
Meeting adjourned at 8:13
Minutes submitted by Joe Fioccola.
Next BOARD Meeting 6:30p.m. on Thursday May 3.
Next GARDEN CLUB: OWENS BELL PARK Sunday April 15 @ 10 a.m.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Bike Fixit Station @ the Roundabout
Many thanks to the City of Asheville for the Bike Fixit Station installed at the Clingman Roundabout. It is already getting much use and appreciation. Here is the City's write-up about it:
-------------
City adds bicycle repair station to River Arts DistrictCity of Asheville employees recently installed a “Fixit” bicycle service station at the Clingman Avenue roundabout. It is a repair stand with an attached air pump and hand tools, including screwdrivers, wrenches and a tire lever. The station provides an opportunity for a cyclist to make minor repairs and adjustments on the road rather than having to carry tools or walk an ailing bicycle home.
“The city consulted with members of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force and other cyclists about whether they would thought this was a good investment in encouraging bicycling, and to find the best location to test one of these stations,” said City Transportation Planner Barb Mee. “This was the consensus.”
The River Arts District is a destination and a bicycle crossroads. It is at the bottom of two long hills that join West Asheville and downtown, and near the Lyman Street and Riverside Drive bicycle lanes. The location is also next to a transit stop that serves downtown and West Asheville.
People have already noticed the repair station. Area resident Kelly Ingram noted, “the bicycle service station is incredibly helpful! I can use it when I bike to and from work and when I'm commuting around town. It is at a very convenient location so I don't have to worry if my tire gets low or I need a few tools while I'm in the River Arts District or biking to West Asheville!”
The station is an investment aligned with city goals of integrating non-motorized modes into the city’s transportation network and providing Asheville’s residents and visitors with transportation options. It also makes the city friendlier to bicycles, another City Council objective. According to Mee, “An area where bicyclists feel welcome is one where they will patronize area businesses and spend their money. This, along with good bicycle parking, is a way to make cyclists feel welcome.”
“The cycling community is thrilled by the fix-it station in the River Arts District. Cyclists can tune up their bicycles after a ride along the river and greenway. The fix-it station also strengthens Asheville's commitment to multi-modal transportation as it's located at a bus stop on the recently improved sidewalks of Clingman Ave. I’m proud of our city’s expansion of infrastructure that supports the many modes people use throughout the day. The fix-it is a winner,” said Mike Sule of Asheville on Bikes, an area advocacy group.
Bicycling for transportation is a way to incorporate physical activity into someone’s day. Studies have found that people who use active transportation are, on average, more physically fit and have a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease compared to people who use only motorized transportation.
"Kudos to the City for the installation of the Bicycle Fix-It Station in the River District. People of all ages and sizes can reap the benefits of feeling good about their health and themselves by engaging in active transportation. Studies show that the risk of chronic disease is reduced and that individuals report greater vitality and a sense of well-being when they walk or bicycle regularly". Vicki Rowe-Currence, Health Promotion Educator and member of the Asheville Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force.
These public bicycle service stations have been used in other cities, including Wilmington (NC); Cambridge, Mass., and Omaha, Nebraska.
This release can be found at http://www.ashevillenc.gov/NewsandEvents/CityNews/tabid/662/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/27115/City-installs-bicycle-repair-station.aspx.
Here is some initial feedback posted on the WECAN kiosk, located next to it:
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
East of the Riverway Surveys
At our last WECAN meeting, Jeff Staudinger from the City of Asheville, and Meg Williams from Appalachian State University discussed Sustainable Communities Initiative (East of the Riverway). One component of this grant is the gathering of information through surveys. Below is some more information:
Our Appalachian State grad students have met with many folks over the past few weeks to discuss a survey that we'll be conducting in the East of the Riverway neighborhood, which will focus on the area's transportation, energy and other community needs. We have been fortunate to have you and many of your friends and neighbors work on a draft survey with our class and other community members, but something we heard many of you say is that we need to work hard getting the word out that we will be conducting the surveys.
I realize some of you may have seen this, but I wanted to share this flier with you that we created in order to announce the surveys. Please feel free to pass it along electronically to anyone you feel appropriate. We appreciate your help in spreading the word, as we realize we don't have contact info for everyone who might find this information useful.
We'll also be posting fliers up around the neighborhood and we also have an ad in the Urban News and in the Housing Authority's newsletter this month, so we hope that these efforts will do well in preparing folks for the survey we'll be conducting with Green Opportunities and Just Folks. We plan to conduct the surveys at the end of March and early April.
Thank you so much for your help and please feel free to email me back with questions.
Best,
Meg
Megan Williams
mewilliams400@gmail.com
williamsme@appstate.edu
423-416-0839
Our Appalachian State grad students have met with many folks over the past few weeks to discuss a survey that we'll be conducting in the East of the Riverway neighborhood, which will focus on the area's transportation, energy and other community needs. We have been fortunate to have you and many of your friends and neighbors work on a draft survey with our class and other community members, but something we heard many of you say is that we need to work hard getting the word out that we will be conducting the surveys.
I realize some of you may have seen this, but I wanted to share this flier with you that we created in order to announce the surveys. Please feel free to pass it along electronically to anyone you feel appropriate. We appreciate your help in spreading the word, as we realize we don't have contact info for everyone who might find this information useful.
We'll also be posting fliers up around the neighborhood and we also have an ad in the Urban News and in the Housing Authority's newsletter this month, so we hope that these efforts will do well in preparing folks for the survey we'll be conducting with Green Opportunities and Just Folks. We plan to conduct the surveys at the end of March and early April.
Thank you so much for your help and please feel free to email me back with questions.
Best,
Meg
Megan Williams
mewilliams400@gmail.com
williamsme@appstate.edu
423-416-0839
Monday, March 5, 2012
Hillcrest Pedestrian Bridge Clean-up: This Saturday
Join WECAN and Hillcrest as we clean up around the pedestrian bridge!
This Saturday, March 10 from 11 am -3 pm. Equipment will be provided, and food/drink will be donated by The Marketplace restaurant and Firestorm Cafe.
For more info, contact Luke: lukewperry@yahoo.com
This Saturday, March 10 from 11 am -3 pm. Equipment will be provided, and food/drink will be donated by The Marketplace restaurant and Firestorm Cafe.
For more info, contact Luke: lukewperry@yahoo.com
Friday, March 2, 2012
Crossroads Publication
At the WECAN board meeting last night, our Board Chair shared a copy of the publication, "Crossroads" with us. Here is a link to the entire publication for your reading pleasure, with special thanks to Deborah Miles for providing it!
WECAN March 2012 Board Meeting Minutes • Draft
WECAN Board on Thursday March 1, 2011 at Merritt Park Meeting Room
Members present: Jessie Coleman, Joe Fioccola, Mike Kenton, Yuri Koslen, Luke W. Perry, Joanne Skinner, Pattiy Torno and Suzanne Willis. Members not present were: Byron Ballard, Jeff Carnivale, Bret Frk, Tom Gibson and AnnaBeth Hardcastle.
Also present were Marsha Stickford, Jeff Staudinger, Megan Williams and Joan Walker
Luke called the meeting to order at 6:34 asking for a round of introductions and a few skills or abilities people brought to the table.
Luke has design and building experience and a collection of power tools to share. Yuri has experience in community organizing and transit expertise. Jeff is the city’s Community Development Director and is all about empowerment. Pattiy loves to garden. Joe takes good notes to keep things on track. Suzanne announced she was moving in to a house on Rector Street in April. Meg is an App State Grad Student but has never been to the campus in Boone. Joan lives in Woodfin and is a people person. Marsha brings problem solving ideas and contacts. Jessie enjoys being in the community. Today she counted 40 people in Aston Park. Joanne has experience in the Communications field. Mike is a certified arborist and is the Vice-chair of the city’s Tree Commission.
SCHEDULE CONFLICTS: APD was having a Department Awards Banquet. Marsha was at the new Chief’s swearing in ceremony in Council Chambers this morning. She said he is interested in meeting folks and if he is invited to a WECAN board meeting he would come. Mike is enrolled in the Citizens Police Academy which will cause him to miss the April and May WECAN Board meetings. Expect him back in June. It was also announced that AnnaBeth was enrolled in classes which conflict with board meeting for the next several months.
The February Meeting MINUTES were approved as distributed with one correction to the name “Seth Hendler-Voss.”
SIDEWALKS: Mike identified a problem he sees from his kitchen window. He has seen pedestrians walking on Roberts St between the White Duck and the Traffic Circle almost get hit by cars. He contacted Gordon Smith who referred him to the City Manager Gary Jackson who referred him to the Transportation Department Director Ken Putnam, PE about getting sidewalks installed. Marsha indicated that some traffic studies have been done in the area for the traffic circle and suggested checking the Bike-Pedestrian Plan for Key Linkages to see if Roberts street is listed. Pattiy pointed out that the old Burco building at 97 Roberts Street was set to be developed into a residential use. Also that sidewalks were planned for Depot Street from Green’s Mini Mart to the five points intersection funded by the city. There is not a lot of money available but the right path (no pun intended) is to get support from the community and get on the list and become a priority. Pattiy requested to be emailed as a member of the Riverfront Redevelopment Commission. Jessie brought up other pedestrian issues where Hilliard Avenue crosses Clingman Avenue.
EAST of the RIVER WAY: Jeff gave a short speech on the Big Picture: “It’s not just about the grant.” The grant is just one resource and one tool of many. It’s about the community coming together to sustain itself. It’s about the city, RADBO, Mountain Housing Opportunities, new people, affordable housing, getting around safely. These are not pass throughs but real neighborhoods. The App students will be working on an inventory of what’s there. The city’s commitment to invest in neighborhoods depends on critical mass and fixing what is broken and making things better. To do that there needs to be an inventory of buildings, infrastructure and people and what is important to them, what’s not working, what their behaviors are—so people don’t waste their grocery money on taxicabs to Tunnel Road grocery stores. The survey will be respectful of people’s privacy. They will only aggregate the information collected to develop a profile of the community. This allows action to be taken based on planning and priorities. ( A longer speech is available on request.)
SURVEY: Meg will help conduct the survey as a final Class Project. Last year they did a pilot survey and this year will aim for more pointed information related to transportation and energy: what are the community’s needs, feelings, habits. likes and dislikes. The methodology is to match 10 volunteers from Just Folks and Green Opportunities with 10 students. The class has determined that the sample area from parts of Census Track 9 plus Hillcrest and Lee Walker Heights has some two thousand households and they plan to conduct about 800 surveys to be statistically valid and will keep information discrete for different neighborhoods. She left a DRAFT survey that has been reviewed by the city, Just Folks, GO and Southside Community so far and requested any concerns or suggestions to be returned to her in the next week. Luke will email a copy of the DRAFT Survey for review. The timeline is to start surveying by the end of March-beginning of April and completing the collating and preliminary analysis by the second of May and then consult some focus groups for greater detail. The report will be completed by June (when the class is done.)
Jeff suggested some kind of premium (like a phone card) for people to share access to their energy bills in order to create a carbon footprint of the area. Pattiy suggested a few dollars off the next bill—and paper copies of the bills would not be required just the permission for Progress Energy to release the information which would only be received and used in aggregate. The idea also arose to distribute the ‘WECAN/ Block Jessie’ fliers to the survey households in WECAN or get list the addresses so there would not be duplicates or just ask the surveyors to distribute the fliers to every house.
KIOSK: On Feb 21 Marsha, Luke, Pattiy, Byron and Joe met with Seth Hendler-Voss-the interim Maintenance Guy for Parks and Recreation and Cultural Arts who was open to ideas but realistic about constraints. A kiosk was something that was desired in the neighborhood for a very long time and then one appeared near the new traffic circle and we heard that EOTR had another one built but not yet assigned. We looked at a site at the top of the ramp which could be seen from both directions of sidewalk pedestrian and vehicular traffic and also visible from inside the park but was not safely wheelchair accessible on both sides due to the slope, and may have blocked the speed limit sign. A narrower kiosk could be considered. Then a site closer to the bus stop was considered but it would block the metal Owens Bell Park sign. Then Pattiy suggested using ‘expanded steel’ mounted on the bus stop shelter. She showed a couple of photos with suggested placement. The advantages included aesthetically in keeping with the metal benches and sign, buses being able to see through to waiting passengers, ability to use magnets to hold up posters and fliers, ability to support a slate chalk board, has drive-by and walk-by visibility. Disadvantages include not being accessible from the garden side, potential for blocking the benches, and cost.
PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE CLEAN UP: Luke will check with Asheville Greenworks for supplies and water and Olufemi. Marsha said the sway car was still on track. Yuri will check with AnnaBeth for a food contribution from the Downtown Market. Time is set for 1100 a.m. on Saturday March 10th.
Luke passed out a map prepared by Bret showing the Department of Transportation, City of Asheville, Norfolk Southern Railroad, Asheville Board of Education and privately owned properties in WECAN and surrounding areas. Marsha pointed out that the city’s website (www.ashevillenc.gov) (Online Services tab—Map Asheville then Active Mapper) provides access to multi-modal transportation options (pedestrian, bicycle, transit) throughout the City of Asheville. This includes sidewalks, greenways, bike lanes, bus routes, etc. It also includes proposed sidewalks ("Needed Linkages") and proposed bike infrastructure identified through pedestrian and bicycle master plans.
STREET CLEANING: Clingman Avenue needs cleaning. Some turf issues between city and DOT, but will be cleaned soon for the planned striping.
RIBBON CUTTING: Pattiy suggested an alternate date for the official closing/opening/ dedication/parade/floats/speeches, etc for the completed Clingman Avenue Streetscape. RADBA suggested Saturday May 12th at 4 p.m. to allow time to get on the news. We still have to work around bus schedules and not sure if all the many people involved in this would prefer the Saturday or the original Tuesday June 5th date.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: RADBA is promoting Second Saturdays arts-based events to make Asheville an important place in the world. Depot Street parking: 36 parking spaces planned possibly completed by 2013. RADBA also planning a fundraiser to pay for Asheville Greenworks to maintain the landscaping near the traffic circle and an arts-based initiative to mentor kids in the River Arts District.
ADOPT A HIGHWAY: cleanup set for Thursday March 22 at 10 a.m.
GARDEN CLUB: OWENS BELL PARK Sunday March 11 at 4 p.m.
CROSSROADS GROUP: Have regular group meetings that last only 1 hour, an ongoing conversation, community history, a publication, focused on the stories of the neighborhoods before urban renewal, what is gone and what remains, some photographs plus Shiloh area, talk about a museum, resources to develop strong neighborhoods..
Meeting adjourned at 8:24
Minutes submitted by Joe Fioccola.
Next BOARD Meeting 6:30p.m. on Thursday April 5.
PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE CLEAN UP: Saturday March 10th. 1100 a.m.
GARDEN CLUB: OWENS BELL PARK Sunday March 11 at 4 p.m.
ADOPT A HIGHWAY: cleanup set for Thursday March 22 at 10 a.m.
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