Asheville downtown makes room for new hotel
By Mark Barrett-Citizen Times staff writer

ASHEVILLE — As debate continues over a 23-story hotel and condominium building downtown, developers of a similar, 13-story structure are already laying plans for construction to start early next year.

The boutique Hotel Indigo will be built where the former Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce building now sits on Haywood Street. The building will contain 100 hotel rooms and 12 condominium units.

It will apparently be the first new hotel construction downtown since the Haywood Park Hotel opened at the corner of Haywood Street and Battery Park Avenue in the mid-1980s.

Since then, downtown has changed from a business center that mostly shut down after working hours to a virtually 24-hour-a-day shopping, entertainment, residential and office district.

When people visit Asheville, “Everybody goes to the Biltmore and everybody goes to the downtown, and it’s such a great downtown,” said Dennis Goodwin, head of Hospitality Lodging Investors II, based in York, Pa. He and a partner have developed and operate several hotels together.

Unlike the 23-story Ellington proposed for Biltmore Avenue, the Hotel Indigo is not large enough to require City Council approval. Commercial buildings smaller than 100,000 square feet require only staff approval, Interim Planning Director Shannon Tuch said, and developers “very purposely stayed just under” that limit.

The chamber building is to be demolished in the next 60 days and construction on the Indigo should begin in January or February, Goodwin said. Opening would be about a year after that.

Boutique brand-
Hotel Indigo is a relatively new brand of InterContinental Hotels Group, a United Kingdom-based company whose chains include InterContinental Hotels and Holiday Inns. The Hotel Indigo chain of boutique hotels has nine properties open and says another 50 are under development.

The chain is “very artsy and eclectic,” and Hotel Indigos are designed individually instead of employing chainwide cookie cutter designs, Goodwin said. The Asheville Hotel Indigo is designed by Calloway Johnson Moore & West, which has offices in Asheville, Winston-Salem and other cities.

Rooms at the Asheville Hotel Indigo might rent for $100 to $150 a night, he said. Prices for the 12 condominium units have not been set.

Buncombe County hotel and motel revenues have risen substantially in recent years — sales went from $14 million in July 2002 to $19 million in July 2007, for example. Goodwin and two other local industry observers say there is demand for rooms downtown and for upper-end properties.

Asheville, Goodwin says, “grows faster than the national trends. … It’s a very good hotel market.”

Downtown demand-
The market for rooms downtown is “pretty tight. There’s plenty of business out there,” said Victor Trantham, general manager at the 33-room Haywood Park.

Trantham said Haywood Park rooms go for more than the Hotel Indigo is likely to charge and said the new hotel would benefit the Haywood Park because it will keep people downtown who otherwise would have to stay in outlying areas.

“There’s a need for that price range downtown. That will be an asset for us,” he said.

Kelly Miller, executive director of the Asheville Convention and Visitors Bureau, said upscale properties like Hotel Indigo are in more demand as baby boomers hit their peak earning years.

“As young folks we did the Motel 6s of the world, and now when we have the opportunity to travel, … we spend more money,” he said.

He too sees a strong demand for a property like Hotel Indigo.

“The invisible hand of the marketplace, its timing usually meets market demand. You would think it would have happened earlier,” Miller said.

Plans show a structure in a modern style with one level of underground parking. The Grove Arcade and the Civic Center are a block away.

“People will be able to come to our location — it has easy access off the Interstate — then they can walk all over downtown,” he said.

A few people who live or work in the area had mostly ambivalent reactions to artist’s renderings of the hotel.

“I think we have to have infill building in Asheville” instead of suburban sprawl, said Gillian Coats. But, she would like to see steps to make the building environmentally friendly.

Lindig Harris said the building “has this looming presence. It looks like it’s going to fall over” onto Interstate 240.

But Frank Smith said he is glad to some activity where the empty Chamber building now sits.

The site is a difficult one to build on, but, “They’ve got to do something to that old building up there,” he said.


Renderings:
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc56/lilj4425/bilde2.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc56/lilj4425/bilde3.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc56/lilj4425/bilde.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc56/lilj4425/bilde6.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc56/lilj4425/bilde7.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc56/lilj4425/bilde4.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc56/lilj4425/bilde5.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc56/lilj4425/FromHighwayEast.jpg

ASHEVILLE — A vacant lot between an Asian restaurant and an empty building on Biltmore Avenue will be the site of the tallest building in Asheville.

The City Council gave developers of The Ellington hotel and condominium building the nod Tuesday, voting 6-1 to approve the 23-story building.

Developers had proposed to lower the downtown high-rise to 21 stories after hearing concerns about size, but council members said given all factors, the taller building was a better design.

The Ellington will be just taller than the current highest structure, the BB&T building.

The lone no vote came from Councilman Bryan Freeborn, who voiced concerns about traffic and pedestrian safety.

The project had drawn criticism from people who said it would be out of scale with surrounding two- and three-story buildings.

Pinky Zalkin, 58, of Kenilworth, was handing out green “NO” signs in front of City Hall before the meeting. The former real estate manager from Nevada City, Calif., said she didn’t want Asheville to become overdeveloped like her last home.

“Before you knew it, the very thing that people came to see was the thing that wasn’t there anymore,” she said.

Others, such as frozen custard storeowner Jim Kammann, said it was good to see tall construction in the center of town instead of sprawl on the outskirts.

“We need to be perceived in this town as friendly to business, and I just hope that we do not send the wrong signal. Business is not bad,” Kammann said.

The Ellington will stretch from Biltmore back to South Lexington Avenue to the west and Aston Street to the south. From above, the “L” shaped footprint would wrap around behind Doc Chey’s Noodle House.

The Dallas-based Beck Group will develop the $85 million project with other partners, including the Grove Park Inn, a minor investor that will operate the hotel.

Renderings/official website: http://www.theellington.info/

You have officially invaded North Carolina, g-man :lol:

Well, many thanks for starting this thread and for the wonderful renderings you posted for all to see. Let me share a small rendering of The Ellington, the new tallest for Asheville:

http://www.mountainx.com/images/blogimages/ellington.jpg

I know that the link you posted has all the good stuff, but for more information, along with renderings, check out this link:

http://www.ashevillenc.gov/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=9362

Asheville is approving skyscrapers.

In other news, Vanilla has become chocolate.

A new tallest in Asheville! We have waited so long for this! This could be the first major step foward for more skyscrapers. Usually they are scaled down and cancelled, due to NIMBYs. I know Asheville has the demand for high-rise condos, apartments and hotels. There are several excellent proposals for new high-rises and we need to stay focused on design quality and preservation of contributing structures.

Well said, Matthew :okay: I see no reason why a 23-story high-rise should not be built in Asheville. If the design is good - in this case it is an absolutely fantastic design, IMHO - and respects the character of the city, nobody should complain. The Indigo will also be within a very reasonable scale for that area. In fact, I would love to see something at least the same size with The Ellington between the Indigo and Grove Arcade (see photo below).

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc56/lilj4425/bilde4.jpg

You have officially invaded North Carolina, g-man :lol:


Which city will be next? :D

I can see the Indigo Hotel getting built, but the Ellington is a different story. In Greenville, which is a larger metro area than Asheville we have been trying to get a new city and even state's tallest built for years and it seems to fail everytime. I hate to be a doubter, but can you blame me with what's been going on here? It gets city approval and looks like everything is going well then something just happens where it can't be built. It can be a number of factors from construction costs to not enough pre-sales.

Well Asheville has more tourist than Greenville so the demand for taller structures is higher. Even though it might be a smaller metro I believe it to be a lot more compact. I can see Asheville probably outpacing Greenville for skyscrapers eventually due to this factor. NC outbuilds SC by leaps and bounds when it comes to new skyscrapers. Myrtle Beach is the exception but even that is starting to slow down to a trickle now.

Plus, The Ellington is much farther along and is an altogether more attractive project that the ill-fated Greenville projects in question.

Plus, The Ellington is much farther along and is an altogether more attractive project that the ill-fated Greenville projects in question.

What do you mean by much farther along?

What do you mean by much farther along?

Fully designed, fully approved, actively marketed and a superior project. Plus, not really that many units to sell and few if any competing projects.

Fully designed, fully approved, actively marketed and a superior project. Plus, not really that many units to sell and few if any competing projects.

True. I think it will get built, but it's just to early to tell at this point.

True. I think it will get built, but it's just to early to tell at this point.

Oh, sure. I agree with that.

Fully designed, fully approved, actively marketed and a superior project. Plus, not really that many units to sell and few if any competing projects.
Fully designed - just like The Camperdown and Pinnacle on Main, among others.

Fully approved - again, no different than the ones that received full approval in Greenville.

Actively marketed - The Camperdown even had an attractive sales office/showroom across from The Hyatt Regency on Main Street.

Superior project - I agree wholeheartedly! From the first moment I learned of The Ellington when it was initially publicly released, I have been in love with its beauty. It is exactly what I hope to see built in Asheville and hope to also see something similar built in Greenville someday. I think more towers are definitely coming to both cities as we continue to grow and gain national exposure. I would love to see a closer bond between our local governments. I have been hearing more people talk about visiting both cities while vacationing in or simply traveling through the region. Here is one example (http://www.sthelenastar.com/articles/2007/10/18/columnists/jeff_popick/doc4716ba467156e840391834.txt) from a Napa Valley, California weatherperson's recent trip.

"Competing projects" is another reason Asheville can build these towers. There really aren't many competing projects for offices, visitors and condo buyers; like what you see in Greenville, Columbia, Charlotte, Triad, Triangle, etc. You could make a long list of projects in Greenville in the past five years; adding new condos, apartments, hotel rooms and offices new proposals must compete with. Usually the NIMBYs are successful in cancelling high-rise projects. They have a fear tall buildings will block-out the sun, take-away valuable surface parking and Asheville will become Atlanta. :eek: That is why the approval of this tower is a big deal and could lead to more.

^^Well, Charlotte has competing projects so how are they able to build so many?

Fully designed - just like The Camperdown and Pinnacle on Main, among others.

Fully approved - again, no different than the ones that received full approval in Greenville.

Actively marketed - The Camperdown even had an attractive sales office/showroom across from The Hyatt Regency on Main Street.

Superior project - I agree wholeheartedly! From the first moment I learned of The Ellington when it was initially publicly released, I have been in love with its beauty. It is exactly what I hope to see built in Asheville and hope to also see something similar built in Greenville someday. I think more towers are definitely coming to both cities as we continue to grow and gain national exposure. I would love to see a closer bond between our local governments. I have been hearing more people talk about visiting both cities while vacationing in or simply traveling through the region. Here is one example (http://www.sthelenastar.com/articles/2007/10/18/columnists/jeff_popick/doc4716ba467156e840391834.txt) from a Napa Valley, California weatherperson's recent trip.

Yes, but I thought the issue at hand was a new tallest. Neither of Greenville's tallest proposals met or have met these criteria.

^^Neither? Only one is dead. The other is still very much alive. In fact the developers gave $50,000 to the city just a few weeks ago for it.

^^Neither? Only one is dead. The other is still very much alive. In fact the developers gave $50,000 to the city just a few weeks ago for it.

I'm pulling for that one too. :cheers:

Because demand is so high in Charlotte due to size and fast growth; though they are starting to slow a little, due to competing projects. It takes more units to meet demand in a larger and faster growing market than in a smaller market.

Condo proposal gets criticism

by Mark Barrett-Citizen Times Staff
published October 23, 2007 12:15 am

ASHEVILLE – Developer Stewart Coleman isn’t getting much encouragement for a proposed condominium building that would front park space near City Hall.

The head of the board of Pack Square Conservancy, the nonprofit that is renovating downtown park space and is reviewing Coleman’s proposal, said Monday that the building would be in the wrong spot.

Coleman said Monday that City Council turned down in July a proposed land swap that would allow construction of the building farther away from Pack Square Park.

It appears from figures provided by Coleman’s architect, Mark Fishero of Charlotte, that the building would be taller than allowed under the conservancy’s guidelines even though Fishero had reduced its height more than 16 feet.

Coleman, Fishero and others involved in his proposal for an 11-story Parkside Condominiums building that would be located to the southwest of City Hall met Monday with board members reviewing the proposed design.

The full board is scheduled to vote on the project in November. The conservancy says the board has the ability to prevent construction.

Conservancy head Carol King said afterward that she likes the building, “But if I had a magic wand, I’d move it back” from the park.

“We’re just in a bit of a conundrum. We’ve got the right building in the wrong place,” she said.

Board members and a consultant had said in written comments that the building would be too tall and obscure views of City Hall and mountains behind it. There was, in Fishero’s term, only “a sliver of daylight” between the proposed building and the southwestern corner of City Hall in a rendering that represented the view of City Hall and the county courthouse from Vance Monument.

A small section of the bottom portion of the building wasn’t visible at all.

The building is at least 21 feet taller than the guidelines allow, according to Fishero’s figures.

Unless city government were to swap some land for the building, Coleman said moving it back from the park would make it so slender that cars couldn’t be parked on lower levels, making it not viable. A shorter building would not be profitable, he said.

Coleman said after Monday’s meeting that he had talked off and on with city staff since June 2005 about a proposed swap for part of a city-owned parking lot on the south side of Marjorie Street.

He said city staff asked him July 11 to prepare the proposal which council rejected in a closed session July 24. It would have involved putting his condominium building in the parking lot and Coleman giving the site of the Hayes-Hopson Building for the park.

Coleman said he also proposed building a parking deck on the city-owned lot with the city and putting retail space and affordable housing on portions fronting Spruce and Eagle streets. The plan would leave room for a performing arts center, which has been considered for that area.

Mayor Terry Bellamy said the city was still determining the best use for city-owned property at the time but said council had “not looked at a specific development.”

City Manager Gary Jackson said Coleman would have to answer questions about his proposal.

Coleman’s acquisition of county-owned land for his proposed building in November has been controversial and a lawsuit seeks to overturn it.

The building is at least 21 feet taller than the guidelines allow, according to Fishero’s figures.
Wow!!! It will be tall enough to obscure the sun... What a bunch of bullcrap :bash:

^^Global colding. Run for your lives. :hahaha:

Good God, the place is overun with NIMBY's.
You would think that the developer had applied to build a two thousand foot tall scrape in front of City Hall.
Asheville will have a very dificult road to densification.
I'm sure, like Sarasota, that the council wants to preserve that "small town feel".

I went by Asheville this weekend on my way to Boone, NC. I saw a few projects under construction in the Biltmore Village Area. It doesnt take anytime to get to Asheville from Greenville.

I went by Asheville this weekend on my way to Boone, NC. I saw a few projects under construction in the Biltmore Village Area. It doesnt take anytime to get to Asheville from Greenville.

My g/f is from Boone. Cool little town.
I'd like to know if anything significant is being built in the Biltmore village area, if you're aware of something specific.

The projects in Biltmore Village that I'm aware of are:

-A 4-story (+ below grade parking) hotel right across the street from the entrance to the Biltmore estate. Branded as the Bohemian Hotel (http://www.bohemianhotelasheville.com).

-A 2 story (+ below grade parking)annex to the Bohemian Hotel across Biltmore Avenue. Former Pedro's Porch site, next to New Morning Gallery.

-A 2 story (+ below grade parking) retail/office building by Hill Partners along Brook Street backed up against the railroad tracks, filled with four or five upscale chain retail shops (J. Crew, Williams-Sonoma among others). Link here (http://www.hillpartnersinc.com/projects8.html)

Several other projects have been discussed but not acted upon, including:

-A 3-story hotel on the site of the Plaza motel (NW corner of Vanderbilt & Hendersonville Rd)

-A large "New Urban" development known as Whitaker Hill, just up Fairview Road from Biltmore Village

-Another 2 or 3-story mixed use retail project by Hill Partners across Brook Street from the one mentioned above

Thanks for the list, orulz :okay: Asheville has a lot going for itself and it would be nice to remain informed on the status of the new projects. Naturally, much of the excitement will come from the Indigo and Ellington projects, for obvious reasons, but the smaller projects will boost the urban fabric of Asheville in areas outside downtown.

After seeing Ashville this past weekend. I think the potential is tremendous for it. It is in such a beautiful place and it has very close proxmity to some cool places in the mountains. I hope the Ellington gets built. Asheville needs this one bad.

-Evan

Another high-rise plan on the table for downtown Asheville
Developer floats hotel, condos project

by Mark Barrett, MBARRETT@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM

ASHEVILLE — Plans to redevelop the Haywood Park Hotel and nearby properties downtown might include two buildings 20 stories or taller.

One would be a hotel on Page Avenue, the other residential condominiums closer to Haywood Street, according to descriptions of early plans.

The buildings were on preliminary plans that local developer Tony Fraga showed to more than 100 downtown business owners and residents in meetings last week, several people involved in the meetings said.

Plans also included converting much of the Haywood Park Hotel space to office use, locating retail uses along Page Avenue and other first-floor space and creating hundreds of parking spaces underground, those attending said.

A spokesman for Fraga said plans are still at an early stage and subject to change.

Spokesman Dave Tomsky declined to discuss specifics with a reporter of what Fraga may build.

“Tony feels like the first thing that he needs to do is to share his plans as they are at this point with the people who are closest to (the property) geographically and those with the greatest stake in what happens,” Tomsky said.

The plans will change based on feedback Fraga received at the meetings, Tomsky said.

I guess Asheville is starting to hog it all from Greenville, too :lol: Maybe their economy doesn't suck as much :poke: Thanks for sharing the good news!!! If these two towers get built, Asheville's skyline will be totally off the hook. It already has a nice skyline, especially when you consider the city's population.

SIGH...

Even Asheville is getting in on the skyline boom.... :ohno:

^^And how many of them have been built? It's less than one.

I guess Asheville is starting to hog it all from Greenville, too :lol: Maybe their economy doesn't suck as much :poke: Thanks for sharing the good news!!! If these two towers get built, Asheville's skyline will be totally off the hook. It already has a nice skyline, especially when you consider the city's population.

What do you mean? Greenville has more highrises proposed than Asheville does and none of theirs have been built either. Where's the whistling emotion?

Don't worry about Asheville, g-man, the proposed towers will be built. The only obstacle will be the NIMBYs that seem to have more influence than they should :bash:

^^Who says they'll still get built even if the NIMBY's don't have their way? Do you have a crystal ball? :D

Yes, in fact I do... My ball says: "g-man needs to relocate from Greenville, otherwise no high-rises will be built there". Just don't relocate to Raleigh, please :rofl:

^^I'll relocate to Charlotte. :D

If the Charlotte forumers let you ;)

That is awesome news! I would love to see all the high-rises built in Asheville. It is such a cool city. Would love to see a rendering of those newly proposed towers. In the skyline setting as well. :D

Two new high-rises planned for downtown

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/Kwinone/Asheville.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/Kwinone/Asheville4.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/Kwinone/Asheville3.jpg

Developer Tony Fraga’s plans for his properties in downtown Asheville include a 25-story tower inspired by the building E.W. Grove planned in the 1920s but never built. This an architectural rendering of a proposed hotel with an ornate, gabled roof that would stand alongside a more modern residential high-rise of 21 floors overlooking Haywood Avenue. The two buildings can be seen towering above the other downtown buildings at the center of this digitally enhanced image.

April 3, 2008 12:15 am

Looking to the future of the Haywood Park complex he bought last year, Tony Fraga took a page from the past.

His plans to renovate the Haywood Park Hotel and adjacent properties between Page and Haywood avenues downtown call for adding a 25-story tower inspired by the structure E.W. Grove first envisioned to top the Grove Arcade in the 1920s.

The new hotel with an ornate, gabled roof would stand alongside a more modern residential high-rise of 21 floors overlooking Haywood Avenue.

Fraga took his inspiration from the etching of Grove’s original blueprint for the tower at the corner of Page and Battery Park avenues.

“I saw that and knew it should have been built,” Fraga said Wednesday.

“I believe that cities have to grow vertically. Instead of developing subdivisions and increasing our dependency on foreign oil, we have to go up in downtown, not up into the mountains. And in this area, we have a tower that was already planned,” he said.

To complement the renovated Grove Arcade, Fraga also envisions a new arcade with retail space running from beneath the hotel tower on Page Avenue over to the residential tower on Haywood Avenue. The hotel would have up to 225 rooms, the residential tower about 94 units.

Fraga plans to add an additional 500 parking spaces underground, as well as convert the existing Haywood Park hotel space to office and retail space.

His FIRC Group bought the Haywood Park complex on the western side of downtown for $18.5 million last June. The properties include the hotel, the Starnes and Haywood Atrium buildings on Haywood Street, a parking lot on Page Avenue and a retail building that houses Kostas’ Menswear and Subway at the corner of Battery Park and Page.

Fraga has been meeting informally with city planners, downtown merchants and residents and other stakeholders.

“The response has been very positive. I really haven’t heard from anyone at these meetings that said, ‘I don’t like your project,’” he said.

Ruth Summers, executive director of the Grove Arcade Public Market Foundation, welcomed the potential project next door.

“We’re very excited about what we’ve seen. As an Asheville resident, I would rather see infill downtown rather than sprawl. It’s good for downtown to have more retail and to increase the hotel room. And I love the additional parking.”

Fraga is talking with national hotel chains to develop his plans for the Grove tower, which would cost $25 million or more to build. The rest of his Haywood Park plans could cost up to $100 million, the largest project Fraga’s company has undertaken.

FIRC also plans to renovate the Westgate shopping center with office and residential units and to build Main Street at Enka Village, a mixed-use development on Sand Hill Road.

He’s not worried that a potential recession in the coming year could spoil his plans. “This is my legacy project,” Fraga said.

Fraga will formally present his Haywood Park plans to the Asheville Downtown Commission next month.

http://citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880402090

I hope they both get cancelled. :cheer:

^^
Asheville is hogging it all from Greenville. Since you guys cannot get your acts together - until you and Bob Ellis are sent to exile, outside the U.S. - Asheville manages to attract new proposals and grow upwards.

On these proposals, what can I say? They are simply outstanding and I hope to see this project materialize without any obstacles and/or delays - as long as Bob Ellis and g-man are not involved, there is hope :poke: Anyway, check out the aerials showing Hotel Indigo and Haywood Park. Both projects will be located within short distance from each other. If you look the two aerials carefully, you can see how close they will be.

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc56/lilj4425/bilde4.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/Kwinone/Asheville3.jpg

One of the things I love about this location is proximity to Grove Arcade, Old Europe Cafe an the Laughin' Seed. Plenty of destinations, all within walking distance. As you can see in the second aerial, there is plenty of room to grow and many lots to redevelop in the future. Asheville's skyline will get a MAJOR boost with The Ellington, Hotel Indigo and Haywood Park :okay:

That is a pretty classy looking tower..

:eek2: What's gotten into Asheville lately ?

^^Nothing. Greenville has just as many highrises proposed. None have been built in either city.

For locals, this is the most important view (with BB&T):

http://cmsimg.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Avis=B0&Dato=20080402&Kategori=FRONTPAGE&Lopenr=402002&Ref=PH&Item=8&MaxW=800&MaxH=600

It's worth posting: The Courthouse is actually Asheville's tallest and BB&T is second tallest, but the difference is 2 or 3 feet. :D

It could be a new tallest, but I think The Ellington will be taller than this tower. I like both towers! 2008 is Asheville's year and this is a beautiful expansion. I love the location of these two towers! I love everything about this proposal!

For locals, this is the most important view (with BB&T):

http://cmsimg.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Avis=B0&Dato=20080402&Kategori=FRONTPAGE&Lopenr=402002&Ref=PH&Item=8&MaxW=800&MaxH=600

It's worth posting: The Courthouse is actually Asheville's tallest and BB&T is second tallest, but the difference is 2 or 3 feet. :D

It could be a new tallest, but I think The Ellington will be taller than this tower. I like both towers! 2008 is Asheville's year and this is a beautiful expansion.

The Courthouse is taller ? BB&T must be on a higher elevation then, as it appears to dominate.

That taller one really is nice, and a beautiful top. I just don't understand why SC developers/builders can't come up with some style like that. :bash:
If those are built, as in the last photo, that section of DT asheville will be denser than anywhere in gville's dt.

That taller one really is nice, and a beautiful top. I just don't understand why SC developers/builders can't come up with some style like that. :bash:
If those are built, as in the last photo, that section of DT asheville will be denser than anywhere in gville's dt.

Don't tell me you forgot how backwards South Carolina is. :lol:

g-man, Asheville isn't that far a drive if you ever want to see some skyscrapers. :)

Yeah, and at the rate gville is going with it's skyscapers, maybe in a few years we will ahve to drive to places like Anderson or Greenwood to see them there too. :lol:

Yeah, and at the rate gville is going with it's skyscapers, maybe in a few years we will ahve to drive to places like Anderson or Greenwood to see them there too. :lol:


:lol:

Yeah, and at the rate gville is going with it's skyscapers, maybe in a few years we will ahve to drive to places like Anderson or Greenwood to see them there too. :lol:

What about Easley? They recently got one. ;) It doesn't exactly house people either. :D

Yep, looks like a big flashlight standing on end. :)

Thanks, Matthew. That aerial you posted is much better, although we need a better one to see the entire skyline. Let's not forget that there are 3 towers not seen in either photo posted above. To fix this, let me post some images I found where the other 3 buildings may be seen clearly. In the third photo, you can place The Ellington somewhere near the center, behind the existing towers, while Haywood Park and Hotel Indigo would appear to the right, although outside the photo's boundaries

http://www.ashevillerealestatesource.com/artman/uploads/aerial_photo_of_downtown_asheville_-_resized.jpg

http://www.panachemag.com/fall_07/Features/Images/Feature_Asheville_02.jpg

http://www.valcourinc.com/Asheville-night.gif

This is exciting times for Asheville's skyline and I surely hope that no bumps will appear along the way. DT Asheville is already an exciting place, and with the proposed buildings it will look even more attractive!!!

Those towers are awesome! I love that crown/top of the taller one. Very beautiful tower. It would look great in the city!!! Hope these two get built! Please! Please!
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/Kwinone/Asheville4.jpg

I still can't believe that the Courthouse is taller than BB&T.

Two new high-rises planned for downtown

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/Kwinone/Asheville.jpg

I have to say the taller building with it's crown, is perhaps the most elegant skyscraper I've seen proposed in quite sometime. It really is a beautiful building that I'd love to see built, this along with The Ellington would make for an amazing skyline.

And g-man, you shouldn't feel so bad about Greenville, at least the city doesn't have a 10 story height limit like Huntsville :bash:...so I'm sure sooner or later one of the proposals there will see the light of day.

Wow! These towers will look amazing in DT Asheville.:dance:
The towers look great and will blend in just fine with the other buildings.
That taller proposed tower has a very Asheville-esque look to it with that '1920s-1930s' crown on top. :)

Two new high-rises planned for downtown

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/Kwinone/Asheville.jpg


http://citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880402090

It's awesome to see a developer willing to put forward such a great, bold new project for Asheville. As a former resident of Asheville and one who loves the city dearly, I'm very excited and hope this project becomes a reality. Oh, by the way, I wish even greater things for Asheville's larger neighbor to the south. Why the sour grapes, g-man?

Wow! These towers will look amazing in DT Asheville.


...if they get built.

It's awesome to see a developer willing to put forward such a great, bold new project for Asheville. As a former resident of Asheville and one who loves the city dearly, I'm very excited and hope this project becomes a reality. Oh, by the way, I wish even greater things for Asheville's larger neighbor to the south. Why the sour grapes, g-man?

Because cities like Asheville and Lexington which are smaller than Greenville keep on getting highrises. Why can't Greenville which is just as big as Columbia get any?

Wow, some beautiful towers there; I'm not surprised to see a tower that well-designed get proposed for Asheville; the city has several classic structures, and the taller one follows in that tradition. I've got to make time to make a trip to Asheville one of these days.

Because cities like Asheville and Lexington which are smaller than Greenville keep on getting highrises. Why can't Greenville which is just as big as Columbia get any?

I feel the same way living in Huntsville, i mean Mobile is about the same size and it gets Alabama's tallest building well over 700ft. in the RSA :ohno:...So yeah, I know the frustration that you're feeling, but as I said before at least Greenville doesn't have a height limit (that I know of) for it's downtown like Huntsville has...Asheville can get 20-25 story buildings but anything over 10 storys here is shot down. :bash:

g-man, Asheville will hog it all :lol:

g-man, Asheville will hog it all :lol:

Bob is coming. :shifty:

I need me some more Asheville Development news please... :D :runaway:
:D

So whats wrong construction hasnt started on anything so you guys just want to just push it to the second page.NO. you guys are going to stay at the top of the page lol.

Supposedly some work has started on Zona Lofts, and demolition work has begun on the old Chamber of Commerce for the Indigo Hotel.

9-story 60 N Market is topped out, and construction proceeds apace (http://oxblue.com/pro/open/?webPath=coxschepp/60nmarket). 4-story 190 Broadway, the Pioneer Building, is also nearing completion (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3245/2511603667_1f70eb0c0a.jpg). You can actually see it in the background of this webcam (http://oxblue.com/pro/open/?webPath=coxschepp/60nmarket), above and just to the right of the main subject in the foreground.

Carolina First Center, 4 stories tall, is under construction as well, though this was downsized from an originally planned 10 stories. This one is especially bittersweet, since it includes a bank with a drive-through.

Ellington is on hold, and I can't imagine Haywood Park Towers getting built any time soon with the market like it is. Several other projects have been proposed over the past few years, but like everywhere else, most of them have yet to turn the first shovelful of dirt.

Parkside probably isn't going to happen, because public opinion is so starkly against it. The county will probably wind up buying Coleman out at some ridiculous profit to him.

Several projects are underway in Biltmore Village and will really change the look of the place. Bohemian Hotel is probably the biggest.

orulz, where have you been? Did the honeymoon occupied your mind for several months after the wedding :lol: Good to see you posting here, and thanks for the update!!!

orulz, where have you been? Did the honeymoon occupied your mind for several months after the wedding :lol: Good to see you posting here, and thanks for the update!!!

I was ummm....uhhh...let's just say :naughty:

g-man, you are in love with yourself, which is not an accomplishment... I didn't ask about you, as I know what you do and where you are... You and Infoman have been trying to increase the number of posts by posting every 15 minutes :lol:

g-man, you are in love with yourself, which is not an accomplishment... I didn't ask about you, as I know what you do and where you are... You and Infoman have been trying to increase the number of posts by posting every 15 minutes :lol:

I'm sorry. :cry: :hug: :D And what have you been doing in your spare time mister? ;)

I have been wondering if Infoman is your twin brother... Between you two, there will be no thread left behind :lol: He is the only one who can match your pace of posting ;)

If he's my brother then Bob Ellis is yours. :goodnight

Bob Ellis youre brother right Raleigh-NC

But youre the good brother hes THE EVIL brother
you congrats us when we are doing good atleast
bob ellis proposes to build stuff so it wont get built lo

O Brother where art thou?
"Paddle faster! I hear banjos!"

:D

Ritalin...

Ritalin...

Valium...

Nexium...

Viagra...:D

^^
Boy, you got some real issues. Isn't this a little early for Viagra? :rofl:

^^
Boy, you got some real issues. Isn't this a little early for Viagra? :rofl:

For me yes. For you of course not. :nocrook:

Hey, I am old guy, what can I say? :lol:

^^ Don't forget Raleigh, g-man's got that big girl he has to impress! ;) He'll need all the Viagra he can get! :lol:

^^ Don't forget Raleigh, g-man's got that big girl he has to impress! ;) He'll need all the Viagra he can get! :lol:

Where did my fish go? In her stomach. :cry: :(

g-man, your girlfriend may take the whole bakery, but you'll take the whole pharmacy :lol: StevenW made a very good point, by the way ;)

The bakery? More like the whole grocery store. :goodnight :uh:

Isn't food wonderful? :D

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880821154
Crowne Plaza to build expo center.

^^ Any renderings?? :? :? :?

Any new news?

Inido Hotel or whatever started construction, 13 levels, and Greenville can't build a simple 25-27 level tower, a 15 level tower, a 14 level tower, a 8 level hotel, A 15 level courthouse, and a couple of others. :lol:

Isn't there a 20+ story tower proposed for Asheville?

It sure is.

25 and 21 level tower's in the same development, one is modern, the other is deco style.

^^ The Haywood towers?

Haywood Park Complex, yep that's it Steven.

Cool. I hope the get built. They are of very high quality design from what I remember.

Wow! These towers will look amazing in DT Asheville.:dance:
The towers look great and will blend in just fine with the other buildings.
That taller proposed tower has a very Asheville-esque look to it with that '1920s-1930s' crown on top. :)

the developer said he wanted to continue what the developer of the grove arcade was going to do back in the 20's and use the same tower design that was supposed to sit on top of the current grove arcade.there was a big article in the citizen times on the developer. he is from florida and i think he said he use to live here in asheville. the residental tower is to be lit up at night but they r going to use a dimmer light so that its not to bright.:)

So, it is approved? And construction should start soon on them?

So, it is approved? And construction should start soon on them?

It goes before the city council for final approval on Tuesday, September 23. The downtown commission and technical review board have already approved it.

We don't build anything without a reason:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3226/2874619190_fd4c29af4c_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3234/2874620330_5ed36f90d2_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3009/2873789683_e58ef52570_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3206/2873789299_12d5db1558_b.jpg

That has got to be one of my favorite projects going on anywhere right now.

g-man, why cant Greenville get anything as regal as this? Look at that detail and height!

That has got to be one of my favorite projects going on anywhere right now.

It hasn't started construction yet. :poke:

I feel certain that such a high quality project like this one will start. It's just a matter of time. I mean, the design is great!

is there any new news on the 9 story apt tower that was to go next to city hall in downtown???

The what? :dunno: :lol:

HOW BEAUTIFUL!! Way to go Asheville. I'll add this to my things I wish were in charlotte list!

Story on new highrises for Asheville: http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880921044

Renderings for Zona: http://www.reprehensible.net/~orulz/Zona_Rendering.jpg and http://www.reprehensible.net/~orulz/zonaperspective.jpg

Construction pics of 13-story Hotel Indigo and The Residences at 151: http://www.valcourinc.com/IndigoConstructionPhotos.htm

Webcam for 60 North Market Street: http://www.oxblue.com/pro/open/?webPath=coxschepp/60nmarket

is there any new news on the 9 story apt tower that was to go next to city hall in downtown???

It's dead, Jim. Heirs to the Pack family brought suit against the developer, saying that the county's sale of the parkland was illegal and went against the original deed to the land that is now Pack Square Park, which states that the land is to be used for the public good forever. A judge's ruling recently sided with them. And so, as it stands, Stuart Coleman, the developer, owns the historic Hayes and Hopson building and will probably tear it down just for spite, but the sliver of parkland that he owns cannot be used to build anything on.

He's going to appeal the ruling, naturally. He felt that while he was hated by nearly everyone in the city, he wasn't actually hated by everyone, and he's going to keep going until he achieves his goal, which is to be despised by every last resident of the city of Asheville. Frankly, I'm surprised that no one's tried to kill him yet. Emotions are running that high over it.

Is The Ellington still in play ?

Is The Ellington still in play ?

It's on hold last I heard.

...And the city said no to Haywood Park. Too big, too tall. The city council wants the developer to scale back the project and bring it back for another review in November.

...And the city said no to Haywood Park. Too big, too tall. The city council wants the developer to scale back the project and bring it back for another review in November.

Stupid nimby's. :bash: :wallbash:

...And the city said no to Haywood Park. Too big, too tall. The city council wants the developer to scale back the project and bring it back for another review in November.WOW, that is a major disappointment. I have no doubt that the revised plan will be of equal quality, but the beauty and height of the original plan would have taken Asheville's public image to a totally new level, in my opinion.

WOW, that is a major disappointment. I have no doubt that the revised plan will be of equal quality, but the beauty and height of the original plan would have taken Asheville's public image to a totally new level, in my opinion.

Hey, if this whole thing doesn't work out for the developer then maybe they could look just an hour and a half south instead for a place to build it. ;)

All of the people under the article that commented on this Haywood propopsal were totally against it. They simply don't want quality growth downtown. They want Asheville to stay, "Weird".
The link again: http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880921044

They want a small, funky town. No tall buildings that raise property values/renting rates.
No new big-name upper end stores. No tall and skinny towers at all. They said, "If you want skyscrapers, go to NYC or Philly!" That this Haywood proposal belonged in NYC or Philly, not in Asheville! :no: :ohno: :cry:
They want to remain stagnant. It's not even clear the towers would even get built, due to the stinking economy. But the Nimbys won't let it happen anyway. I tell ya, these Nimbys won't be happy until the proposal is one building that is 4 or 5 floors and has a "funky" paint job!

Hey, if this whole thing doesn't work out for the developer then maybe they could look just an hour and a half south instead for a place to build it. ;)

I second that motion, g-man!

In regards to Haywood Park, I'm hoping that the same thing happens that happened with the Ellington, whose design wasn't anywhere near as appealing. The city council ordered the developer of the Ellington make this building shorter, he did and brought it back, and they saw that it looked worse and let him build what he originally planned anyway.

It seems every new development in Asheville is pressured to scale down, the developer can't gain approval or the developer is pressured until giving-up. Some of the NIMBYs in Asheville will through rocks through windows, if they don't get their way (no exaggeration). Asheville should have the fourth best skyline in the state and can. Demand is there. New tall buildings will improve downtown, if designed correctly. I will admit, I question the design of the rounded condo tower, but want new tall buildings in Asheville and would love to see the tower crane over it! I want to see several new structures taller than the ugly Courthouse and the 1960's box across from it. The sun won't disappear behind a glass and stone wall soaring 2,000 feet in the air, if tall buildings are approved. I've seen buildings under 12 floors proposed for parking lots, facing opposition! I think some also fear wealthy condo buyers invading their artsy downtown. I think developers would remain interested, if a requirement was made to have a low set number or low percentage of units under $100,000 in every project? I would like to see someone proposed small units, like those seen in Seattle, for those who can't afford upper-end condos.

In regards to Haywood Park, I'm hoping that the same thing happens that happened with the Ellington, whose design wasn't anywhere near as appealing. The city council ordered the developer of the Ellington make this building shorter, he did and brought it back, and they saw that it looked worse and let him build what he originally planned anyway.So you are stating that The Ellington is still planned as originally released? That is wonderful to hear! I will be thrilled beyond comprehension if something similar is ever proposed and built in Greenville. Even so, to have that gorgeous Art Deco masterpiece grace the neighboring Asheville skyline would be sweet. :)

Yeah it would be sweet.

Click here (http://www.diguiseppe.com/design/images/projects/hotels/Ellington%20Hotel/Ellington%20Detail.html) to see a conceptual sketch of an earlier commissioned effort to plan The Ellington.

From the designers:CONCEPT DESIGN

The Ellington Hotel & Condominiums
Asheville, North Carolina

The project concept was to design a new 20 story building in the heart of downtown Asheville which would be LEED certified and incorporate Asheville’s physical aesthetics of its Art Deco character. The project was commissioned by the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, which has been called the Santa Fe of the East. The building concept presented by DiGuiseppe called for 45 Condos on top and 125 Hotel rooms on the lower level, with an outdoor pool, restaurant and bar on the 10th floor setback.

love the pics

nice rendering! very Asheville-esk!

Biltmore Park Town Square:
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f221/g-man436/005-10.jpg

:) Barack Obama came to Asheville today. Over 28,000 spectators showed up. Check out the photo gallery here: http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=B0&Date=20081005&Category=PHOTO21&ArtNo=1005010&Ref=PH&Params=Itemnr=1

^^ Did you go?

the steel is rising in asheville. the new hotel indigo is finally erecting steel beams

they announced today on radio of plans for a new 7 story hotel with ground level retail and an underground garage for downtown ashsville:)

Cool. :)

its great to see steel up in asheville. hotel indigo is now up to 8 floors and is coming along nicely:)

Can we see any pic's?

Can we see any pic's?

Yes: http://www.valcourinc.com/IndigoConstructionPhotos.htm

Haywood towers project cancelled: http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008811120340

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f221/g-man436/023-5.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f221/g-man436/005-23.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f221/g-man436/006-20.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f221/g-man436/001-21.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f221/g-man436/002-24.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f221/g-man436/003-20.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f221/g-man436/004-21.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f221/g-man436/007-20.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f221/g-man436/008-19.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f221/g-man436/009-17.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f221/g-man436/010-15.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f221/g-man436/011-13.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f221/g-man436/013-14.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f221/g-man436/014-10.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f221/g-man436/015-13.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f221/g-man436/016-10.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f221/g-man436/021-7.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f221/g-man436/017-7.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f221/g-man436/018-8.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f221/g-man436/019-9.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f221/g-man436/020-7.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f221/g-man436/028-10.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f221/g-man436/027-8.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f221/g-man436/026-7.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f221/g-man436/024-9.jpg

Nice shots g-man!!!!

But this is getting out of hand, Greenville now should start looking up to Asheville a city that is technically smaller than Greenville.... :nuts: They have REI .... :lol:

Infoman, is that you? :uh: Where have you been? :hug: I thought you died.

yep...

Very similar to this development:

http://www.newtownwilliamsburg.com/

These are popping up in a lot of metro areas.

Did Biltmore Park finally get completed? and what's the status of the I-26 connector? This thread has been dead for over a year!

Did Biltmore Park finally get completed? and what's the status of the I-26 connector? This thread has been dead for over a year!
I-26 is still in development, not construction though. There really hasn't been much updates from the state's Department of Transportation.

Here's some good news though. The state's DOT has applied for $6.7 million to expand additional services. One expansion will be between Asheville and Salisbury.
http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/stories/2010/05/24/daily53.html

Biltmore Park is still expanding, also, just to address the other question posed here.

Anyone know what this crane is all about?

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5149/5669199050_111d495d37_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/homegalaxy/5669199050/)
Asheville-20110422-160.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/homegalaxy/5669199050/) by Frank Kloskowski (http://www.flickr.com/people/homegalaxy/), on Flickr

That's the new courthouse addition, and the "life tower" that will go up the back of the historic courthouse building.

That's the new courthouse addition, and the "life tower" that will go up the back of the historic courthouse building.

Thanks! :cheers:

Any renderings?