Asheville Council Approves Flood-Prone Apartments and West Asheville Pool Rebuild

Asheville City Council voted 4-3 on Tuesday to approve a seven-story, 252-unit apartment development at 21 London Road, southeast of Biltmore Village. The project sits near Sweeten Creek, a waterway that played a major role in the city's recovery from Hurricane Helene. The vote marks a departure from an earlier 2024 decision that had authorized a smaller six-story, 208-unit structure for the same site.

Developers plan to elevate the building at least two feet above the 100-year floodplain. The design allocates the first two floors primarily for parking, which engineering and legal teams argue offers a buffer against flood damage. However, the corner housing the lobby, leasing office, and some parking spaces remains within the designated floodplain. Proponents note that multiple exits are positioned well above potential flood levels to ensure safe evacuation.

Council member Kim Roney cited the 2010 vintage of the city's current flood maps as a key concern. She argued that updated maps might reveal greater vulnerability after recent climate events. "The river moves and she's alive and she will change and she will do whatever she wants," Roney said. Council member Sage Turner expressed similar caution, stating she was "concerned about building anything in the flood zone right now." Both voted against the expansion.

Mayor Esther Manheimer acknowledged the valid safety concerns but emphasized the need to process applications while the city redraws its primary development ordinance. That overhaul is expected to take two years. "There's a bunch of work that we need to do on our side. Meanwhile, life goes on and folks are applying for things and wanting to do different things," Manheimer said. "What do we do in the meantime?"

Supporters cited the project's contribution to housing goals. Council member Bo Hess, who voted in favor, noted that he typically sees apartments near waterways in other cities. "I like more housing, personally," Hess said. "Sometimes we trip up over ourselves and there's a lot of investment that wants to happen in Asheville." Council members Antanette Mosley and Sheneika Smith also voted for approval. Roney, Turner, and Council member Maggie Ullman cast the negative votes.

In a separate action, the Council approved a $4.4 million construction contract to rebuild Malvern Hills Pool in West Asheville. The facility, which has been closed since the summer of 2023, is scheduled to reopen for the 2028 swimming season. The closure followed the destruction of the Recreation Park pool by Hurricane Helene in 2024, leaving only one city-owned public pool in operation. West Asheville residents had previously criticized early designs, but some attendees at Tuesday's meeting expressed satisfaction with the revised plan.

Scott Burroughs, a resident, told the Council, "We need more pools in our community and I'm looking forward to swimming in this pool very soon." The city had previously determined the old pool could no longer be repaired economically.

The Council also discussed wildlife management after Ashley Hobbs, a biologist with the state Wildlife Resources Commission, presented data on bear conflicts. Hobbs reported that since 2023, bears have injured seven people and broken into 143 homes in Buncombe County. She attributed the issues to unsecured food sources, including garbage, bird seed, and pet food. Hobbs requested funding for more bear-resistant trash cans and increased penalties for feeding bears. The Council took no immediate action on the proposal.

Other items included approval of up to $660,304 for bicycle and pedestrian paths near the I-26 Connector project in West Asheville. The funding supports infrastructure beyond standard state Department of Transportation requirements for the section of Interstate 240 between Haywood Road and Interstate 40. Work on the wider connector project, which includes a new French Broad River crossing, has already begun.

The Council also authorized City Manager DK Wesley to apply for a federal High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas grant, a motion that passed 6-1. Roney voted no, citing concerns raised by the American Civil Liberties Union regarding the use of such funds. The body also recognized the retirement of City Clerk Maggie Burleson, who served for 31 years, and appointed Jodilynn Byrd as her successor. Byrd previously served as deputy city clerk in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.

The Council's next regular meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Nov. 10 at City Hall. A strategic planning retreat will occur Oct. 29 at the Harrah's Cherokee Center, followed by an online agenda review on Nov. 5.