The 40-acre site of the former Beacon Manufacturing Company (once the largest blanket manufacturer in the world) is undergoing a revitalization. The Swannanoa site has been nonfunctioning since its closure in 2002 and the subsequent fire at the mill in 2003 — but it plans to once again become a thriving area of growth with the development of Beacon Village, a hub for outdoor recreation and industry + residential and commercial uses.
The project comes from co-founders Casey Watkins, Meredith Ellison, and Brandon Ellison, who also co-founded the Swannanoa-based insurtech company, Quility.
Phase one
Phase one of the revitalization will include an event lawn and a multi-use bike park from international bike design and construction company Velosolutions, complete with slopestyle, jump lines, and pump track lines. The bike park, designed for users of all skill levels, welcomes everything from bikes to skateboards, inline skates to adaptive wheelchairs.
Plus, a natural surface pedestrian trail will line the perimeter of the area for walking, running, and biking.
In addition to these exciting developments, Beacon Village also hopes to include a few other elements in phase one of the revitalization:
- Bike park pavilion and temporary bike shop/park office
- Bioswales and rain gardens
- Frisbee and picnicking area
- Food truck staging area
- Sustainable landscaping
Phase one, funded by a $4.5 million investment from the Beacon Foundation — a non-profit in cooperation with Beacon Brothers — is expected to be completed by the end of the summer.
Future phases
Future phases of the development will introduce residential, commercial, and industrial elements. Beacon Village has partnered with the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County to bring “living-wage, community-minded, and outdoor industry businesses” to the area. Plus, a 10-acre portion of land will be reserved for manufacturing employment to spur economic growth. As for residential use, Beacon Village expresses a focus on providing “attainable housing,” although regulations on the site will not permit single family homes.
More details on this multi-phase project will be released as additional partnerships are formed.
