Today’s Forecast

42º | Cloudy | 0% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 7:40 a.m. | Sunset 5:30 p.m.

🏢 Development deets

How to decode development news

The Wilma Dykeman Greenway traverses more than two-miles along the French Broad River. | Photo by Fletching Drone Photography

If you want to be a development detective but find yourself turned around by the terminology in various city releases + news reports, never fear.

Check out this cheat sheet of common terms paired with local examples happening in Asheville.

Mixed-Use

Projects that provide more than one purpose in the community, like a building with apartments on top and retail shops on the bottom. Expect to see combinations of housing, retail, parking, commercial, and industrial components.

Think: The River Arts Apartments project features apartment units, public parking, and retail spaces.

Rezoning

Changing an area of land from the city’s designated use. Examples of rezoning requests might be developers looking to build a high-rise in a neighborhood with a certain building height restriction, or open a business in an area marked residential.

Think: City Council rezoned 100+ acres of South Tunnel Road into a pedestrian-friendly zone.

Opportunity Zones

Opportunity Zones are a federal program in North Carolina that encourage private investments in low-income communities through tax incentives, bringing jobs and economic development to these areas.

Think: Use this map to search Opportunity Zones in North Carolina.

Special Use Permit

Granted to provide an exemption from regulations when land is being used in a manner not normally compatible with the zoning. Only granted when intended site use is deemed appropriate and compatible with the surrounding area.

Think: The board approved a special use permit for 516 units to be developed on Old Charlotte Road.

5 more terms

Events

Thursday, April 6

Visiting Writers: Jamel Brinkley | Thursday, Apr. 6 | 7-9 p.m. | University of North Carolina at Asheville, 1 University Hts., Asheville | Free | Award-winning author Jamel Brinkley will present a reading as part of the Visiting Writers Series presented by the UNC Asheville English Department.
LAZR LUVR | Thursday, Apr. 6 | 8-11 p.m. | The Orange Peel, 101 Biltmore Ave., Asheville | $12-$15 | Celebrate the iconic era of the 80s at this high-energy dance party.

Friday, April 7

Drag Music Bingo | Friday, Apr. 7 | 7-9 p.m. | Highland Brewing Downtown Taproom, 56 Patton Ave., Asheville | Free | Have a blast at this free event with great tunes hosted by the lovely Bearded Lady Divine.

Saturday, April 8

2023 Spring Fibershed Market | Saturday, Apr. 8 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Local Cloth, 408 Depot St., Asheville | Free | Shop for fun fabrics and meet alpacas at this annual market.

Sunday, April 9

Rooftop Yoga with Down Dog | Sunday, Apr. 9, Sunday, Apr. 16 | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | Rooftop at Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Ste. 200, Asheville | $20 | This class is a mix of Vinyasa and power yoga — get a complimentary beer afterwards.

Saturday, April 22

River & Twilight: A Dinner with Artists | Saturday, Apr. 22 | 6-10 p.m. | Tyger Tyger Gallery, 191 Lyman St., Studio 144, Asheville | $180 | Dine with internationally renowned contemporary painters Sylvia Fernandez + Nancy Friedland and enjoy an evening of food, artists, and their art over an elegant four-course dinner by Newstock Pantry.*

All about April

Click here to have your event featured.

Civic

🍃 A conversation with law enforcement about CBD, Delta-9, and hemp

Hometown Hero is asking the questions we all want to know the answers to. | Photo by Hometown Hero

As 4/20 approaches, Hometown Hero is asking law enforcement all the need-to-know questions about the legalities of CBD, Delta-9, and hemp.

Questions like:

Can police testing kits tell the difference between marijuana and hemp-derived THC?
Have K9 units adapted to hemp legalization?
What could you expect if you get pulled over with a bag of gummies?

Partaking? Get a free sample in time for 4/20 if you order by April 9.*

Watch the eye-opening conversation

Please note: Hometown Hero advises consumers to read the company’s terms & conditions, consult a physician before trying products, start only with small amounts, and to not consume Delta-9 before driving or before a drug test. The information about providers and services contained in this newsletter does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by AVLtoday.

News Notes

Tech

The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners may block cryptocurrency mining due to energy concerns. If the moratorium goes forward, it will temporarily ban server farms — think: three or more interconnected computers creating cryptocurrency. The board will host a public hearing about the issue on Tuesday, May 2.

Biz

AVL Digital Nomads — a social community for remote workers — launched a new website. Members of this in-person community can access networking and learning opportunities. Check out its free events — like a TGIF lunch break happening tomorrow, April 7.

Read

Local indie band Wednesday is in the Wall Street Journal. We won’t spoil the whole thing, but the review of their upcoming album, “Rat Saw God” bills it as “an exceptional record.” Listen for yourself when the album releases tomorrow, April 7. (Wall Street Journal)

Civic

City offices will be closed tomorrow, April 7 including most Asheville Parks & Recreation offices. The ART bus service routes will run on a holiday schedule from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. (Mountain Xpress)
The City may add buffered bike lanes on College Street and wants your input. On Wednesday, April 19 from 4 to 7 p.m., head to the Overlook Lounge at The Collider on 1 Haywood St. to weigh in on the latest draft design.

Try This

National Book Award winner and Asheville resident Charles Frazier will launch his new book at UNC Asheville on Monday, April 10 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 and include a signed hardcover copy of “The Trackers.” Pro tip: To have your book personalized, use the order comments field when purchasing tickets.

Stat

80%. The percentage of varicose vein procedures that are medically necessary. Whether concerned about leg health or their appearance (and want to get summer-ready), Mission Health’s new Vein Specialist location in Arden can help. Learn more + schedule an appointment.*

Drink

An electric wine opener is one of those inexpensive kitchen gadgets that you don’t know how you lived without once you get one. We especially love this one for its sleek design and ergonomic grip. To upgrade your wine even further, this set includes an automatic wine aerator and reusable vacuum stopper.

For the kids

🥽 Calling all scientists

For the kids: Have a blast at the NC Science Festival

A man in laboratory goggles stands behind a table covered in fog, bottles, and a basketball resting on a metal cylinder.

What’s this guy doing? You’ll just have to find out. | Photo via Morehead Planetarium and Science Center

Grownups, hand the phone over to your kid. We got a question for you — yes, you, kiddo.

Have you ever wanted to make a bottle rocket? Spell your name in a secret code? Well, now’s the time. The North Carolina Science Festival is back.

All of April, there will be events that let you be the scientist.

There’s tons to try but here’s two totally free ideas:

Want to be an astronaut? Tell your family to take you to the UNC Asheville Quad on Thursday, April 13 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Make a bottle rocket or stare directly at the sun with a special telescope.
Go to Full STEAM Ahead! every Saturday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Asheville Museum of Science. Bonus: You get to take your own kit home.

Want more fun ideas? Plan a whole day or send us more recommendations by clicking the link below.

Make a rec

Answered

We asked you to describe your favorite Asheville Tourists game in five words or less.

Here’s what you said:

“Behind 16-4, chant: Can’t cube us!” —Don P.
“Outfield goats, fireworks and $1 hotdogs!” —Shelby
“Teddy High Fives, local beer!” —Rebecca F.
“Tourists creamed, fireworks anyway!” —Susan G.
“Moonman pushed our baby’s stroller.” —Kay D.

Poetry to our ears.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Jessalin

From the editor

Whenever spring gets in the air, my thumb starts to tingle — my green thumb, that is. If you’ve also got the urge to get growing, check out Asheville Parks & Recreation’s Green Thumbs Garden Club. It’s free and meets on Mondays from 12:30 to 3 p.m. at Grove Street Community Center. (Kids can come too.)

Send Us A Scoop, Question, or Feedback

Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio. The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.

Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.

P.O. Box 2505, Greenville, SC 29602

ADVERTISE | CAREERS | ETHICS | PRIVACY | THE BUY