11.27.2023

SUBSCRIBE | REFER

Today’s Forecast

42º | Partly cloudy | 10% chance of precipitation | Sunrise 7:17 a.m. | Sunset 5:17 p.m.

🏡 Be the local broker

Be the broker: Which vacant office spaces would you like to see become affordable housing?

Asheville skyline with an orange glow across the sky.

What do you want to see on the affordable housing horizon? | Photo via @andre.daugherty.photo

Have you noticed some of the empty office space around town? Office vacancies are currently at 13.2% as of 2022. That number soared to 18.6% in downtown Asheville. Compare those numbers to the national office vacancy rate, which was 17.8% as of October 2023. One possible use for vacant offices? Affordable housing.

Recently, the White House released a new plan to convert commercial buildings into residential housing — affordable housing in particular. Resources will be made available from 20+ programs across multiple agencies, including the Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

We’re talking below-market loans, grants, and tax credits... all available to help take advantage of preexisting buildings to make more affordable housing.

Which vacant spaces would you like to see converted?

Have you passed an empty office building that would be a sweet apartment? How about some empty warehouses near public transportation that would make for a quick commute?

Tell us in the survey below which spaces you’d like to see remade into housing, and we may feature your picks in an upcoming newsletter.

Asked

Which vacant local spaces would you like to see become affordable housing?

Whether that’s an office space that’s sitting unused or a storefront that could use a new purpose, let us know where you’d like to see the updates.

Drop your ideas

Events

Monday, Nov. 27

Ticket To Ride: Europe | Monday, Nov. 27 | 6-9 p.m. | Well Played, 162 Coxe Ave., Unit 101, Asheville | $7 | Pack your bags because it’s time for competitive exploration and a chance to claim the title of Rail Baron.
Silent Films / Loud Music | Monday, Nov. 27 | 7:30 p.m. | DIFFERENT WRLD, 701 Haywood Rd., Asheville | $10-$20 | Enjoy a screening of silent short films with a soundtrack provided by live local bands — proceeds support nonprofit Fierce Flix.

Tuesday, Nov. 28

Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer | Tuesday, Nov. 28 | 8:45 p.m. | AyurPrana Listening Room, 312 Haywood Rd., Asheville | $50-60 | The music of Hans Zimmer will be brought to life in a multi-sensory musical experience, under the glow of candlelight.
Chocolate Making and Tasting Class | Tuesday, Nov. 28 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Conjure Craft Chocolate, 16 Glenn Willow Dr., Unit 36, Arden | $75 | Satisfy your sweet tooth and expand your knowledge on the small-batch chocolate-making process — plus, you get to take home four bars.
Giving Tuesday & Pisgah Legal Services | Tuesday, Nov. 28 | 12 a.m.-12 p.m. | 62 Charlotte St., Asheville | Free | Support a local nonprofit that serves more than 21,000 people in Western North Carolina each year. On Giving Tuesday, Nov. 28, donors will match your gift + you’ll be entered to win fun prizes.*

Wednesday, Nov. 29

The Monthly Mixer | Wednesday, Nov. 29 | 5-8 p.m. | The Mule at Devil’s Foot Beverage, 131 Sweeten Creek Rd., Asheville | Free | Enjoy chill beats from DJ Besbleve, communal arts + poetry, and interactive games while you meet new people and listen to featured artists and poets.
Talk + Workshop | Wednesday, Nov. 29 | 6-7 p.m. | Black Mountain Public Library, 105 N. Dougherty St., Black Mountain | Free | Try your hand at weaving on a mini loom while expert Julie J. Thomson teaches the history of Black Mountain College’s weaving program — registration is required.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Wellness

Get 25% off Halle Berry’s favorite probiotic

Pendulum-Metabolic-Daily-Halle-Berry-National-11.27.23.gif

Celebrate Cyber Monday from the inside out with 25% off Halle Berry’s favorite probiotic. | Photo by Metabolic Daily

Get ahead of the bloat and exhaustion this holiday season.

Instead, kick start your metabolism from the inside out with 25% off Halle Berry’s favorite probiotic: Metabolic Daily.

This multi-strain probiotic helps metabolize sugars and carbs and converts food into energy more efficiently¹, plus it sustains energy levels — perfect for this busy season.

Use code 6AMCITY25 for 25% off your first month of any membership now until November 30.

Use code 6AMCITY25 for 25% off

¹Based on in vitro studies

News Notes

Civic

Looking to get involved? The City of Asheville is on the hunt for a Community Facilitator individual or team for the Boost the Block project. The Facilitator will help in the strategic planning and execution of the project as well as promoting community development. Learn more about the role.

Environment

Cut down on holiday waste with the help of the City of Asheville’s Holiday Free Store. It’s like a yard sale, but free. To make the store happen, donations are needed — toys, appliances, clothes, and more. Drop off donations Friday, Dec. 1, 1-6 p.m. at the Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Center, then head back to the center on Saturday, Dec. 2 to shop.

Arts

Asheville Art Museum will host concerts in December as part of its Live Music Series. WNC-based musicians Jessie Meltz, Monique Pinelli, and Laura Boswell will fill the museum’s galleries with eclectic musical experiences throughout the month, starting on Friday, Dec. 8. The series is free with admission.

Regional

Don’t forget to look both ways. The NC General Assembly appropriated $2 million in funding for infrastructure to help reduce wildlife–vehicle collisions across the state. The Safe Passage Coalition reported that this funding will address three additional I-40 projects that the organization recommended. See where the funding will go.

Shop

We’re excited to introduce you to Lori Portka — Happiness Through Art, our newest partner added to our online store, Six & Main. This Asheville-based, modern-day folk artist loves the beauty in nature + animals. Shop from a diverse line of stationery, gifts, and home decor created from original paintings.

Featured Deal

Gift sharp, sophisticated menswear... for 50% off. Black Friday through Cyber Monday, score 50% off everything online at Harlestons — the Golf Digest/Golfweek/Golf Channel-featured premium men’s apparel brand — with our exclusive code: BF50. (We especially love their performance polos.) Bonus: Free shipping on $125+ and easy returns, always.*

Shop

Give the gift of grooming this holiday season (and save big). Take 25% off sitewide during MANSCAPED’s Cyber Monday sale and shop best-sellers like The Lawn Mower® 5.0 Ultra body hair trimmer, The Performance Package 5.0 Ultra full-body grooming kit, and the stocking stuffer-worthy Body Buffer silicone scrubber.*

Pets

Ever wanted to decode your pet’s DNA? Basepaws’ pet DNA tests provide insights into 300+ dog breeds and 280 health markers — and they’re $85 for Black Friday.*

Weather

❄️ Winter trends you need to snow

Winter 2024-25 weather forecast for Asheville

Winter sunrise in the blue ridge mountains

Winter is on the way, weather you like it or not. | Photo by @wncphototours

We know the question on your mind, Ashevillians — when’s it going to get cold? Thanks to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center, we know what temperatures and precipitation trends to expect in our city for December, January, and February. While exact weather conditions typically can’t be predicted more than a week in advance, here’s a seasonal outlook to help you prepare for what winter will bring.

Reminder: The first day of winter is Thursday, Dec. 21.

Temperature

We could go either way. This winter, Asheville shows equal chances of above normal, near normal, or below normal temperatures.

Drought

Drought conditions are expected to improve this season.

Precipitation

Expect slightly more precipitation. Asheville has a 40-50% chance of seeing higher-than-average snow and rainfall amounts this winter. With El Niño on the horizon for the first time in four years, more snowfall than usual has been predicted — although, it depends on how the climate pattern progresses.

City Guides are presented by Laura Dahl, Broker City Home Realty.

Month by month

The Buy

The Buy 11.27.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

Something leather, something botanical, or something indulgent from Six & Main’s Treat Yourself Collection — because it’s all 30% off for Cyber Monday.

Share AVLtoday

Share the good news. Get rewarded.

Have someone who needs to stay in the know? Get amazing rewards for every new subscriber you bring by sharing your unique referral link (below).

Facebook

Twitter

{{profile.vars.rh_totref_6}} friends are looped into all things local because of you.

Claim your rewards

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Molly

From the editor

I am firmly a one-holiday-at-a-time person — but now that Thanksgiving is over, I’m ready to commit myself entirely to Christmas. I’ll start with our holiday preview for a quick glance at some of the local lights, shows, beer releases, and festive cheer this season has to offer.

Missed our previous newsletter?

›

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