Rename Broadway North of I-240

Why? To eliminate confusion and honor an Asheville pioneer.

Asheville City Council member Cecil Bothwell is advocating the renaming of Broadway north of I-240 to solve two pressing community issues.

Bothwell stated, “There is no major thoroughfare in Asheville named for a local African American citizen, while a handful are named for former slave owners. Newton Sheppard was the first African American to serve as an elected official here, being elected to the Board of Aldermen in the 1880s. Honoring his service and history-making tenure would be a very appropriate step in raising awareness of the contribution to this city of a long-oppressed minority.”

“When I-240 was blasted through downtown Asheville decades ago, the old route of Broadway was bissected. The result is what we see today, where Broadway becomes Merrimon and N. Lexington segues into north Broadway. Renaming that section of Broadway as Newton Sheppard Boulevard would eliminate the confusion experienced by tourists and locals alike.”