An Extremely Messy Makeover of “The Block”

BY KIMBERLY HUNTER

Have you ever heard the saying one man\’s trash is another man\’s treasure? The same premise might well apply to residential and commercial communities of people. The enjoyable new craze of home and garden television makeovers creates exciting pictures of transformational pleasure in a matter of minutes while the rightful property owners are off enjoying life — only to come back and be surprised by the mesmerizing timeliness and designs created by the professionals while they were away.

For one community, located in the heart of downtown Asheville, there is a
“trash to treasure” makeover dispute, but those who currently reside
and run businesses in this area have not gone on vacation in hopes of
coming back to the surprise edifice of their dreams.

The Block is the historical African- American business district in the heart of
Asheville, centered on Eagle and Market Streets south of Pack Square.
After decades of decline, partly brought about by planned “urban
renewal” in the 1960s, community leaders in the 1980s began to envision
reestablishing the neighborhood\’s vibrancy.

Plans for redevelopment have been in the works since 1993, but despite influxes
of federal and private funds, the developmental future of The Block
remains in legal limbo. So why is the design team taking so long? Is it
a matter of money? Probably not, according to Scott Shuford, City
Planning Director.

PHOTO BY DOUG GRANT

In a recent interview, Mr. Shuford stated, “We [The City] have got federal money that has been allocated and ear-marked for this [The Block]. A portion of it is grant money, so if the project doesn\’t happen we will have to
find another project that would be suitable to transfer it to. We also took out a Section-108 loan from the federal government at a very low
interest rate. We would then be able to allow the developer to avail himself of those low interest rates to make the project\’s numbers work. We are already paying interest on that loan.” The fact that Asheville is paying interest on a loan for a project without a start date might upset taxpayers, who could end up footing the bill for losses of this
nature.

According to Elizabeth Russell, Executive Director of Eagle Market Street
Development Corporation non-profit organization powered by The City of
Asheville, the holdup is not due to lack of genuine interest. She
asserted, “I am going to listen long enough to figure out how to meet
whatever it is Eagle Market Street can do [for The Block] and stay true
to what the [African-American] community wants. The general feeling I
get in this community is there isn\’t anything that should be done to
extinguish the life of the [African-American] community.”

When asked what she thought the community interest may be, Mrs. Russell replied, “This
community has it\’s own sense of destiny. Trust is a necessary component
in moving any type of redevelopment forward.”

Attorney and former City Councilman Eugene Ellison is also eager to see The Block
redeveloped. He has invested money for the renovation of The Ritz
Building, of which he is part owner. Ellison says, “ Our position is
the same. We are not opposed to the redevelopment of The Block. We are
opposed to the existing redevelopment plan.”

How is it that the people and corporate entities that apparently desire change are at
such odds about how to go about the change? Can you imagine watching
your favorite home makeover episode where the designers are in conflict
with the homeowners about the blueprints and design elements? The
project would never get started. In fact, in the world of project
management, the inability to meet deadlines and work within the given
guidelines usually results in dismissal. But in order to be fired, you
must have first been hired by the rightful property owners.

For private owners of our homes or places of business, finding development work
being done without consent would be intolerable, while discovering work
being done on your neighbor\’s home or business probably would not faze
you. That is because, simply, you would have no authority to speak out.
It is understood that your opinion is not equivalent to having or
obtaining a vested interest. No matter the condition of your neighbor\’s
property, you know that only the deed holders are entitled to make and
pay for the development of their property. And no reputable makeover
team would develop property for someone who was not authorized to
request that development.

In some private communities, of course, neighborly input is welcome, even obligatory.
Communities that require certain aesthetic components and obligate
residents to maintain these components for the good of all operate
under the contractual authority of Home Owner Associations. But in the
case of a community such as The Block, where some property is privately
owned, some is deeded to the City or a redevelopment corporation, the
question remains: Even if a type of property owner association or
community interest development regulatory group were formed by the
parties involved, who would ultimately decide the fate of the
redevelopment plans? Who has the right or authority to design and
develop plans for The Block? Property owners? The City? Taxpayers who
may end up responsible for loan or grant repayment? Be careful with
your answer, you just may find your next Designer\’s Challenge in a
legal limbo.