Greening Rural Communities – Smart Growth, Sustainability & Small to Mid- Sized Town Neighborhood Development Terry M. Bellamy Mayor, City of Asheville

Presentation Overview Clear Value Statements: Asheville City Council Strategic Plan Inclusive Planning and Targeted Use of Resources Commitment to Implementation

Clear Value Statements

City of Asheville Strategic Plan The City of Asheville will offer a standard of living that is affordable and attainable for people of all incomes, life stages and abilities. The City of Asheville will support a stronger, more prosperous community by making smart investments that accomplish lasting, tangible returns. Asheville will be the southeastern leader in clean energy and environmental sustainability. Asheville will be one of the safest and most secure communities when compared to similar cities. Integrate and implement a multi-modal transportation plan including sidewalks, bike paths, signal preemption, transit, greenways, streets, rivers and access to the river, and other system improvements resulting in a funding priority list.

Inclusive Planning and Targeted Use of Resources

Weed and Seed The Weed and Seed Initiative targeting the West Riverside Neighborhood worked to reduce crime by collaborating with Asheville Police Department while building opportunities through working with residents and contracting with resource providers. WROWS participates in other city-wide collaborations that focus on gang prevention, economic opportunities for youth and school dropout prevention.

Between the Bridges Brought together residents, developers, city staff & local officials to discuss the future of the section of the River Arts District which includes Brownfields sites. Emphasis on responsible redevelopment which embraces the local flavor, allows residents to remain where they live, strives to reduce or eliminate gentrification.

Stockyards to New Belgium Brewery

Craven Street Project Riverside Drive / Craven Street Intersection

East of the Riverway Sustainable Community Initiative The East of the Riverway Initiative will integrate existing master plans and revise regulations to create sustainable development. These plans will be demonstrated in the River District, where affordable housing, jobs and a multi modal transportation network will be created.

East of the Riverway Community Partners Housing Authority of the City of Asheville Green Opportunities

East of the Riverway Energy Plan LED streetlight retrofits Community energy planning

Housing Trust Fund The City of Asheville's Housing Trust Fund was created in 2000 to provide a source of local funding to assist in the development of affordable housing in Asheville. Assistance is available in the form of repayable loans at a low rate of interest. The City of Asheville encourages those who apply for Housing Trust Funds to pursue opportunities to include green technology, energy-efficient and sustainable practices in their housing development proposals.

Multimodal Transportation Planning

The Sustainability Plan The Asheville City Council passed a sustainability resolution in April 2007, setting the goal of reducing Asheville’s municipal carbon footprint by 80% by 2050.

Green Capital Improvement Program New Energy Projects $100,000 Seed Funding Revolving Fund % Reinvested $10,000 Utility Savings Implement Project $100,000 $10,000

Commitment to Implementation

Carbon Footprint Reductions Charging Asheville’s electric police car. Citizens hearing presentation about new “Big Blue”.

Glen Rock Development Project Glen Rock Hotel – Phase III Glen Rock Depot – Phases I & II

Eagle Market Place

Mica Village Mica Village BEFOREMica Village AFTER

Green Opportunities Training Programs Green Opportunities provided training for 15 persons, who received “AHERA” certification (this is asbestos workers certification). Eight of those persons were hired by an asbestos removal contractor working on the Reid Center. Five of those persons were retained as employees by the contractor, and also worked on removal of asbestos in the DelCardo building, part of the Eagle Market Place project that we will see later in the presentation.

Commitment to Implementation: Partnerships

Thank You!