Architect touts Pack condos

I find it amazing that the AC-T can load so much manure into one little article. I take some solace in recognizing that the only *Asheville* resident quoted in the article notes that the location of Mr. Coleman's latest proposed blight on our city is "completely unacceptable." He's right! And to the Biltmore Forest ice princess who seems to like it so much, I suggest that she urge Mr. Coleman to build it in HER neighborhood!

Mr. Coleman is an example of the greedy, dirt bags who are over-developing Asheville. No sane native of Asheville would want to live aside City hall because of the poor traffic and nearby crime. The target customers for this project are ignorant outsiders. We definitely dont any more of them moving in.

In time, Asheville will have all of the problems that plague Florida.

Well, I hope the Pack's get their inheritance!! That ought to nip this greedy chit in the bud.

So much jealousy on this board, but I do enjoy reading the idiotic rants. Please provide more ramblings for the rest of us to laugh at.

Ellington's epic, icon Art Deco City Building can NOT be OBSCURED...period ! Especially by such a large, mundane object like the non-Asheville architect did for "Black Dog Coleman"...where is Michael Vick when we need him ?

Hopefully, the PSC will get up on their hind legs and show the INTEGRITY that the Peoples' Park demands. 3 Cheers for the Vance Lawsuit !!!

Mr. Coleman is a quality builder who has enhanced downtown already. Screw any of you who dont want downtown development! You are delusional.

Ashevillian, before you start calling people ice princesses, maybe you ought to do a little research on who were the big donors to the park renovation project to begin with and that should end this conversation.

Jake, you talk about who would want to live in condos with crime so close, ever think maybe crime would be decreased in that area if more people resided in the area after dark. Not to mention anyone who supports downtown would be excited about the idea of such development helping to revive the Eagle Street area.

Most of the ignorance I can let slide but I find it sad that the people who have so many negative comments to say are more than likely doing that, just talking. I may be wrong but I have a feeling that few have donated anything towards the downtown community: monetary or voluntary. If any of you have sat on many of the non-profits in Asheville, you would know that Coleman not only donates money to these organizations, but that both his employees and family have/are involved or sit on the boards of many non-profits working to better the community. So, get your head out of the clouds and start learning what the facts really are.

native local girl wrote:

Ashevillian, before you start calling people ice princesses, maybe you ought to do a little research on who were the big donors to the park renovation project to begin with and that should end this conversation.
Jake, you talk about who would want to live in condos with crime so close, ever think maybe crime would be decreased in that area if more people resided in the area after dark. Not to mention anyone who supports downtown would be excited about the idea of such development helping to revive the Eagle Street area.
Most of the ignorance I can let slide but I find it sad that the people who have so many negative comments to say are more than likely doing that, just talking. I may be wrong but I have a feeling that few have donated anything towards the downtown community: monetary or voluntary. If any of you have sat on many of the non-profits in Asheville, you would know that Coleman not only donates money to these organizations, but that both his employees and family have/are involved or sit on the boards of many non-profits working to better the community. So, get your head out of the clouds and start learning what the facts really are.

Right on. Most of the naysayers have no idea. Stuart and Gay give so much back to Asheville that the negative posters' jaws would drop if they knew.

The same for many, many civic-minded folks that could just as easily be on a world cruise but instead give back to the community of their fortune and time.

The Colemans are some of the nicest and most generous people in this city. It is so ignorant to judge someone by what you read about them in the Citizen Times.

Please be respectful.

What is destroying Asheville and the surrounding areas are the destruction of the mountains for housing developments and gated communities. That's the blight!!! I don't see anything wrong with giving Asheville a skyline. It needs one. It is a pretty pitiful looking city as it stands now. 11 stories is not a skyscraper, but it might begin to create some type of skyline. The other building everyone is fussing about - The Ellington - was supposed to be 26 stories, but I have heard it is now down to 23. Come on people let's have a real city and quit tearing down the mountains. These are certainly not skyscrapers, but we could definitely use some. And while we are on the subject why doesn't somebody take over the Battery Park Hotel and bring it back to its former grandeur. This could be such a great hotel again and it would bring in business from all over the place. Other cities are bringing back former grand hotels. Asheville get your act together!!!

Someone did just buy the Haywood Park Hotel, but I'm sure the Citizen Times will label them an evil, greedy developer.

I heard that the plants growing in the atrium of the hotel may not be getting enough water, better call the Wiccans!

Naysayer’s and bridge pullers,

As a true born and breed Ashevillian, I remember when down town was a roll-em and lock-em area, do you remember? Obviously you don't remember those times, or you’re not from here. Folks living down town makes down town better for everyone including you. The Asheville resident "aka" high priest Wicca guy, is just a media whore; I wish they would focus on areas that really need their attention; Swannanoa, Reynolds Mt, Versant. That's were they should be focusing their juju, those trees really need the help; their falling by the minute. Just my two cents; take it or leave it.

Remember to vote next week!

In reading Mark Barrett’s article of October 4, 2007 in the Asheville Citizen Times as he reported,“Two people among the handful of members of the public at Wednesday’s meeting were divided in their reaction.”

“ The façade of the building is pretty nice, but the height of it and the location of it are completely unacceptable,” said Steve Rasmussen purporting to be an Asheville resident but not found in the phone book. Steve Rasmussen, is the nut that headed up the spiritual activist group Coven Oldenwilde of the Pagans and Wiccans to cast magic spells in the park. Steve is the High Priestess Diuvei or maybe he is the High Priest Passion. As we all know, it is hard to follow. One thing we can count on is that he is certainly HIGH. I would like to ask how much positive contribution Steve has made towards The Park development or to the Community. His opinions are delusional and with out value.

The other person interviewed, Dorothy Hamill of Biltmore Forest, stated:“she likes the looks of the building and thinks it would improve the park to have people living around it”. As for, Dorothy Hamill she has been in and around Asheville for more than seventy years and before you start calling people names, maybe you ought to do a little research on who were the big donors to the park renovation project. She has support dozens of nonprofits in Asheville and Buncombe County for years. Not only give huge sums of money but huge amounts of time. She was at that meeting for one purpose, and that was to understand the project that she has invested money into.

Do we support the people that support our community or do we support the blockers that have nothing to say but negative thoughts and produce negative activity?

What is your vote?

Well, I think it's just deplorable that someone should want to build anything downtown which is absolutely perfect just as it is, and must not ever, ever, ever change the slightest bit. In fact, when I'm downtown, I carry a slingshot in case I should see someone attempting to pick up litter, because even the litter must be left precisely where it is or all that perfect inertia will be ruined. Ruined, I tell you!

The very THOUGHT of attempting to build a building on what is now a parking lot. What nerve! Even the parking lots are just perfect, and must never change. After all, I didn't move here from (pick one) Atlanta/Miami/Phoenix/Clevelan d/etc just so someone could ruin with quaint little Asheville with these -- ugh,*shudder*-- "buildings." Oh, I can barely stand to even say the words.

Sincerely,
Some transplant in an enormous house out where there used to be a farm or a forest or some such.

(Not really. I'm all for downtown development, in case you couldn't tell.)

(disclaimer: I grew up in asheville but now live out-of-town..)

The idea of condos and development surrounding Pack Square Park sounds awesome to me.

The thing that doesn't sit right about this situation, though, is that the County Commission sold the parcel to be developed, when it had been deeded to the county to be preserved in perpetuity for public use. I understand the validity of said deed restriction is in question and may be overturned or upheld by the courts.

But to top it off, the county didn't put the parcel out to bid, and in fact wound up accepting certainly less than what the parcel would have sold for on the open market.

Again, I have nothing wrong with the scale, design, or mere notion of condos on Pack Square. But something just seems fishy here.

hauntedhead,

LOL as always!

orz wrote:

(disclaimer: I grew up in asheville but now live out-of-town..)
The idea of condos and development surrounding Pack Square Park sounds awesome to me.
The thing that doesn't sit right about this situation, though, is that the County Commission sold the parcel to be developed, when it had been deeded to the county to be preserved in perpetuity for public use. I understand the validity of said deed restriction is in question and may be overturned or upheld by the courts.
But to top it off, the county didn't put the parcel out to bid, and in fact wound up accepting certainly less than what the parcel would have sold for on the open market.
Again, I have nothing wrong with the scale, design, or mere notion of condos on Pack Square. But something just seems fishy here.

orz,
We'll see how things go, but forever doesn't always mean forever in these matters as the Laws of Perpetuities may apply. Or not. Also, the legal definition of "heir" may have to be looked at. This is from the George Willis Pack Home website, co-sponsored by the Pack Square Conservancy:

"...The trusteeship which Pack established passed through the family after the death of G.W. Pack, to his son, Charles Lathrop Pack and then to Charles' son Randolph Pack (1890-1956) and after his death to the second son, Arthur Pack (1893-1975) Apparently the maintenance of the Pack trusteeship ended with George Willis Pack's grandson, Arthur Pack..."

http://toto.lib.unca.edu/WNC_pack/pack_defaul...

And, there are two deeds associated with this issue that contain contradicting clauses. Sounds like fun, huh?

Anyway, I'm for the project but have no dog, black or otherwise, in this fight.

These new condos represent the emergence of a new Asheville that is more upscale and focused on quality of life and entertainment. Build them now.

Fishy, not so much, just developer smart enough to keep his eye out for property that was listed for sale. The offered price Coleman paid was then listed for the legal amount of days and no one outbid him, not his problem.

Top of The List wrote:

These new condos represent the emergence of a new Asheville that is more upscale and focused on quality of life and entertainment. Build them now.

Spoken like a true damm yankee.

When y'all comin down?