$3 million sidewalk proposed in Asheville; 'significant step forward' for community
ASHEVILLE - A decades-long push for sidewalks in a growing East Asheville neighborhood may finally see results as the city proposes a $3 million improvement project along New Haw Creek Road.
Once a farming community, now a burgeoning residential area of about 7,000 residents, Haw Creek simply didn't prioritize sidewalks as infill development grew, community members say.
Chris Pelly, president of Haw Creek Community Association, said the road is one of the area's two main arteries, and only 10% of it has sidewalks.
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"You really can't walk it," he said. Though the road connects residents to two schools, parks, a library and a small commercial district, the narrow roadway leaves little room to travel safely.
“We're not opposed to growth, but if you’re going to grow, you have to also grow the amenities and keep it a nice community here," Pelly said. “One of those is the ability to walk safely in your community, which sidewalks will allow."
Prioritized as part of the 2016 bond initiative, the project budget is $3 million, according to the city's bond projects dashboard, and will construct nearly 1 mile of new sidewalk along New Haw Creek road from Beverly Road to Bell Road.
According to city spokesperson Kim Miller, project cost is shared by the city and the Metropolitan Planning Organization, contributing $1.1 million and $1.9 million, respectively.
"The purpose of this project is to improve mobility, safety, and continuity for pedestrians on city streets and provide pedestrian connections to local schools and parks," Miller said.
Pelly called the project a "significant step forward," though there is work left to be done in continuing to expand the network.
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Construction is scheduled to begin in fall 2022 and is expected to last approximately 12 months.
The proposed sidewalk is one of four similar projects slated for the city, including sidewalk improvements on Onteora Boulevard, Johnston Boulevard and Patton Avenue.
At the south end of the Haw Creek project, the proposed sidewalk follows along the west side of New Haw Creek Road.
North of Dogwood Grove, the alignment shifts to the east side, utilizing a mid-block crosswalk. Additional crosswalks and ramps are also proposed throughout the project.
A "longtime concern" of the community, Pelly said he's been in the fight for sidewalks since the mid-90s. With only a year left to execute bond funds, the community continued to push for the project, and now they are finally seeing the city take "constructive steps forward."
In a recent community survey of 200 residents, 88% of Haw Creek respondents said new sidewalks were a priority for them, the number one reason being safety concerns.
The project would connect the new stretch of sidewalk to the existing sidewalk west of Beverly Road, expanding the city's network and increasing access to several area parks.
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As someone who regularly walks the area, Pelly said he avoids the roadway, and pedestrians have to stick to side roads or park trails.
“There’s a lot of linkages that people want to be able to access, but at present they cannot," he said. "It’s just not safe. Like so much else, if you build it, they will use it."
The city will host an online community engagement meeting March 28, from 5:30-7 p.m., where residents will be able to review the project and design features.
To learn more about the project visit https://publicinput.com/Y7143, or contact lsepion@asheville.gov.
Parking lot for Masters Park
Just north of the stretch proposed for the new sidewalk is Masters Park, a 9-acre passive park with a trail zig-zagging up to the parkway.
Located off of New Haw Creek Road on Maple Drive, the lot, now part of the city park system, was acquired by the neighborhood in 2008 for $750,000 — a collaboration between the city, county and the community association, which split the cost three ways.
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"What we’ve learned is with big improvements like this that take time, that take money, that take organization, it doesn’t happen overnight," Pelly said.
A parking lot was included in the original plans, but "never materialized," said Haw Creek resident Bernard Arghiere at the March 8 Asheville City Council meeting.
Without an existing lot, park and trail users parked against the shoulder of the narrow road, sometimes blocking access to the residents who lived along it.
The community association met with staff recently, 13 years later, said Arghiere, and was told it would be another five years before the lot could be built.
Rather than wait, the community association raised $67,000, a mix of private donations and grant funds, to construct a lot and trailhead kiosk for Masters Park. The association granted the funds to the city of Asheville at the March 8 meeting.
The association is contracting for the work and paying the entire cost.
Arghiere said they anticipate the parking lot will be built by the beginning of summer.
Sarah Honosky is the city government reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. News Tips? Email shonosky@citizentimes.com or message on Twitter at @slhonosky.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Sidewalk project proposed for growing East Asheville neighborhood
