Construction contracts incoming for Vermont Ave. and other city sidewalks

Sarah Honosky, Asheville Citizen Times
·5 min read
A damaged portion of the sidewalk along Vermont Ave. in Asheville July 20, 2023.
A damaged portion of the sidewalk along Vermont Ave. in Asheville July 20, 2023.

ASHEVILLE - Several high-profile sidewalk projects throughout Asheville could see final construction contracts executed in the coming days, many of them bond-funded projects hurtling toward a hard-stop deadline later this year.

Among the projects up for final contract approvals — which will be voted on as part of Asheville City Council's consent agenda during its July 25 meeting — is the matter of 1,200 feet of Vermont Avenue sidewalk, an oft-contentious project, and one that brought down 11 of the West Asheville street's maples trees earlier this year.

City Council members heard updates on this project and more, including a $37.5 million McCormick Field renovation, much-debated micro-housing and a $146,517 contract for the city's Affordable Housing Plan, at its July 20 agenda briefing.

It's the first City Council meeting of the new fiscal year, said Assistant Manager Ben Woody, which means an onslaught of contracts and agreements and a "pretty lengthy consent (agenda)."

More: Answer Woman: What happened to the city's $74M in bond projects? 2023 deadline?

Sidewalks

Vermont Avenue

  • What: The Vermont Avenue sidewalk will replace 1,200 feet of existing, severely dilapidated sidewalk between Olney and Haywood roads, according to a July agenda item request from Jade Dundas, capital projects director. On the July 25 consent agenda, council members will vote whether to adopt a resolution authorizing City Manager Debra Campbell to execute a construction contract with Cinderella Partners, Inc., the lowest responsive bidder for the project and a woman-owned business, notes the report.

  • Price tag: $396,253 plus a construction contingency of about $40,000, for a total contract not to exceed $436,253.

  • How will it be funded: Using 2016 General Obligation Bonds

  • When: Dundas said construction would start in August and be completed by November.

A sunflower grows in a stump on Vermont Ave. in Asheville, next to a damaged portion of sidewalk July 20, 2023.
A sunflower grows in a stump on Vermont Ave. in Asheville, next to a damaged portion of sidewalk July 20, 2023.

More: Vermont Avenue trees come down to make way for sidewalks; West Asheville neighbors mourn

Shiloh

  • What: The Shiloh sidewalk project is a connector sidewalk between the bus stop, community recreation center and community garden that will provide a "safe route connecting these neighborhood elements," said the staff report. It will install a new sidewalk and wheelchair ramps to include Brooklyn Road from Shiloh Road south to Hampton Street, and Hampton Street from Brooklyn Road east along the community center complex property.

  • Price tag: $241,375 while also authorizing Campbell to execute any change orders that may arise up to $24,000, totaling $265,375.

  • How will it be funded: Using 2016 General Obligation Bonds.

  • When: Similar to Vermont Avenue, Dundas said the project would start in August and be completed by November.

Murphy-Oakley Park

  • What: The Murphy-Oakley playground and sidewalk project will result in the city's first inclusive playground, designed for all physical and mental abilities, said Woody. A "great asset for our community," the project will not only replace existing playground equipment but accessibility to the playground from the building and parking lot are being updated.

  • Price tag: The resolution would authorize Campbell to execute a contract with Smart Builders Construction in the amount of $441,516 for the Murphy-Oakley playground and sidewalk, with a contingency amount of $44,150.

  • How will it be funded: Using 2016 General Obligation Bonds.

  • Woody said the playground replacement would be from fall through spring, with the hope of it being replaced before the 2024 summer camp season. Dundas anticipates the project will begin in September and end in May, and noted that the sidewalk is mainly within the existing park, and the focus is on the playground itself.

McCormick Field

Also on its July 25 consent agenda, council members will vote to authorize a $3.5 million contract with EwingCole, an architecture, engineering, design and planning firm with offices in Raleigh, Atlanta, Charlotte and beyond. The contract includes a contingency amount of $350,000.

EwingCole would be responsible for the McCormick Field engineering and design services, the next step in an expansive $37.5 million renovation of the city-owned stadium, with a funding commitment secured from the city and county earlier this year.

The project's current funding model hinges on a final commitment from the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, whose board is slated to vote on the project July 26.

Woody said the city issued a request for qualifications in April for the project, and EwingCole was selected.

Baseball fans wait to enter McCormick Field for the Tourists' season opener against the Bowling Green Hot Rods April 6, 2023.
Baseball fans wait to enter McCormick Field for the Tourists' season opener against the Bowling Green Hot Rods April 6, 2023.

Affordable Housing Plan

Updates to the city's Affordable Housing Plan are projected to begin in September, and City Council will vote July 25 to approve a contract for the work with Enterprise Community Partners, a national nonprofit dedicated to equitably increasing affordable housing supply.

The total cost of the plan is $146,517, which will be funded in part by a $50,000 grant from Dogwood Health Trust Fund.

The primary objectives for the Affordable Housing Plan includes:

  • Updating the housing needs assessment, which was completed at the end of 2019.

  • Assessing the effectiveness of current housing funding programs and existing city tools in meeting community needs.

  • Identifying gaps in housing policy, program and tools.

  • Creating a roadmap for implementing a more comprehensive Affordable Housing program.

The need for the plan is accelerated by considerations for a potential 2024 affordable housing bond, according to the agenda item request.

More: No more Asheville tiny apartments? City puts micro-housing subsidies on pause

Conceptual renderings of two 7-story micro-unit apartment building proposed for Aston Street.
Conceptual renderings of two 7-story micro-unit apartment building proposed for Aston Street.

City considers subsidy of micro-housing

The upcoming meeting's sole item of new business is a consideration to delay an application for city subsidies on a 231-unit micro-housing development planned for Aston Street.

On June 27, City Council voted to press pause on tax abatement for Asheville's newest housing model until the policy is revised to include specific standards for the 200- to 400-square-foot units, but the fate of the Aston Flats Land Use Incentive Grant request, which was already submitted, was left in limbo.

City Council could still approve the LUIG request at its July 25 meeting, though Assistant City Manager Rachel Wood said July 20 that staff recommends council delay consideration of the development until the policy is revised. Final say will fall to council.

As for if the Aston Street project will proceed without LUIG funding, developer David Moritz said in June that it was too early to say.

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. Please support local, daily journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville council to consider sidewalks, micro-housing, McCormick