Crunch the numbers
Council gets a first look at the budget, hikes (some) fees, checks up on short-term rentals and tries to take a swing at (eventually) solving West Asheville’s parking crunch Above: Asheville City Council member Gordon Smith. File photo by Max Cooper. By the time Asheville…
Thresholds
Ashevillians speak out on what what they’re willing to take at Council’s last meeting of the year, and a time of conflict draws closer Above: Asheville City Council member Julie Mayfield. File photo by Max Cooper. When the new Asheville City Council first met on…
Coming home
AirBnB and its ilk (some of them at least) are back before Council as it tries to nail down rules for homestays and three members have their final meeting Above: Vice Mayor Marc Hunt. File photo by Max Cooper. When Asheville City Council members took…
Between the wars
In the weeks between two citywide elections, local government still continued on with some important steps. Here’s what happened over at City Council Above: Mayor Esther Manheimer. File photo by Max Cooper. Asheville elections are interesting beasts. There’s a long primary season, with candidates usually…
Down in the peanut gallery
While City Council wrangled over short-term rentals and the future of the city, I sat with the crowd in an overflow room. Here’s what I witnessed Above: City Hall under renovation, file photo by Bill Rhodes. The Aug. 25 Asheville City Council meeting saw a…
Block by block
The short-term rental issue hits City Hall with a contentious debate, as Council tries to put the brakes on Airbnb and its ilk Above: Mayor Esther Manheimer, who vociferously defended the city’s ban on short-term rentals in most neighborhoods and the need to be careful…
Finish line?
After months of debate stepped-up fines on short-term rentals — and relaxed rules on residents renting out rooms — go to Council tonight. But a decision might be delayed due to concerns about how to grapple with a rapidly-changing issue Above: The logo for Airbnb,…
Bring out the lobbyists
Airbnb cues up the lobbyists to push Asheville City Council as the fight over short-term rentals continues, local government considers new rules and the tech giant turns its attention to our city Short-term rentals are, to put it mildly, a controversial topic here. With the…
Into the woods
The city manager tries to put the brake on living wage increases, Council wrestles with short-term rentals and a split vote on a new development as local government heads into a tense summer Above: City manager Gary Jackson, file photo by Max Cooper As summer…
Short terms
A deeper look at short-term rentals and how, in the hands of the wealthy, they will hollow out our city — something that’s already happened around the country Above: Part of the Carolina Lane/Chicken Alley area, where some former apartments have been turned into short-term…
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