WEAVERVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Hurricane Helene displaced dozens of artists from their studios and workspaces across Western North Carolina, especially in the River Arts District of Asheville, which was devastated by flooding from the French Broad River.

Those artists might have a future home in Weaverville.

The Weaverville Economic Development Advisory Committee, WEDAC, is working to assess a promising 132,000-square-foot former industrial building as a potential melting pot for artist studios, gallery display areas, breweries and restaurants.

“It was all in our hearts and minds, like, what can Weaverville do for our artists that are currently displaced? There’s over 250 of them displaced between RAD, and Marshall and some of the other areas in Western North Carolina,” said WEDAC member Reggie Tidwell. “We thought of this space. It’s just sitting here, empty and open.”

The Reems Creek building, long since vacant, has bushes growing into its visitor sign. The WEDAC rehaul would change that.
The scope of the Reems Creek property is massive, spanning over 100,000-square-feet.

The building is located at 115 Reems Creek Road, less than a mile away from Weaverville Main St. and is vast in its emptiness. There is space for 20 windowed and 10 windowless studios that will take the place of former offices, as well as a large common area where gallery displays or more studio cubicles could be erected. That’s all in the front of the building. Towards the back, a cafeteria and industrial floorspace yawn.

Earlier today, Thursday, Dec. 5, WEDAC invited artists to come and tour the space. WEDAC chair Phil Barnett estimated that over 150 people arrived for the open house.

While the WEDAC team didn’t have an exact estimate of what the cost would be to bring the project to fruition, they have already begun conversations with possible financiers.

“We act as brokers. We’re trying to connect potential investors who would invest in this and retrofit it and renovate it,” said WEDAC member Al Schlimm.

The industrial area in the back of the building is rife with possibility, according to WEDAC. A local brewery has shown signs of interest.
One of the potential studio spaces in the Reems Creek building, convertible from an old office.
The carpet would be one of the first things to go in a renovation, replaced with polished concrete underneath.

However, even with their ideas for what a Weaverville Art District could be, WEDAC understands that it’ll fit into the town, not fit the town around it.

“We’re always looking to find ways to get people to come and experience the quaintness of our town,” said Tidwell. “We want Weaverville to grow in this sort of intentional way. You know? We don’t want it to go nuts. We want it to maintain its sort of quaintness, something that’s very special about it.”

For more information, email WEDAC at request_info@wedac.org.