ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The city of Asheville will host a panel of national experts from the Urban Land Institute this month to provide recommendations on post-disaster economic recovery and long-term resiliency strategies.
The week-long visit, part of ULI’s Advisory Services Panel program, brings together specialists in real estate, land use, disaster recovery, climate resilience and urban planning. The initiative—valued at roughly $150,000—is funded by the ULI Foundation, signaling strong national support for Asheville’s recovery from Tropical Storm Helene.
“We are incredibly grateful for ULI’s support and the invaluable expertise their panel will bring to Asheville,” Assistant City Manager Ben Woody said in a news release. “This partnership represents a proactive step in our recovery efforts from Tropical Storm Helene and our commitment to building a more resilient future.”
ULI, a global nonprofit known for providing nonpartisan, third-party expertise in land use and development, will help the city evaluate strategies for rebuilding commercial districts, strengthening the workforce, diversifying the economy and improving floodplain management.
Residents and local stakeholders are invited to engage with the visiting panel during two public events:
A community meet-and-greet will be held 5-6:30 p.m. July 28 in the lobby of Harrah’s Cherokee Center — Asheville.
A public presentation and live Q&A session is set for 9:30-11:30 a.m. Aug. 1 in the venue’s Banquet Hall. The presentation will also be streamed live on the city’s YouTube channel.
A final report summarizing the panel’s findings and recommendations will be published later this year at ashevillerecovers.org.
Â
Read more. . .
-
Asheville Regional Airport president wins leadership award after Tropical Storm Helene
Lew Bleiweis, president and CEO of Asheville Regional Airport, has been recognized for distinguished service after over 25 years as an accredited airport executive, including during Tropical Storm Helene.
-
Buncombe County 2026 tax bills are in the mail
Most property owners will receive 2026 tax bills soon. Here’s when payments are due, how to appeal and where to get help
-
Tombstone Tales: WNC soldier’s death tells another story of World War I
Horace G. Presley never saw a World War I battlefield. His death months after serving at an Army camp devastated by influenza reflects a question Americans faced at the time: What did it mean to die for your country?
-
828 scoreboard: Storms shake up Week 1 of high school football
Asheville area games kick off as thunderstorms force dozens of schedule changes
-
Mountaineer Inn submitted for National Register of Historic Places consideration
The Preservation Society of Asheville & Buncombe County has mailed in a Study List application for the Mountaineer Inn’s inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. The application is the first step for properties under consideration for the list.