ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A piece of Asheville’s industrial past could soon have a new purpose, this time as a place for people to enjoy nature along the French Broad River.
Asheville City Council voted Tuesday, Nov. 10, to authorize a 15-year lease with RiverLink for the former ice house property at 91 Riverside Drive in the River Arts District.
The nonprofit would pay the city just $1 a year to turn the vacant 1.03-acre property into a nature-focused preserve featuring environmental restoration, passive recreation and public art.
It’s the latest chapter for a property that has seen plenty of changes over the past century.
The site was once home to Asheville Ice & Storage Co., which operated an ice-making business there in the early 1900s. Its old brick smokestack still stands, a reminder of the days when factories and warehouses lined the French Broad River.
After the ice house closed, the abandoned building became a familiar sight in the River Arts District. It also attracted graffiti and became an informal gathering place.
Asheville bought the property in 2012 and demolished the abandoned ice house in February 2013, preserving its historic smokestack.
Earlier redevelopment proposals included affordable housing and housing for Asheville’s creative workforce, but neither became a reality.
The property’s location has made redevelopment difficult. It sits in the French Broad River’s 100-year floodplain, borders railroad property and is subject to environmental restrictions under a Brownfields Agreement.
Those restrictions were already in place before Tropical Storm Helene brought devastating flooding to the River Arts District in 2024.
In April, 828newsNOW reported that the city was looking for ways to put the property to use. A long-term lease was among the options being considered.
The city sought proposals in July for a project that would work within the property’s environmental and floodplain restrictions. RiverLink submitted the highest-scoring proposal.
“Partnering with RiverLink enables us to make the most of a disused, restricted-use property by transforming it into a vibrant nature-led preserve that revitalizes our urban space, protects the environment, and strengthens our community through environmental restoration and sustainable public access for our community,” said Rachel Taylor, Asheville’s economic development division manager, in a city news release.
The city will continue to own the property, while RiverLink will be responsible for improvements and upkeep.
The lease still must go through a public notice process, including a 10-day waiting period, before it can be finalized.
The city has not announced an opening date for the preserve.
Other actions at Tuesday’s meeting
Council also approved several projects involving Tropical Storm Helene recovery, transportation and city parks.
$30.4 million for Helene-damaged parks: Council approved transferring $30.375 million in previously allocated federal disaster recovery funding for recovery projects at Azalea and French Broad riverfront parks. The money includes $21.375 million for French Broad parks recovery and $9 million for Azalea parks and infrastructure. The action moves existing funding into the city’s capital projects fund; it is not a new federal award.
Historic parks restoration: Council approved a $966,130 construction contract with Hendersonville-based Black & Alm Construction for repairs at Montford Park and Riverside Cemetery. With a 10% contingency, the total authorization is about $1.06 million. The work includes rebuilding storm-damaged retaining walls with greater structural capacity, repairing the cemetery’s historic entrance and fixing sinkholes, roadway damage and stormwater problems. The project is expected to be reimbursed through FEMA Public Assistance.
I-26 Connector improvements: Council approved an updated agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation, setting Asheville’s contribution at no more than $6.95 million for bicycle, pedestrian and aesthetic improvements along the Connector. NCDOT will contribute another $6.53 million, bringing the total to nearly $13.5 million. The improvements include greenways, sidewalks, bicycle lanes and bridge enhancements.
Lower speed limits: Council approved a 20 mph limit on Roberts Street between West Haywood and Lyman streets and on West Haywood Street between Roberts Street and Riverside Drive. A 25 mph limit was approved for the entire length of Choctaw Street. The changes will take effect once the required signs are installed.
Smith Mill Creek Greenway: Council ratified the city’s application for a state grant to study a proposed 1.6-mile greenway. The feasibility study could cost up to $120,000, with the state providing up to $96,000 if the grant is awarded and Asheville contributing up to $24,000 from previously programmed transportation bond funding.