ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) —
The Salvage Station property isn’t the only land the state wants to acquire for the massive Interstate 26 Connector project.
Three neighboring properties along Riverside Drive also are in the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s plans, spokesman David Uchiyama told 828newsNOW.com on Wednesday.
According to Uchiyama, the state has notified and already acquired property from:
* Bernard Coates, who owns the warehouses next to The Salvage Station.
* Riverside Partnerships, which owns land where Fastenal, Asheville Hardwoods and Inspire Personal Fitness are located.
* The heirs of Peggy Morgan Duyck, who also own land in the area.
At the fitness center on Wednesday, Transformation Personal Training owner Christopher Willis said the facility’s days are numbered.
“They said it’s time for you guys to head out,” Willis said. “Two weeks ago, they said we’ve got to have you out ASAP.”
I-26 PROJECT CLAIMS SALVAGE STATION LAND BY EMINENT DOMAIN
The NCDOT has made an offer on the Salvage Station property, Uchiyama said. The music venue on Riverside Drive took to social media last week to let fans know this would be its final season in that space.
The I-26 Connector project has been in the works for decades and eventually will transform vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian access to and through downtown Asheville.
STATE AWARDS $1.15 BILLION CONTRACT FOR PART OF I-26 CONNECTOR
Planning reached a critical milestone earlier this month, when the state awarded a record $1.15 billion contract for the north section to the design-build team Archer-Wright Joint Venture — which brings together Archer Western Construction and Wright Brothers Construction Co. with lead engineering firm RK&K.
Work on the I-26 Connector project is expected to start later this year on the South Section (C), Uchiyama said. Work on the West Section (A) is slated to start next year. And work on the North Section (B and D) is set to begin in 18 to 24 months.
The North Section includes constructing a network of roadways from Haywood Road across the French Broad River to U.S. 19/23/70 and Riverside Drive from Hill Street to Broadway Street. It will remove interstate traffic from the Capt. Jeff Bowen bridges and, according to NCDOT, allow for new multi-modal connections and safer interchanges with local roads.
Asked how many total properties would be affected along the project’s route, Uchiyama said, “The design-build firm will be responsible, as part of the contract, for most right-of-way negotiations and transactions. The final design will determine the number of properties impacted.”
Two men taking measurements in the Riverside Drive area Wednesday referred all questions about their work to the NCDOT.
Meanwhile, Willis has been busy trying to find a new location for his business. He said a couple places had fallen through.
“The commercial landscape in Asheville is absolutely debilitating for small businesses,” Willis said. “But we’ve had a lot of community support. I think we’ll land something pretty fast.”
The door at Asheville Hardwood Center was locked, and the door at Fastenal had a sign referring customers to other locations.