ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) —
An event at Asheville’s Salvage Station on Thursday night was bittersweet for some who braved the rain to attend.
The music venue on Riverside Drive took to social media earlier in the day to let fans know it might fall victim to eminent domain to make way for the Interstate 26 Connector project by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT).
“I love to come here. It’s such a great venue. It’s a good location. We love it because it’s open and it’s by the river,” said Patty, who was clutching an umbrella and dodging puddles as she made her way inside. “It seems like they’re taking everything. Every good thing is getting stripped out. It’s nothing like it was years ago. Asheville is changing.”
A group of Asheville and Hendersonville residents decked out in raincoats and holding umbrellas were at Salvage Station for the first time Thursday night.
“And the last, since they’re closing this year,” they said. “It’s sad. It seems like a great place.”
I-26 PROJECT CLAIMS SALVAGE STATION LAND BY EMINENT DOMAIN
In its social media post, Salvage Station said, “By eminent domain, they (NCDOT) are acquiring the property we lease at 466 Riverside Drive and have given us an official timeline. We have until the end of this year to finish our 2024 season and then must vacate the property to make way for the I-26 Connector project.”
“NCDOT and Salvage Station property owners are in legal negotiations regarding the property and future use for the I-26 Connector North Section. NCDOT will provide property owners and business owners relocation assistance as we do for all owners and businesses,” NCDOT Communications Officer David Uchiyama said.
The Salvage Station isn’t the only property NCDOT is eying. NCDOT is negotiating with several property owners in that area, he said. 828newsNOW has requested a list of properties the road project will impact.
Other businesses along that stretch of road are in wait-and-see mode.
“We haven’t been told anything,” an employee of Southern States – Asheville, at 464 Riverside Drive, said Friday morning.
A manager at the O’Reilly Auto Parts store at 556 Riverside Drive said the same.
“I know nothing about it,” he said.
