During a City Council work session on Tuesday, Feb. 24, Asheville's Director of Community and Regional Facilities, Chris Corl, shared the latest on potential plans to build a new performing arts facility on city-owned property downtown.

Back in August, the city announced a public-private partnership with ATG Entertainment to begin predevelopment on the arts center after consultants recommended a new build as opposed to $100+ million renovations to the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium.

Now, the 2.43-acre tract known as "Parkside," adjacent to Pack Square Park on Marjorie Street and just steps from The Block, has been identified as the target site for the mixed-use development, including a 2,500-seat performing arts center, and potentially a parking garage and public safety station. The site was chosen primarily for its walkability to hotels, retail, and restaurants, per ATG's request.

Sound familiar?

It's because it is. In 2006, the city acquired the land and evaluated opening a performance hall on the property within a mixed-use development. In 2008, city council approved design concepts by a local nonprofit and held the property for 10 years while the group worked to raise money for the build, but the funds never came.

What's next?

At its Tuesday, March 24 meeting, city council will hear a request for a land hold through the extent of the city and ATG's memorandum of understanding, expiring in June 2027. Corl explained that the land hold will strengthen the city's application for US Economic Development Administration grants, which would be a major funding source for the project.

During the meeting, council members underscored the importance of including groups from The Block, Asheville's historic Black business and cultural district, in project planning, particularly as the city moves forward with the Boosting the Block initiative to revitalize the district.

For now, the project is still very much in predevelopment. Even if it's smooth sailing through the current lineup of next steps, the process to construction would likely be two years or more.