The River Arts District Artists (RADA) Foundation unveiled plans to bring "a permanent, flood-safe cultural anchor" to the district, investing in the neighborhood's creative economy. The nonprofit is officially under contract to transform a 4.32-acre Lyman Street property into the RAD Creative Campus — a welcome center and hub for artists and visitors alike.

The project gained momentum during the Unified RAD Visioning Charrette, where 1,200+ artists, business owners, and civic leaders gathered to chart the district's future after Helene. The storm destroyed roughly 80% of workspaces, displacing more than 500 artists, guiding planning to focus on long-term stability.

"Hurricane Helene didn’t just damage buildings. It exposed how fragile artist ecosystems are when permanence and resilience are missing. This campus is about protecting what artists built and ensuring they can stay, work, and belong here for generations,” said RADA Foundation president Jeffrey Burroughs.

Painting a picture of the campus

The RAD Creative Campus encompasses the buildings at 123 and 135 Lyman Street, adjacent to Ultra Coffeebar and behind Asheville Middle School, lying above the area's floodplain.

Beyond RADA office space and a welcome center, plans for the space include:

40 affordable artist studios
A fully equipped shared maker space (think kilns, metalsmithing tools, and tech)
Classrooms and community meeting space
Black box theater and gallery space

Beyond the physical space, the nonprofit aims to activate the arts community through craft workforce development trainings, residency programs, youth art classes, and open mic and storytelling events. It would also serve as a resiliency hub to serve the community during emergencies.

What's next?

The seller of the property is a currently operating business with plans to relocate — RADA Foundation's timeline shows a September 6, 2027 closing date.

The project comes with a $7.5 million price tag, so until next spring, it's all about fundraising. The foundation is launching a capital campaign with support from public-private partnerships and community investment. You can help support the build with a donation.