After five months of meetings, surveys, and public input from about 2,700 people, UNC Asheville's advisory committee has officially recommended against building a stadium in the South Campus woods — but part of the land is still labeled top priority for other development.

Catching up

UNCA paused its Millennial Campus plans last August after backlash over a proposed $200+ million project that could have included a 5,000-seat stadium, housing, and retail on South Campus — forested land that the Save the Woods movement has been fighting to protect. The university formed a 13-member advisory committee in January to reevaluate the path forward.

Why the push for development?

Per the report, the university is facing declining enrollment and shrinking state funding. The Millennial Campus designation (a state tool that lets public universities strike development deals with private partners) is a way for the school to bring in new revenue without spending money it doesn't have.

What's on the table?

Out of all the Millennial Campus properties, the committee identified three for potential development:

South Campus | 25.7 acres at the corner of W.T. Weaver Boulevard and Broadway Street
Broadway Property | 22.1 acres on the west side of Broadway Street
Rhoades Property | 9.5 acres at the intersection of Merrimon Avenue and W.T. Weaver Boulevard

The committee advised against a large sports stadium and a performing arts venue, both deemed too single-purpose for the university's goals. However, South Campus was identified as the "highest priority for development" but for student and faculty housing, dining, retail, and community space.

According to UNCA's report, community input landed almost evenly split. About half want development as long as it's affordable, managed transparently, and mission-driven. The other half want the South Campus woods protected, especially in the wake of Helene's tree canopy losses.

What about other plans?

The report also publishes six community-submitted alternatives to the original proposal. The folks from Save the Woods pitched a $25 million conservation endowment that would pay UNCA roughly $1 million a year to leave the forest standing altogether.

What happens next?

The committee's recommendations aren't binding, so nothing's final yet. For the next year, UNC Asheville leadership will now use the recommendations to guide planning and run technical studies before any dirt moves.