For the past two years, Center for Craft has worked with Asheville Design Center, UNC Asheville + a few others to “facilitate a creative placekeeping-based visioning process” for the block consisting of Broadway St., North Lexington Ave., West Walnut St., and Woodfin St. in downtown to create the Broadway Cultural Gateway project.

Broadway Cultural Gateway project | Photo by @davidhuffcreative

The goal of the study was to figure out a way to activate Broadway St., Carolina Ln., and Chicken Alley through the arts – like focusing on opportunities for temporary art installations, researching permanent uses over time + ultimately making the area more pedestrian-friendly. DYK: An average of 17,500 cars travel through the intersection of Broadway + Woodfin Ave. each day. Because this intersection is the northern gateway into downtown, the hope is to improve wayfinding and placekeeping by adding signage + public art.

Here’s what you need to know about the project itself and what it means for us Ashevillians:

For starters, 41 historic buildings involved in the project were built in the 1910s-20s. The Center for Craft building was originally the Enterprise Machine Company, which was built in 1912. This entire block of buildings has seen many changes over the years including streets/buildings being used for multiple purposes.
Improvements will be made to the alleyways, such as adding art, hopefully increasing lighting along Chicken Alley, improving the stormwater management along Carolina Lane + Chicken Alley, resurfacing Carolina Lane, figuring out a better garbage collection method, and implementing a pocket park in Carolina Lane.
The plan also includes adding parking. Three potential parking areas are being considered at the surface lot on West Walnut St., which could have a second level added, the Lexington Park lot, which could be restructured, and an area at the edge of downtown that could be turned into a parking deck.
Lastly, enhancing the pedestrian experience is also a major part of the project and adding a parklet is in the works. A parklet – a small seating area or green space that is a public amenity along a sidewalk – will increase seating + sidewalk space. DYK: A parklet often includes items like seating and art so pedestrians can hang out, while a pocket park does not and is typically just a green space open to the public.

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