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Tuesday, 16 May 2006 20:00 |
By DAVID FORBES
Asheville may have a performing arts center in its future, as well as a renovated Civic Center, as Asheville City Council on May 9 voted 6-1 to accept the findings of the city??s Civic Center task force, which put forth two different options, ranging from $107 million to $140 million in cost.
However, council??s acceptance of the report does not bind it to push forward with either plan and some council members expressed concerns that less-expensive options for simply renovating the aging center were not presented.
Earlier in the meeting, council unanimously voted to have city staff go ahead and secure funding for the repair of the Civic Center??s roof, with the understanding that the need for those funds may change, depending on which option council chooses.
The two plans, as well as possible other options, will be considered by council, with a decision following an economic impact study that will include the Civic Center??s influence on the local and regional economy, which is to be completed in early June.
The task force decided early on that ?®doing nothing is not an option ??
I think both options afford the community something good,?∆ Councilman
Jan Davis noted in remarks to council. Either of the two options ?®will
help this city walk the walk of being an arts destination. If we??re
going to appeal to the cultural parts of the community, then something
has to be done here ?? the community has communicated that very well
throughout this process.?∆
Furthermore, he said, the city would not fund either option alone.
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