From Staff Reports

Merrimon Avenue may soon get two 13-story buildings where a car dealership once stood.
Developers recently unveiled plans for a mixed-use construction project at the former Deal MotorCars property that would include several structures containing about 285 housing units.

The plan also calls for a 150-room hotel and retail and office space.

The proposal represents a dramatic increase in density on the 8.5-acre lot, a shift that developers say is called for by the cityís long-term development plan.

Developers would also add turning lanes and a signal to mitigate the impact of increased traffic on Merrimon.

Marty Kocot, a planner who is involved in putting the project together, described the development as a ìvertical neighborhood,î which would include several different uses and allow residents to get around by foot, either to downtown or around the neighborhood.

The former Deal property was purchased for $7.2 million in 2005, as the dealership was planning to move to Brevard Road this year.

The current property owners include Stephen Arnsdorff, a Chattanooga, Tenn.-based real-estate developer; Chris Peterson, a former city councilman; accountant Foster Shriner; and Cam and Annette Pace, who own Asheville Waste Paper. The Cams have contributed some small parcels to the Deal property.

Kocot and Arnsdorff said the project is exactly the type favored by the cityís 2005 plan ó mixed use and high density.

They said that mixed-use nature of the project reduces the number of vehicle trips expected and that the turn lanes, signal and other improvements would minimize the impact of added cars.

Much of the parking for the new buildings would be underground, while a pedestrian-friendly plaza would be built indoors.

Furthermore, the two taller buildings would be set back from the single-family homes in the neighborhood.

Much of the property is zoned highway business, which is designed for big-box retail stores and strip shopping centers. The developers are requesting that the city rezone the property to the cityís urban village designation.

Meanwhile, reactions from neighbors were mixed. While some residents said the project fits in well with the goals of creating greater urban density, others expressed concerns about the size of the buildings and the possibility of increased traffic.