Itís hard to miss all the news lately about development in Asheville. While some residents call for higher buildings and more urban density, others decry such structures as the 130-foot Ellington building planned for downtown.

Nonetheless, there is one building about which† Ashevillians seem to have formed a united opinion: the Staples building on Merrimon Avenue.

In short, the people of Asheville hate it. The building has been the source of unceasing public outcry since its construction.
In fact, in a recent survey of Merrimon Avenue residents and business owners, the Staples building ranked as the worst example of development along the corridor by a significant margin.

Thatís why it seemed particularly odd to hear that among the proposals being touted by some community activists is a plan that would require that buildings be set right up against the road, with parking in the rear. In other words, built like Staples.

These advocates of so-called ìNew Urbanismî say that doing so will create a more pedestrian-friendly environment, eventually allowing Merrimon residents to shop, dine and get to work all without ever getting into a car.

We find such claims highly dubious.

While it is clear that Merrimon Avenue is far from desirable in regard to pedestrian access, it is not at all clear that more Staples-like buildings will help the problem.

Trying to walk between a busy street and a brick edifice hardly gives one a sense of security. At least with a parking lot on the side, one has a hope of dodging a stray car that veers off the road.

And as much as we dislike the un-Ashevillian drabness of the Staples building, using legislation to mandate Merrimon Avenueís aesthetics would also be walking a very tricky line. On the one hand, defining beauty according to one groupís narrow set of opinions could be expensive and a violation of property ownersí rights.

But on the other, allowing cheap, ugly buildings to proliferate unchecked violates a communityís right to its unique identity ó an economically valuable right, in Ashevilleís case.

Clearly, all sides deserve a hearing in this debate.