From Staff Reports 

Downtown Asheville has made major progress in its transition from a largely deserted, decaying area to one of the nation’s most popular city centers, but there remains much room for improvement, especially adding more parking, according to Ben Colvin, president of the Asheville Downtown Association.

In addition to parking, the top areas for work are cleanliness, safety, walkability and greater municipal management of downtown, Colvin told a gathering of more than 200 people during the annual State of Downtown address Jan. 20 at the U.S. Cellular Center. In attendance were a number of state and local elected officials. 

The priorities he cited were among issues identified in the nonprofit advocacy group’s first strategic plan. The ADA’s top issues were determined from interviews and online surveys with business-owners, downtown residents, elected officials and others, Colvin said.

He and other ADA officials unveiled various other plans for downtown and presented the group’s annual Downtown Heroes awards. Also speaking were Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer and Buncombe County Board of Commissioners Chairman David Gantt.