From Staff Reports

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — A proposal is “moving through Asheville City Hall for a new outdoor concert venue that is planned along the Swannanoa River,” Asheville television staton WLOS (News 13) reported on Oct. 20.

Big Picture Concert Group, the new ownership team behind the Orange Peel, plans to build a 6,000-seat venue at 155 Thompson Street.

The project will include a main stage, shipping container bars and box offices, and open space for crowds.

Engineers said the design relies on modular, flood-resistant structures because the property sits entirely in a floodplain.

City planners have asked developers to revise and resubmit, calling for flood-friendly landscaping, accurate tree canopy plans, and coordination on a street closure near the site.

In a statement to News 13, Orange Peel co-owner and spokesperson Liz Tallent noted that the seven longtime managers of the Orange Peel recently purchased the venue from its founders and are “channeling that energy into plans for a new outdoor project and community space on Thompson Street.”

Tallent said the team aspires to create a flexible, environmentally conscious space that supports Asheville’s recovery and live music scene.