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Local Alumni, March 17, 2011

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Local Alumni:

  • Jim Stickney, ’78, local business owner, Foundation
  • Jerry VeHaun, ‘63, Buncombe County Emergency Management, Mayor of Woodfin
  • Jason Young, ’98, Town Administrator, Woodfin
  • Amanda Edwards, ’99, Executive Director, Literacy Council
  • John Mitchell, ’04, WNC rep, Senator Richard Burr’s office
  • Health Taft, ’02, owner, Asheville Arts Center
  • Ann Martin, ’71, Asst Dir, Alumni Relations/University Events
  • Sarah Giavedoni, ’08, former UNC Asheville staff
  • Chris Bubenik, ‘06, WNC Magazine circulation, campus neighbor, downtown master plan
  • Amanda Meyers, ’07, worked in Highsmith Union as a student, local artist
  • Corrinne Longman, ’08, Cultural Events
  • Kevan Frazier, ’92, Director, Alumni Relations/University Events

Working Group listeners:

Christine Riley

1. Some remembered the 2004-5 master plan coming out without having had any input. The current approach was seen by the group as a better process. One person said the Working Group should consider broadening the scope of the planning process to hear from a wider audience. For example, the private sector will eventually develop the land along Broadway. We should make sure UNC Asheville is a participant in the planning process so it doesn’t happen without us. An improved connection to downtown would be an enormous benefit to our campus and the city.

2. Consultation and alignment with Woodfin, Buncombe County, and City of Asheville would seem important, given our physical overlap/proximity and shared interest in a robust community. Woodfin, especially, is eager to help in ways that would benefit both entities. Police already have good collaboration; others are possible.

3. Still hearing disparaging remarks about UNC Asheville – e.g., network TV comedian Jimmy Kimmel made a derogatory comment about UNC Asheville’s participation in the 2011 NCAA Basketball Tournament. How can we offset this?

4. A participant observed “If we don’t move to occupy Asheville, other campuses will.” Asheville has a need for academic programs, we have the capacity to provide them. We don’t want to be crowded out by other campuses in our own back yard.

5. We see billboards of other colleges in Asheville. UNC Asheville should be the leading educational institution at least in our own town. Some people still don’t know we are here.

6. Can we align better with companies and corporations to the advantage of both – e.g., Crown Plaza built tennis facilities that we now use for our tennis team. Are there other opportunities like this that we aren’t exploring?

7. We have an opportunity to be the center of the Asheville community – e.g., a performing arts center. Our facilities for the arts are not housed well or cared for appropriately. This would benefit our academic program as well as the community.

8. Our campus brings enormous tax-revenues to the city with students, families, etc. Might the city help us out in return with things we can’t afford to do?

9. There are “competing goods” to consider. For example, large events on campus help with community relations, but make parking a nightmare. Which is the greater good? How can we make it ‘all good?’

10. Can we join forces with the Chamber of Commerce and local non-profits for Asheville brand identification and/or incubator-type facility support for non-profits

11. Parking/wayfinding. Have we considered a new entrance to campus on Lookout Mountain Road off River Road? We could collaborate with the Town of Woodfin to make that happen. Woodfin is also developing River Road, where we have our warehouse property. Is there an alignment there that would benefit both of us?

12. Suggest a neighborhood meeting before the plan is finalized.

13. Many in this group enthusiastically offered to participate in future conversation on this topic.