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Duke Energy and the City of Asheville are planning a new substation that will tower above the businesses and residences of Lexington Avenue.
One proposal will replace the current substation on the east side of Harrah’s Cherokee Center and the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium with a new, significantly larger facility on tree covered public land directly behind Lexington Avenue at 57 Rankin Avenue.
In October 2021, the City of Asheville and Duke Energy signed a Memorandum of Understanding allowing Duke to study, survey and investigate the replacement of the substation. In order to accommodate construction of a new facility, the city would hand the power company a large and unique tract of rare urban forest along with 53 public parking spaces. Upon completion of Duke’s investigation, Asheville City Council will vote on a land exchange and real estate terms. Construction is slated to begin in 2023.
Duke Energy is hosting two public information sessions on August 11 at Harrah’s Cherokee Center at 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM: reg.learningstream.com/reg/event_page.aspx?ek=0029-0020-4efab1a6917f4faaa6b299427dcfa253.
Friends of Lexington Avenue is asking the public to sign the petition asking the City of Asheville to not swap green space and public parking with Duke Energy to build a new colossal downtown substation
Damaging Charm and Greenspace; Disrupting Locally Owned Business
A substation at the proposed new location will tower above and harm the prosperity along Lexington Avenue and Rankin Avenue, now one of downtown’s most vibrant retail and residential communities. In the 1980s Asheville downtown visionary John Lantzius and others bought blighted, but historic property on Lexington Avenue to thwart a wrongheaded plan to annihilate a large swath of downtown for a mall in the early 1980s. Thanks to Lantzius and the many other entrepreneurs, policy makers, artists, and visionaries, the once desolate and dangerous neighborhood is among Asheville’s hippest with dozens of thriving retailers and restaurants.
Among them is the screenprinting enterprise Moonlight Makers. However, CFO and co-owner Clair Watson isn’t certain her business will survive the construction of a new substation at the proposed location. Moonlight Makers opened in 2017 and employs twenty.
A new substation, she said, will damage the character and charm of downtown Asheville’s hub for local and independent business and doesn’t prioritize Asheville’s comprehensive plan’s commitment to “top-quality urban design throughout the high-visibility areas of Central Asheville” as outlined in Asheville’s Downtown Master Plan.
“We opened our store in the Tyler Building [on Rankin Avenue] in 2017 and have never experienced high foot traffic. We believe that’s due to the unsightly parking garage at our doorstep instead of other fun local shops,” said Watson. “If the substation is moved to the proposed site it will greatly impact our sales. It will be another eyesore on Rankin Avenue and be disruptive in so many ways.”
Among the impacts of the proposed site is the loss of one of downtown Asheville’s last remaining tracts of mature urban forest. Green space and tree cover is declining at an alarming rate in Asheville’s city center. According to the Urban Tree Canopy Study prepared for the city in October 2020, Asheville lost 6.4% of its tree cover between 2008 and 2018. As a result, Asheville’s downtown will continue to experience higher daytime temperatures. Eliminating nearly 11,000 square feet of forest canopy for a new substation does not support amendments to Asheville’s Unified Development Ordinance unanimously approved by Asheville City Council on September 8, 2021 requiring tree preservation in commercial and residential areas.
In addition to the loss of greenspace, Watson said that losing parking spaces will impact many of her employees who rely on affordable parking in the threatened lot or face multi-year waitlists for spaces elsewhere. According to the Asheville Downtown Association, affordable parking for employees is among the top issues facing downtown businesses.
Is there a solution?
The Friends of Lexington Avenue, or FOLA, believe Duke Energy should use their current site to replace or improve the current substation. The greater downtown Asheville community deserves a substation designed by Duke Energy and the City of Asheville that promotes sustainability; leads to net-zero tree canopy loss; and recognizes the impact on the well-being of everyone who lives, works and visits.
About FOLA
FOLA is a group of concerned citizens and business owners in downtown Asheville who care about maintaining the trees, charm and vibrancy of downtown Asheville.
For more information about the substation proposal contact FOLA spokesperson Scott Fowler or visit their website at www.friendsoflexingtonavenue.com.
