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There and Back Again Reclaiming Asheville’s Grove Arcade as a Public Market. Bob Oast, City and Regional Planning The Ohio State University With thanks to Ruth Summers of the Grove Arcade Public Market Foundation, and Stacy Merten, Historic Resources, City of Asheville.
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There and Back AgainReclaiming Asheville’s Grove Arcade as a Public Market Bob Oast, City and Regional Planning The Ohio State University With thanks to Ruth Summers of the Grove Arcade Public Market Foundation, and Stacy Merten, Historic Resources, City of Asheville
Asheville’s Grove Arcade • The City: • Located in Western North Carolina, approx. 90 miles northwest of Charlotte, 150 miles north of Atlanta • Population: City—approx. 75,000 • Major industries (by workforce participation): Medicine, Education, Tourism, Services, Light Manufacturing • Located at intersection of I-40 and I-26
Asheville’s Grove Arcade • The History: • Asheville was a boom town in early 1900’s • Good climate • Nice scenery • Influx of visitors from north and “low country” south; some with money • Hotels, inns, and tourist accommodations • Sanitariums
Asheville’s Grove Arcade • The Architecture: • Downtown Asheville is home to several architecturally important buildings (Art Deco, Gothic Revival, International) • Frederick Law Olmstead • Richard Sharp Smith • Raphael Guastavino • Douglas Ellington • IM Pei
Asheville’s Grove Arcade • Jackson Building Lawrence • City Building
Asheville’s Grove Arcade • First Baptist Church • St. Lawrence Basilica
Asheville’s Grove Arcade • Grove Park Inn • Biltmore House
Asheville’s Grove Arcade E W Grove: • First came to Asheville in 1898; came to stay later • Major developer: • Battery Park Hotel (1923-25) • Grove Park Inn (1913) • Grove Park neighborhood (started 1920s)
Asheville’s Grove Arcade • Architect: Charles W. Parker (worked with Richard Sharp Smith) • Constructed of steel, covered by decorative (and fireproof) terra cotta and marble, neo-Gothic style (same as Woolworth and Chicago Tribune).
Asheville’s Grove Arcade Removal of Battery Park Hill Framework in place
Asheville’s Grove Arcade • The building: • Begun in 1926 • Grove died 1927 • Completed 1929 • Takes up an entire City block • 269,000 square feet on 2 ½ levels, 3 level central tower (15 floors planned); still the largest building in downtown Asheville
Asheville’s Grove Arcade • Originally designed as indoor shopping arcade “I will locate stores of every kind of merchandising business in Asheville…so that a lady can park her car anywhere in this place and can let [it] remain just as long as she pleases, and do all of her trading in that one vicinity, so that she will not have to run around in the narrow streets of the old part of the business section to do her trading.” —E.W. Grove
Asheville’s Grove Arcade • Exterior has many ornate features, including caricatures of the workers who built it. • Interior has intricate woodwork, balconies with iron railings, spiral stairs, “flyovers,” and is illuminated by skylights
Asheville’s Grove Arcade • The History (cont’d): Great Depression hit Asheville hard • Real estate values collapsed • Building stopped • Public debt was crippling • No financing • No bonds
Asheville’s Grove Arcade • The Decline: 1942—Arcade taken over by the federal government for use in the war effort 1946-1985—used as federal offices (NWS, Social Security, Selective Service)
Asheville’s Grove Arcadefederal occupation Miss America
Asheville’s Grove Arcade • The comeback: • 1974 --placed on National Register • 1985 –Government plans to build a new federal building; leave the Grove Arcade • 1985-89 --City leaders formed Mayor’s Task Force, leading to formation of Grove Arcade Public Market Foundation (Foundation)
Asheville’s Grove Arcade • GAPMF • Explore possibility of restoring Grove Arcade and re-commissioning for commercial/mixed use • Work with federal government to arrange for transfer • Facilitate funding • Public/Private funding • Tax incentives • Tax credits
Asheville’s Grove Arcade • How it happened: • Building was conveyed to City in 1997 under the National Monuments Act-Quitclaim Deed • Public entity must hold title • Other federal laws
Asheville’s Grove Arcade • How it happened: • Conditions provide for preservation and utilization consistent with purposes of Act • Preservation= restoration of exterior and interior • Utilization=public market uses • Restrictions on type of business, “profit making activity”
Asheville’s Grove Arcade • How it happened: • City leases to Foundation for 99 years • Lease • Operating agreement • GAPMF subleases • Individual tenant spaces on ground floor and exterior for commercial use • Spaces above ground floor for office/residential
Asheville’s Grove Arcade • Law : • Downtown Development Act (allows public/private projects in CBD) • Local Development Act of 1925 (allows economic development activity) • Historic Preservation Act (NC)
Asheville’s Grove Arcade • Players and roles: • Foundation • Coordinate construction work • Lease ground floor spaces (retail/office) • Manage building • Secure funding (grants, tax credits, etc.)
Asheville’s Grove Arcade • Players and roles: • City of Asheville • Finance restoration of ground floor • Certificates of participation • Foundation to repay • Infrastructure and permitting • Carolina Power & Light (now Duke Energy Progress) • Finance restoration of upper floors/residential condos • Direct participation through housing subsidiary • State and federal historic preservation tax credits
Asheville’s Grove Arcade • Problems: • Cost = More than anticipated • Asbestos • Code compliance • Maintenance issues • Some restructuring required for tax purposes • Occupancy rates • National economy (2 recessions) • Rent structure • Conditions of transfer
Asheville’s Grove Arcade • The impact: • Building now valued at $16.7 million • Office/condo constructed on next block • One hotel constructed, one being built within 2 blocks • Several major new buildings planned in area • 4-6 new restaurants in building (outdoor seating) • Increased pedestrian activity
Asheville’s Grove Arcade • Before
Asheville’s Grove Arcade After
Asheville’s Grove Arcade • Credits: • Ruth Summers, Grove Arcade Public Market Foundation • Stacy Merten, City of Asheville Historic Resources • Photos courtesy of the Grove Arcade Public Market Foundation and the Pack Memorial Library North Carolina Collection