Asheville Accolades: Green and More!

I can tell you that Asheville is an incredible place to visit or, even better to live, but would you believe me? Well, you might, but that wouldn't be a good enough reason to come. I'm just one person. But what about when Asheville gets an "official" recommendation of some sort? Well, I just thought I would tell you a few of the accolades Asheville has received.

I'm especially proud of Asheville for being "green" and others have recognized that as well. In 2006, Blue Ridge Outdoors saw Asheville as one of the greenest towns in the South, leading the Green Revolution. Natural Home Magazine ranked West Asheville #1 Eco-Friendly Community in 2007. In 2008, Country Living Magazine put Asheville on their list of 25 Best Green Places in America. So, you don't have to just take my word for it :>)

Asheville is also known for the natural beauty here. Southern Living Magazine gave Asheville their Best of the South Readers' Choice Awards for being the Best Mountain Destination and Best Scenic Highway for at least the last three years. In 2007, Outside Magazine ranked Asheville as Best Southern Town, which means it has to be one of the country's “smart, progressive burgs with gorgeous wilderness playgrounds”...and... "realistic housing and job markets.” In 2006, Outside Magazine also named Asheville the #1 Whitewater Town in the country. That's pretty cool.

The arts are huge in Asheville and that's clear with the recognition received such as American Style Magazine rating Asheville with the top 25 Art Destinations - last year #5 and this year #2 in the small cities catagory. Where to Retire Magazine listed Asheville as one of its “Eight Enriching Towns for Art and Music Lovers.”

Speaking of Asheville as a place to retire, America's 100 Best Places to Retire lists Asheville. In general, Asheville is rated highly as a place to live at any age. Last year, Cities Ranked and Rated listed Asheville #7 of over 400 metro areas in the U.S. and Canada.

There are a bunch more, but I don't want to spend the whole day on this.

So, we must be doing something right! Frommers' included Asheville in its list of 12 top travel destinations in the world! And the new book The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner says Asheville is the happiest city in the world! So, come to Asheville, be happy! And let us know if you need an ECO-certified real estate professional.

First Asheville downtown master plan in over 80 years!

Asheville's City Council is looking for residents' opinions and ideas about what downtown should look like. This isn't just a simple poll of the people that's going to sit on a shelf. This is a serious planning procedure that's part of paying the Goody Clancy planning firm of Boston $170,000 to create the first real plan for downtown in 80 years.

Let's hear it for Asheville! This plan would guide downtown's growth to preserve it's character and prevent it from losing the charm that's attracting people here in the first place. The first of seven public meetings will be held tonight from 6 to 8:30 at the Civic Center.

When you drive through parts of downtown it's hard not to be distracted by all the building - but you need to be careful, too. A construction worker walked backwards into a main street I was driving on the other day, completely oblivious to traffic.

If only they would try to use styles that fit in with the historic feel. If only they would use green, sustainable building techniques and materials. Well, maybe they will put that into the plan!

Just today there was a letter to the editor from someone who left San Diego after watching it sell out it's character for profit. Then they moved on to Prescott, AZ where they watched the exact same thing happen. He warns us that Asheville is a nice town right now, but we'd better be careful. Here's our chance!

The front page article of today's Asheville Citizen-Times tells about the new master plan and explains the need in light of the huge surge in development. In the past three years the value of project reviewed for downtown has been over $500 million! That's more than all the downtown projects in the last 100 years. Even the Asheville Mall, on 60 acres, is only valued at $85 million. Lots of property taxes. The new plan's cost will be well worth it.

Downtown master plan meetings will be held on May 15, 30, 31, June 1, 12 and the final draft plan presentation will be in August or September for feedback. For more information about the plan and meetings contact Sasha, Vrtunski at 828-232-4599 or svrtunski@ashevillenc.gov .

Disclaimer: Opinions in these blogs are those of an individual, not the Asheville Board of REALTORS(R).

Welcome to the new Asheville ECO-Agents' Blog!!!

Isn't springtime the perfect time to begin a new eco-blog! The blossoms of Asheville have been incredible this year and the temperature finally seems to be safe enough to put out seedlings. Gardens are popping up everywhere.

Here in Asheville, NC we are fortunate enough to not only have abundant natural beauty, but citizens who value it and the Earth in general. "Green" businesses and organizations seem to be popping up just like the gardens. In 2005, the Asheville Board of REALTORS(R) and some of these green businesses and organizations came together to create a certification program for REALTORS(R).

This certification consists of 36 hours of course work to qualify REALTORS(R) as Environmental COnsultants: ECO-Agents. Real estate agents with a concern for healthy homes, energy efficiency and sustainable development are the perfect people to get this kind of training. It not only enables them to help their clients, but it also creates a way to educate the public about green issues and opportunities.

Visit the Asheville ECO-Agents' website to learn more!

Disclaimer: Opinions in these blogs are those of an individual, not the Asheville Board of REALTORS(R).