For years Southside community members pushed for the renovation of a long-neglected historic pool. But city government might go forward with other plans. Behind the debate about who decides the fate of a local landmark. The Walton Street pool isn’t in good shape, on that everyone agrees. Built in 1938,

The Burton Street community faces down I-26 as the controversial interstate plans advance and criticisms about local and state government arise Above: The sign for Burton Street’s community center. Photo by Emily Foley. The Interstate 26 connector project has stirred debate for nearly 20 years between the city of Asheville,

The truth about the decades-long fallout from racist government programs offers some harsh reminders — and important lessons for Asheville today. Above: The 1937 HOLC map for Asheville. The areas in red, most of them African-American, were designated “unsafe” for investment.  Over the past week, I’ve been incredibly pleased to

Racist government programs shaped Asheville’s ‘urban renewal,’ demolishing homes and pushing out thousands. The results still haunt the city today. Above: Priscilla Ndiaye, with her map of the homes demolished in the Southside neighborhood during urban renewal. She’s standing on the site of the house her family lived in, condemned