Save Sulfur Springs Park!!

The Case Against 4.1-acre Residential Development in Sulfur Springs

This paper and petition is the response of Sulfur Springs neighbors to the possible residential housing development on a 4.1-acre mature forested parcel (Buncombe County, NC PN 962823932300000) on Hi-Alta Avenue and W. Central Avenue.

What we know: The property (See Attachment 1) is currently owned by Ken Arrowood, Jr., an Asheville resident, as part of an IRA in a 401K account under the auspices of Entrust Carolinas, LLC, and was purchased in 2008 for $208k. A real estate sign was posted on the parcel along Hi-Alta Avenue by The Real Estate Center on or around July 13, 2022. At the time, the property was not yet listed on Buncombe County MLS with any information or asking price. Neighbors quickly relayed the information to one another. A private investor was found with interest in purchasing the property and turning it into Sulfur Springs Park for the common good. A phone call was made to the listing agent on July 18, 2022, to inquire about the asking price. The site was still not on the MLS at the time but is now showing active as of July 19, 2022.

The listing agent let the community inquiry know that the parcel was one signature away from entering into contract with a known area developer who has plans to develop the site into residential housing and open new streets and rights of way. The conservation investor backed out due to the quick turnaround. Likely, the property is now under contract and could possibly close in 60-days (on or around September 24th, 2022) for around $980k (asking price). Stay tuned for updates.

Community Activity: On the evening of July 19, 2022, at 6:00 pm, the Sulfur Springs Park Action Team (SSPAT) formed to rally the neighborhood around the creation of Sulfurs Springs Park, and to form a strong voice of concern as to the proposed development. As taxpayers, community members, voters, business owners, parents, and retirees, we feel it is our civic duty to oppose this development and vest more control of the shaping and planning of our neighborhood for the betterment of future generations. Additionally, SSPAT would like to see the current owner receive fair value for their real estate investment as part of their retirement plan. We believe everyone can win: the neighborhood gets its first and only park, and the current owner can happily enjoy retirement. Please help us spread the word. Post a sign. Talk to your neighbors. Our neighborhood needs a walkable park.

Introduction: The Sulfur Springs community is one of the new up-and-coming residential neighborhoods in West Asheville. The neighborhood is part of the City of Asheville, and as residents we pay city taxes. While we pay the same taxes as the rest of the City of Asheville’s residents, we do not have any parks, sidewalks, public gathering areas, or safe bike corridors to access the closest neighborhood that does: Malvern Hills. We are also surrounded by development currently and in the near future.

We propose that a consortium of organizations in conjunction with the City of Asheville organize to amass the necessary resources to acquire the 4.1-acre woodland and turn it into the first public park and hub of a new neighborhood, pedestrian and bike friendly greenway. (see Attachment 2a, Attachment 2b,Attachment 2c)

Ecology: Our neighborhood sits at the northeastern foot of Spivey Mountain and Deaver View Mountain, with streams and wooded ridges that play critical roles as wildlife corridors for black bear, deer, Coopers hawk, Red-tailed hawk, flying squirrel, wood thrush, screech owl, great horned owl, and several species of bats (see Attachmet 3). The 4.1-acre property is a critical component of one of these wildlife corridors along Canie Creek – a major contributor to Hominy Creek and to the French Broad River.  

Two federally listed endangered species, Northern long-eared bat and Gray bat, protected by the Endangered Species Act, are known to exist within the property vicinity (see Attachment 4). Summer foraging and roosting for bats is located in the unnamed upper tributaries draining into Canie Creek, and likely on this property. Additionally, the site contains +100 year old oaks, hickory, and pine as observed by community members and professional surveyors (see Attachment 5). The property also plays a critical role as a forest in beautifying the viewshed, keeping the neighborhood cooler, and breaking up strong winds/storms from the southern prevailing winds.

Roads & Safety: Public safety and the suburban character of the area will be compromised because Hi-Alta Avenue, Central Avenue, and Hemlock Drive are not designed for heavier traffic that will be the result of dense residential development on 4.1 acres. The neighborhood has no sidewalks and no safe walking or bicycle connections to other parks and neighborhoods.

Economics and Signing this Petition: Your signature and address counts! If we can get an initial 100 signatures from the immediate neighborhood, then demonstrate that almost $200k in annual City of Asheville tax revenue from homeowners is behind the proposed Sulfur Springs Park, then this amount would be sufficient for the down payment. With 1,000 signatures from the Sulfur Springs neighborhood, we can demonstrate that more than $2M in tax revenue/year is behind the proposed Sulfur Springs Park – which would be enough to outright purchase the property, design/install park infrastructure, and create an annual fund to maintain and police the park. Please sign this petition and list your address so the City of Asheville knows that you live in the neighborhood that will be impacted by whatever decision is made herein.

Your Opinion Matters: Let the City of Asheville, specifically Planning and Zoning, know that we the people of Sulfur Springs want a say in how the future of our neighborhood is shaped. We propose that the 4.1-acre woodland become our first park: Sulfur Springs Park.

Thank you!

• Sulfur Springs Park Action Team

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