I-26 Citizens' Coalition
Community Members Fighting in Opposition to the I-26 Overpass Over Patton Ave.
Community Design Charrette
What is a design charrette and why is it necessary?
Design charrettes are typically conducted early in project planning to establish design requirements and foster agreement among community stakeholders regarding the project's future plans and outcomes. For the I-26 Connector Project, this foundational work was completed in the 2010s by the Asheville Design Center. This community-driven effort resulted in the Alt-4B design, which was subsequently included in the Environmental Impact Study (EIS) and ultimately selected by NCDOT.
However, since that time, NCDOT and Archer-Wright altered the design during the procurement process through an Alternative Technical Concept (ATC). This modification was reportedly made to secure the bid and reduce initial construction costs. These changes appear to overlook the extensive community input from previous years, and therefore, it seems necessary to re-examine the project to advocate for the community improvements that were originally envisioned.
What if I'm not a designer?
That's A-okay! This approach aims to have a wide scope of interdisciplinary people collaborating; your input and feedback are still very important. By having open discussions, everyone can better understand the trade-offs of different design elements, resulting in more buy-in for the project.
Location
Hatch Innovation Hub
45 S. French Broad Ave
Asheville, NC 28801
Agenda
Friday 5/16 - 5-7 PM
Charrette Kickoff
Saturday 5/17 - 11 AM - 5 PM
Design Feedback
Sunday 5/18 - 11 AM - 3 PM
Wrap Up
What to expect..
This fast-paced design charrette will be hosted over 3 days with local designers, professionals, residents, community groups, builders... everyone. This is our big chance to provide a unified proposal to DOT this late in the project with the public comment period ending on 5/25.
We will have all the different drawings laid out or on the walls; the old design, the new design, planned greenway connections, etc. This event offers an opportunity for the public and design teams to provide feedback and collaboratively shape design options that align with our city's values.