Good Afternoon, 

Last week, all vehicle traffic control was successfully removed from the South side of Patton Ave. However, a design challenge in front of the Thirsty Monk at 92 Patton Ave. has necessitated a pedestrian detour in that area, situated at the East corner of Patton and Coxe. This detour will remain in place until the challenge is resolved, and temporary access has been installed to ensure continued access to the Thirsty Monk. We will keep stakeholders informed as our staff works through this challenge.

Due to the complexity of this site, construction will continue until sidewalk completion in September.

City staff has heard from impacted businesses that there is interest in delaying the project until the fall. While we understand the importance of the summer season for local businesses and the potential impact construction may have during this time, there are funding and scheduling constraints associated with postponing further construction to the fall.

This project is funded by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and the money has timely constraints to when it needs to be spent by. Additionally, this is an in-house project being carried out by our Public Works team. Lean resources mean it is critical to maintain the project schedule and maximize resources so that all projects, including a number of infrastructure projects planned for downtown, can be completed citywide in a timely manner.

Finally, summer is the most favorable period for outdoor construction projects due to weather conditions. Delaying the project would likely extend the project duration into a time with unfavorable weather and into the leaf season/holidays, potentially increasing overall project length and impact to businesses and customers.

To minimize disruption, we are working diligently to ensure the project is completed as swiftly and efficiently as possible. We are also implementing measures to reduce the impact on local businesses, such as maintaining access to storefronts, clear signage for alternative routes, and scheduling the most disruptive work during off-peak hours when feasible.

What’s next? 

On May 20, weather permitting, operations will transition to the North side of Patton Ave., starting at 81 Patton Ave and proceeding westward to 115 Patton Ave. Coordinated sidewalk closures will be implemented, with access to business door fronts, Monday-Thursdays 7 a.m. - 5 p.m., weather depending until the project is complete. 

The sidewalk is expected to be complete in September, with tree planting anticipated to finish in October. We recognize that October is one of the busiest, if not the busiest time of year for downtown businesses. We’ve heard this consistently year after year. Our plan is to complete the project before this critical month. 

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work to improve our city's infrastructure and invest in better accessibility. With all of the infrastructure improvements occurring downtown, City staff remains committed to minimizing impacts to businesses. 

Lee Morrison

lmorrison@ashevillenc.gov