TO: Boosting the Block Stakeholders

DATE: April 28, 2026

PREPARED BY: Margaret A. Brunson & Brittany Bennett Weston, Community Facilitators

SUBJECT: Exciting Boosting the Block Updates!

Welcome to the latest update for the Boosting the Block project! 

As the City of Asheville staff begins contract negotiations for the Eagle and Market Streets Enhancement project design team, we are continuing to support neighborhood identity projects and conduct engagement meetings with community stakeholders.

Project Updates:

• The State of Downtown Participation: Community Facilitator, Brittany Bennett Weston, participated on a panel at the annual State of Downtown event hosted by Asheville Downtown Association. During the discussion, she shared the goals of the Boosting the Block project, as well as takeaways from community engagement conversations regarding the need for additional investment and support for businesses and organizations on The Block as a part of building a thriving cultural corridor. 

• Custom Bench Installation: The collaboration with Echoes of the Forest, the City of Asheville, YMI Cultural Center, and the Asheville Downtown Improvement District (ADID) continues as we work to finalize plans to install a signature bench handcrafted by local artisan Kwadwo Som-Pimpong of Crafted Glory on S. Market St. 

• Community Vision Translation: Our artist/creative strategist, Julianna Chioma, is wrapping up her work to translate community engagement input into design concepts that will be shared with the contracted design team. We look forward to handing off her concepts and analysis to the formal design team once they are under contract.

• Neighborhood Identity Banners: Artist Tommy Lee McGhee is designing custom light pole banners for The Block. These banners will enhance visibility and identity of The Block, helping portray and celebrate its past, present and future. The banner project supports broader efforts to develop cohesive neighborhood identification and promotion for The Block.

Upcoming Events & Engagement Opportunities

Ujamaa Marketplace on The Block - Saturday, May 2 @ 10am - 3pm

Ujamaa Marketplace, organized by YMI Cultural Center and other partners, will take place on the First Saturdays April and May from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and all day on Juneteenth on South Market Street between S. Pack Square and Eagle Street. This series supports and serves as a testing ground for a key goal of the Boosting the Block project - to implement a cultural corridor on S. Market Street. The series will help inform next steps for programming and design of the corridor as part of the Boosting the Block project. 

The Ujamaa Marketplace is a vibrant and culturally rich market boasting the creativity of Black, Indigenous and other persons of the diaspora. There’s beauty and culture in this region and it often goes unseen. We aim to change that by bringing our community of artisans, crafts people, musicians, and culinary geniuses in one place. This market place will feature wellness products, plants and other home goods, apparel, art, books, food, and a workshop. 
 

Juneteenth on The Block - All day on Friday, June 19

Mark your calendars for Juneteenth on The Block! There will be a special Juneteenth Ujamaa Marketplace, music and engagement opportunities. Stay tuned for additional details to come.

NC Weekend Segment about The Block

Check out this wonderful segment from a recent episode of the PBS series, NC Weekend, about The Block. It highlights the history of the district as well as existing businesses and organizations Noir Collective, YMI Cultural Center, LEAF Global Arts, and The Foundry Hotel. 

We will continue to regularly share Boosting the Block updates and engagement opportunities. Feel free to send an email with any questions, or to connect with us about the project: boostingtheblock@publicinput.com

We invite you to also subscribe to the Eagle Market Streets Enhancements Public Input page for project updates specific to the forthcoming streetscape design/construction project that supports and implements the objectives of the Boosting the Block initiative 

With Gratitude,

Margaret A. Brunson, PhD, MPA

Brittany Bennett Weston, MPA 

Boosting the Block Community Facilitators