aerial photo of tempie avery montford community center

 

Happening Now

Following a competitive bid process, a qualified candidate has been identified to provide design services and construction oversight. The design phase will last through late 2027 with construction anticipated to begin in 2029.

The same contractor is providing design services and construction oversight for both this project and the renovation of Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center. Design will take place concurrently on both projects while construction on Tempie Avery Montford Community Center will begin immediately following the conclusion of construction on the Shiloh project.

Background

The 1970s marked a period of major expansion for Asheville’s public recreation options as federal and state grants brought new parks and community centers to neighborhoods throughout the city. After many years of work, Montford Recreation Complex opened as the city’s first community center and recreation campus that was built from the ground up, becoming a social and cultural hub for the Montford, Stumptown, and Hill Street neighborhoods. 

The community center opened in 1978 as Montford Recreation Center with an auditorium-gymnasium, craft and game rooms, and a kitchen. It immediately became the heart of the entire neighborhood with daily programs, activities, clubs, and meetings focused on young people, teens, and older adults. 

The center was renamed Tempie Avery Montford Community Center in 2017 to honor a nurse and midwife who established her home on Pearson Drive following emancipation. Her descendants would live on the same land for nearly 100 years as a Black neighborhood named Stumptown developed around them with homes, churches, and stores. She is interred at Riverside Cemetery near the community center.

A 2019 outdoor renovation included greatly expanded parking, accessible walkways and playground surfacing, expanded natural areas, and a new playground, basketball and bocce courts, outdoor classroom, sitting areas with long-range views of mountain vistas, and table tennis plaza. The current project focuses on modernizing the building. During construction, Asheville Parks & Recreation may relocate programs and activities to an alternate location.

Opportunities for Input

Feedback opportunities will be announced once a design contract is finalized. Subscribe for updates to be the first to know about these opportunities.

Useful Links

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Project Prioritization

City of Asheville projects are evaluated and prioritized based upon many criteria including public safety, economic growth and sustainability, affordable housing and community development, quality of life, and availability of funding sources, among others. Community center improvements were identified as a priority in the Recreate Asheville 10-Year Plan.

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Determine Funding Sources

Asheville voters overwhelmingly approved a general obligation (GO) bond referendum in 2024 allocating up to $20 million for parks and recreation improvements throughout the city. A portion of the funds will be used for improvements to Tempie Avery Montford Community Center.

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Fall 2026-Spring 2027: Community Engagement and Visioning

Community members, City of Asheville staff, and design professionals work together to define expectations and develop a realistic vision for the building and programming. Public feedback, cost estimation, building codes, and many other factors influence the final decision.

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Spring 2027-Fall 2027: Project Design

Project managers translate community engagement and visioning into a design that incorporates environmental compliance, building codes, cost estimation and other requirements. The goal is to reflect the community’s views in balance with feasibility.

This is the most technical phase and may include complexities such as utility relocation, permitting, cost estimation, and multiple levels of review, which can cause setbacks to the original timeline.

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2029: Project Construction

With a completed design, the City of Asheville advertises and selects a construction firm. Once the construction contract is approved by City Council, construction can begin!

City staff stay in touch with community members about what to expect throughout construction. Projects often experience delays during the construction phase due to weather, unexpected discoveries, or supply chain and labor shortages.

During construction, Asheville Parks & Recreation may relocate programs, activities, and festivals to an alternate location.

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2030: Project Completion

Tempie Avery Montford Community Center reopens.

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Ongoing: Maintenance and Operation

The City of Asheville executes a maintenance and operation plan to protect this new community asset for years to come.

Contact Information

Pete Wall, Assistant Director

Asheville Parks & Recreation

pwall@ashevillenc.gov

(828) 259-5800