Happening Now

City staff has identified a potential site for this project in the Central Business District.  The site, known as “Parkside”  is a seven parcel, 2.43 acre site, currently utilized as a parking lot adjacent to City Hall.  The properties are bound by; to the North, Marjorie St, to the West, Market St, to the South, Eagle St, and to the East, Davidson Dr.  

March 24, Asheville City Council voted to ‘hold’ the land parcels for up to two years while City staff and ATG Entertainment continue predevelopment work and finalize a potential structure for a long term definitive agreement for development and operation.  The City of Asheville is in the initial engagement phase of the proposed project. Questions and concerns related to the proposed project will help inform development of an upcoming request for qualifications (RFQ) which will be issued aimed at attracting and engaging additional development partners. Securing an additional partner will be critical to the project’s financial viability.   

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Next Milestone

The City and ATG expect to receive the initial draft of the economic and cultural impact study to inform business plans and potential upcoming grant application cycles this summer.

The City anticipates the RFQ will be issued in the summer of 2026. 

Funding

The exploratory partnership of the predevelopment phase is being funded by both ATG and the City, with the City’s maximum contribution set at $60,000. ArtsAVL, the designated nonprofit arts agency for Buncombe County, will help evaluate the potential community and cultural benefits of such a facility as part of the ongoing Arts Recovery Plan, a project conducted by Lord Cultural Resources for ArtsAVL. Explore Asheville, ArtsAVL, and the Asheville Symphony will assist the City and ATG with data collection and stakeholder engagement to gather information relevant to any City grant applications.

Tropical Storm Helene has also afforded the opportunity to explore unique funding, such as  Economic Development Association (EDA) grants under their disaster recovery program.  A federal program offering grants to support the restoration of economic activity and long-term economic growth in disaster-impacted communities and regions. City staff are currently exploring these grant programs, with the intent to apply if the final project meets federal grant requirements.  This federal program offers grants to support the restoration of economic activity and long-term economic growth in disaster-impacted communities and regions.

Background

Since receiving direction from the Asheville City Council in the fall of 2023, the Department of Community Regional & Entertainment Facilities staff have been working on potential options with scopes and estimates to bring back to the Asheville City Council for renovations of the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. Throughout the process, the design team, Earl Swenson & Associates (ESA), and other third-party consultants encouraged staff not to rule out the possibility of a new build due to the potential total project budget. ArtsAVL convened a group of stakeholders to meet periodically beginning in October 2023.  The group has brought in numerous third-party advisors throughout the process, all at no cost to the City. In each case, it was recommended to examine a new build project rather than a renovation of the auditorium. Throughout this timeframe, staff re-ignited a previous conversation with ATG, which led to a discussion of a predevelopment agreement and the execution of the MOU. 
 

MOU for redevelopment - August 2025

In August, 2025,  the City announced it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)  with ATG Entertainment (ATG) for predevelopment work to create a public-private Arts and Entertainment facility in the central business district.

Made possible through a public-private partnership, the MOU allowed forward movement on a community benefit residents have supported for years. Commitment to intensive due diligence through this predevelopment phase continues to create an unprecedented opportunity for the City of Asheville, ATG, and our other partners, Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA), ArtsAVL, and the Asheville Symphony, to make this community vision a reality.

The execution of the MOU did not commit the City or Asheville or ATG to funding the construction of an arts and entertainment facility, but allowed partners to work together to start negotiations for a long-term agreement to run the facility, if the project goes forward.

Proposed Project Overview

Phase 1 - Exploration & Predevelopment

Unlike past exploratory efforts, the MOU committed both partners to exploration of  a definitive long-term agreement to create a transformational cultural and economic investment.

This MOU allows the City and ATG to collaborate on the planning and design of major capital projects. Initial work, managed in partnership by both ATG and the City,  includes the creation of an Economic and Cultural Impact study, Business Plan modeling, potential venue configurations, and audience experience designs. All steps will factor in federal funding opportunities such as  Economic Development Association (EDA) grants under the disaster recovery program.
 

Potential Phase 2 : Beyond Exploration

In addition to support provided in the predevelopment phase, ATG will work with the City of Asheville to create a long-term, financially sustainable model for the operation of the City-owned facility with a private management or lease agreement with the operator - ATG. 

The City will create and manage a community & engagement plan to be conducted during the second phase.  This phase will begin during the spring of 2026.