🌱 Asheville Speed Limit Changes + City Leasing 33 Acres For Trees

Hello, everybody! It's me, Rose Mendez, your host of the Asheville Patch newsletter. Keep reading to find out the most important things happening around town.

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: Intervals of clouds and sun. High: 71 Low: 50.
• Saturday: Mostly cloudy, afternoon rain. High: 56 Low: 49.

Here are the top four stories in Asheville today:

1. After requests from citizens, Asheville City Council voted to change six more speed limits on Tuesday, May 23. The changes will most likely go into effect by the end of June, according to a spokesperson for the city. The speed limit changes will affect Wells Avenue, East Street, Hampden Road, SR-3548 (Clingman Avenue/Haywood Road), SR-3412 (Sand Hill Road), and SR-3556 (Meadow Road). (WLOS)
2. On Tuesday night, May 23, Asheville City Council also voted to lease 33 acres at $1 per year to Asheville GreenWorks for growing trees. Asheville Greenworks, a nonprofit, will grow trees in the city’s public spaces, beginning with 500 trees on the 1.3 acres at Hardesty Lane behind Azalea Park. The city plans to eventually expand to serve not just Asheville but also Buncombe County. (WLOS)
3. The City of Asheville is seeking to improve its stormwater system to better address flooding and improve water quality. The city and Raftelis Financial Consultants are partnering on the Stormwater Utility Program Assessment and Fee Study to evaluate the current condition and future needs of the system and then develop recommendations on how to improve it. According to the city, community engagement will be extremely important to the project and there will be surveys, community events, public meetings, business and neighborhood meetings, social media posts, and more to generate public awareness and ensure the broadest input from the community. (Mountain Xpress)
4. Huddle House, a popular Asheville restaurant at 400 Hendersonville Road, is closing and the building will be demolished at the end of May. The restaurant's last day serving food is May 29, but the staff was only told about the closing on May 21. According to Hannah Nibblett, a Huddle House assistant manager, "We’re all looking for jobs. It was kind of very sudden." (Citizen Times)

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Today and tomorrow in Asheville:

Friday, May 26

• ABSFest: American Burlesque And Sideshow Festival (Speakeasy Séance) At Grey Eagle Music Hall (8:00 PM)
• Comedy At Catawba: Jenny Zigrino At Catawba Brewing Company South Slope (7:00 PM)

Saturday, May 27

• GRINDfest Featuring Big Boi, Waka Flocka Flame, And Talib Kweli At Salvage Station, Outdoor Stage (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Asheville's only Krispy Kreme has been listed for sale, with an asking price of a little more than $2 million. The doughnut shop's lease expires on Oct. 31, 2023, but since there is a renewal option, the Krispy Kreme location might not close. According to Jason Burke, the listing agent with Whitney Commercial Real Estate, commercial properties "sell all the time and businesses stay open, which they probably will." (WLOS)
• The Asheville Humane Society (AHS) is in dire need of supplies! Currently, there are 87 kittens under eight weeks old, many of which require round-the-clock feeding care. And many more kittens are expected to arrive as kitten season approaches. The AHS is throwing a virtual kitten shower and has created an Amazon Wish List of necessary supplies. AHS is also accepting donation drop-offs at its facility, located at 14 Forever Friend Lane in Asheville. (WLOS)
• Online shopping is great, but there's nothing like seeing a home in person! Check out the upcoming open houses in the Asheville area, including an adorable three-bedroom on Walnut Springs Drive today, May 26! (Asheville Patch)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Friday! I'll see you around.

— Rose Mendez

About me: Rose Mendez is a freelance writer. She is studying English Literature at Hunter College. She loves reading, walking around the city, and coffee!