ART Place Transit Project

At a glance

What: Planning and conceptual design contract with HR&A Advisors, Inc. for the ART Place project: a mixed-use, transit-oriented development with an expanded transit center and affordable housing on the City-owned lot next to the existing Asheville Rides Transit center at 50 Asheland Avenue.
Where it stands: Resolution 26-174 approved on the August 25, 2026 consent agenda (motion by Councilwoman Turner, seconded by Councilwoman Ullman, unanimous), not to exceed $364,147.
Next: Conceptual designs plus steps to identify future funding and partnership models for the next phase.

The current transit center operates beyond capacity and has too few bus bays for growth.
The City bought the property in 2021 for $2.5 million; Dogwood Health Trust provided $1.25 million based on the City's commitment to include affordable housing.
Funded by a 2022 Federal Transit Administration Areas of Persistent Poverty grant of $328,140 plus a 10 percent local match, for a $364,600 budget. A request for qualifications was issued March 6, 2026.
A separate effort seeks federal money for a new maintenance facility: Transit Maintenance Facility Grant.

Consent approval of the HR&A contract.