Altamont has been pleased to participate in the exciting historic preservation, redevelopment, and affordable-housing project on the corner of Eagle and Market streets in downtown Asheville. The area, traditionally referred to as “The Block,” has historically been a hub for African-American commerce and culture in Asheville. It is one of the few areas of downtown Asheville that has yet to benefit from re-development efforts in recent decades.
The non-profit Eagle Market Streets Development Corp. (EMSDC) has worked for almost two decades to bring revitalization to The Block. Its partnership with Mountain Housing Corporation has enhanced EMSDC’s ability to bring its vision of “returning the neighborhood to the community” into fruition. Physical work began on the project in October 2013 with a first-phase completion date slated for the end of 2014.
In advance of the redevelopment project, EMSDC selected Altamont to conduct a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) of the property, funded by a State Community Development Block Grant. Following the Phase I ESA, Altamont helped EMSDC submit a request to the Land-of-Sky Regional Council’s Regional Brownfield Initiative to receive EPA Community-Wide Brownfields Assessment Grant funds. EMSDC used these grant funds for a soil and groundwater assessment performed by Mountain Environmental and for the abatement of lead-based paint and asbestos-containing materials at the Dr. Collette and Del Cardo Buildings, as well as the Glen Rock Hotel, performed by Altamont.
Altamont was then contracted to prepare Analysis of Brownfield Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA) documents for the projects. Altamont was further retained to perform oversight and prepare a completion report to document all site project activities.
“It was very cool to see the historic elements of these buildings up close and to know that they will be preserved and incorporated into the new structure.” says Altamont geologist Adam Tripp, P.G.