Asheville business owner faces uncertainty as land acquisition begins I-26 connector
By Rian Stockett
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ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has begun a new phase of land acquisition for its Asheville I-26 Connector Project. The agency estimates that this will result in about 80 relocations.
“In hearing that, it was really hard for me to continue investing resources in the space when I’m thinking about this big mountain I’m going to have to climb, and what that’s going to take financially and just the longevity of things,” said Veronica Carlson, the owner of Asheville Kava X Coffee.
Carlson said that four months after taking over as owner of Asheville Kava X Coffee, she learned that this location would be affected by the Asheville I-26 Connector Project.
“It was going to be December, and then I heard that was being pushed back, from chatter around the community, to March, and I think there was a release about March. Recently, I heard that the building owner here is closing their contract with the DOT,” Carlson said.
On Monday, Dec. 22, NCDOT announced that they’ve started right-of-way acquisition for the north section of the connector project. They said in a press release that the right-of-way phase covers the area going from Haywood Road, up I-240 East, and across the French Broad River, plus Riverside Drive.
According to the agency, construction is anticipated to begin on the north section early next year.
Carlson, however, says she’s been given no timeline for relocation.
“I haven’t been served a notice, which will be when I can start doing things, because if I’m to act before that notice is served, I forgo the reestablishment benefits that would be paid out by the DOT,” said Carlson.
NCDOT says after an appraiser visits the property and the appraisal is complete, the agent will present a written offer of fair market value, much like a typical real estate transaction. It says that owners and tenants who must relocate will receive relocation assistance information and time to consider their options.
“If I can’t fight the DOT, and I can’t reason and say, ‘I really want to keep this space because people really like it, they hang out here, it’s awesome.’ They’re not going to listen to me. I’ve just got to go with the flow,” said Carlson.
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