The group of concerned citizens that would grow into the influential Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods organization first met in a living room 25 years ago to talk about the direction of Asheville.  That group included residents Max Haner, Barbara Hodgson and Barber Melton—a Haw Creek resident and tireless organizer who will be honored during a Friday, June 13 dinner to mark CAN’s silver anniversary.

On May 23-24 of 2008, a dozen members of CAN came together during a 12 hour retreat to create an exciting Vision and 5 Year Plan. Please check out the following links and join us in making Asheville a "We City" of active, organized neighborhoods.

• What Do We Want to See in Place for CAN in 2013? (Vision)
• What are the possible practical and innovative actions that we could take to move us toward our vision in the context of our current reality? (Actions)
• Determine initiatives achievable over the next 12 months (1 Year Timeline)
• Which Timeline items have priority and flow into other items (Priority Wedge)

For more details about how to get involved email the Board or share your ideas with the Listserv. (Join Mail List)

As recently as 15 years ago you could walk down the deserted sidewalks of downtown, passing in front of empty storefronts covered in plywood. Today downtown is, as it should be, the vibrant heart of our region. It is not a coincidence that the local economy, after decades of struggle, has finally shown some signs of life as downtown has been revitalized. A healthy downtown reduces the local tax burden everywhere else in the city and county, it draws jobs and tourism to our area, it contains the largest portion of our shared history and it is our best opportunity to create a level of sustainability that goes beyond lip service. If any of these matter to you then downtown matters to you.

Things change. In the early 1980s, the streets in the Grove Park neighborhood were mostly traveled by the residents. Some tourists drove up Macon Avenue to visit the much smaller Grove Park Inn, open only from April through October. Other Ashevilleans drove Kimberly Avenue, delivering children to Jones School or perhaps on the way to one of the several businesses located on Merrimon Avenue.

Today, those streets may look the same … in structure perhaps, but definitely not in use.