Asheville Council approves abandoned-building ordinance amid doubts about impact

Asheville City Council gave final approval to an abandoned-building ordinance that city leaders say closes a gap in local enforcement, but the 6-1 vote also exposed doubts about whether the new rule will produce visible change on long-neglected blocks.

The measure, taken up at the council’s 5 p.m. formal meeting in the Council Chamber at City Hall, amends Chapter 4 of the city code to allow repair, closing or demolition of abandoned structures. Bo Hess said the ordinance closes a loophole in Asheville law, while Mayor Esther Manheimer described it as a useful addition to the city toolbox even if it is not a funded solution by itself. Vice Mayor Antanette Mosley cast the lone dissenting vote, warning that the proposal risked being performative and could create expectations it cannot meet.

The vote came after months of public discussion over how Asheville should deal with buildings that are technically intact but still create hazards, attract complaints or drag down nearby property. Much of the debate centered on the line between structures damaged by Helene and buildings considered abandoned. Under the old framework, the city could not move against a building that remained structurally sound, even if neighbors said it had become a magnet for neglect.

City staff had already drawn up a target list of about 30 residential and commercial properties that could fall under the ordinance, including sites tied to fire damage, squatter concerns and repeated neighborhood complaints. In early April, WLOS reported that one burned abandoned home on South French Broad Avenue was cleared within four days after city attention, a sign that officials believe faster action can make a difference when they have a legal path to move. The city’s Compliance Division, part of Development Services, handles land and building code enforcement.

Some of the pressure has been especially visible in the River Arts District, where the city received dozens of complaints about the abandoned house at 158 South French Broad Street. Along Merrimon Avenue, boarded-up buildings have sat vacant since a 2005 car crash partially collapsed one of the structures. Nearby resident Bob Sack asked why city hall had not acted sooner as the city weighed the ordinance.

Maggie Ullman said the city was looking at adding “more teeth and notice” to its abandoned-building policies. Residents can also report code and zoning problems through the Asheville App, a tool city officials are now likely to rely on more as they decide which neglected properties to confront first.