Black Mountain Council Weighs Future of Lakeview Center, Golf Course

Architect John Arnaud told Black Mountain Town Council on April 1 that the century-old Lakeview Center for Active Aging can be fully restored for under $750,000, the dollar threshold that would trigger costly new flood-compliance requirements for the storm-battered building on Lake Tomahawk. The answer satisfied Mayor Michael Sobol, who called the center "a dear structure to the people of this town," but the council left without taking any votes, tasking staff with returning detailed cost estimates, a public-engagement schedule, and partnership proposals.

The special called meeting put two of Black Mountain's most financially exposed recreation properties on the table simultaneously: the Lakeview Center for Active Aging at 401 Laurel Circle Drive and the municipal golf course, both wrecked by Tropical Storm Helene in September 2024.

Arnaud, presenting an architectural assessment of the 100-year-old building, explained that because North Carolina's building code has been updated roughly a dozen times since the center was constructed, the structure currently remains grandfathered in under continuous-use provisions. But any repairs or improvements exceeding 50 percent of the building's appraised value, or $750,000, would force the town to bring the floodplain-sited building into full compliance with flood-damage prevention standards. Arnaud said restoring the building to its former purpose under that ceiling is achievable, and he recommended the town commission a base flood elevation survey and consult both FEMA and its insurer before proceeding.

Council member Alice Berry said she was "grateful" the council was finally thinking long-term but pressed the flood-insurance question hard. "I know there will be another council up here at some point that is having to do maintenance ... or God forbid another natural disaster," Berry said. "To set them up to not have insurance on all of our buildings is really a shame, I think."

The town has already spent $55,000 trying to stabilize the building, allocating $15,000 in October 2025 and another $40,000 in January 2026. The center's upper level reopened for congregate meals and senior programming on March 9 after those partial repairs, but the building's long-term future remains unresolved.

Golf Course Manager Brent Miller brought equally consequential numbers for the adjacent Black Mountain Golf Course. The Donald Ross-designed front nine has been closed since Helene inflicted roughly $2 million in damage, leaving the facility running on nine holes. Miller told council that a full return to 18 holes would require between $1.3 million and $1.8 million in repairs, and he outlined a ten-year recovery plan under which revenues from a restored full operation could cover those costs. His most urgent near-term request: funding for cart bridges, a project the council was forced to rebid in March after rejecting the initial round of bids at its regular monthly meeting.

No timeline was set. Staff will return to council with specific cost estimates and an outline of potential public-private partnership frameworks, which could unlock state grant funding or require amendments to the town's comprehensive plan. Upcoming agenda packets and public forums, accessible through the town of Black Mountain's civic portal, will present the specific proposals and financing structures that will ultimately determine what Black Mountain residents pay for both properties, and what they get in return.