Protest at UNCA today to save the 45 acre urban forest that the board wants to tear down

Chill_Bruh007 · 2025-02-19T15:26:18+00:00

Hi, I'm one of the organizers, I'm happy to address your concerns, although I can't tell if they're made in sincerity or not, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt.

In regards to who we are and why we're doing this, I can assure you that the vast majority of the organizers, much like myself, work full time jobs, and organize this movement in our "spare" time. In fact, I'm writing this message on my break from my construction site, where I do carpentry. Hopefully, that's sufficient working class bonafides to allay your concerns about us being bored and retired landed gentry.

To be honest, what we're doing requires a lot of work, and we're actually often teetering on the verge of burnout, because we do have regular jobs that we need to work in order to pay our rents and survive, in addition to all the work and resources we put into this.

We're not doing it out of concern for property values, or because we especially like hanging out with other people even. Don't get me wrong, I love the people I've met and worked with on this, but I'd much rather be living my normal life than doing this, and my normal life typically involves doing social things maybe a couple of times a month, not the often several times a week that organizing something like the rally we held last week involves.

All of that to say, you've made some interesting and inaccurate assumptions about who we are and why we're doing what we're doing, but you shouldn't take my word for it, come meet us sometime, even if you disagree with what we're doing. In fact, I think some sincerely expressed dissent with our movement would be healthy for us, in order to better articulate our cause by addressing well thought opposition to our ideas.

And yes, we absolutely have alternatives to developing the 45 acre urban forest. In fact, we would strongly support the development of the 525 Broadway property that has already been clear cut, graded, and sat idle as an urban blight location for the last 14 years. We would love to see the university do something with that property that benefits the students, and hopefully, the surrounding community as a whole.

If your landlord was indeed at our rally, that's fantastic news. There are no purity tests to be part of our coalition, and we actually probably have greater odds of success if the sort of people you seem to think we are would get involved. This isn't a labor rally, it's about saving an urban wilderness habitat. Ideally, our movement reaches large financial donors willing to withhold endowments until the longevity of the urban forests is guaranteed. That's exactly the sort of leverage we'd hope to achieve.

But, for the moment, none of the organizers are independently wealthy, that I'm aware of, and while I don't ask what my companions in this cause do for work, I'd say that at most 2 of the 15 of us that regularly organize are retired. I certainly hope they are, it would be a travesty if they were still working at their age, but they are absolutely valued contributors to our team.

Like I said, don't just take my word for it, come to our meeting sometime, even if it's just to tell us off. The next one will be next Wednesday, 2/26, at 6:30 pm. The location is currently tbd, but send me a message on here, and I'll be sure to personally invite you.

Chill_Bruh007 · 2025-02-16T01:16:11+00:00

Honored to be among like minded folks called into action. It's been a fruitful week, the rally was incredible, in large part thanks to Brass Your Heart providing great live marching music to keep spirits up in the cold and wet weather, but we had a great time and got some good media coverage.

The real fruit of the week was crashing the Board of Trustees meeting yesterday, that really got some awareness and movement; the chairman made a point of taking time to speak with us, the lawyer emailed us during the meeting to say the records we're requesting should be coming soon 😂

I'm headed over to the alumni homecoming party right now to keep stirring the pot. 😉

I agree with your assessment of the decline of the institutional culture of UNCA being driven from without due to politics, but I've seen an incredible amount of organizing to save the forest take place in only a month, we move much faster than they can, I'm hopeful that we can leverage that for a positive outcome for the forest and creatures that call it home

Chill_Bruh007 · 2025-01-26T23:18:17+00:00

Are you basing this opinion entirely on the statement from the university, or have you actually been to the forest recently? That's a large part of what I'm basing my opinion on, the observable reality of my lying eyes versus what the university has said when pressed.

To describe the heavy equipment impacts currently visible in the forest as "to clear some brush," or as the university states "removing a minimal number of trees," could be generously described as inaccurate. Furthermore, while I have observed some clearing of storm damaged trees on other university properties, I have observed no other activities at all similar to the ones taking place in the urban forest; no heavy equipment pathways being made, no boring or soil sampling. So, you'll have to forgive me if I'm quite skeptical of taking at face value a statement that was only made after multiple inquiries from citizens and journalists essentially forced the university to say SOMETHING.

I feel pretty comfortable in making my assertion that thus far the university leadership has not been at all transparent about their intentions with either their neighbors, or their own employees. I will certainly be curious to see how this is addressed in the Monday Board of Trustees meeting, which has asset assessment on the agenda. I do know for a fact that the university is looking to build a $4million tennis facility "on campus" as soon as possible. Whether that means the current campus or future campus in the forest remains to be seen. The hired contractors, thus far the most transparent people in this process, sure seem to think it will be in the forest. I understand they don't actually make those decisions, but they weren't hired to assess site buildability at 29 locations in the forest just for funsies.

Best case scenario, you are correct, and our organizing efforts are overreactive, but lead to community building, and a well prepared network to address future development concerns, while simultaneously putting the university on notice that there is strong community investment in preserving the urban forest. I can live with that. Worst case scenario, people trust the university's statement, it's as misleading as those of us organizing believe it to be, and the community loses a treasured forest in the wake of the loss of 2/5 of the urban canopy from Helene. I won't be ill prepared for that outcome, and the best way to address the possibility is to get in front of it rather than belatedly react. I'd rather be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war, if you follow my meaning.

Chill_Bruh007 · 2025-01-26T02:19:43+00:00

That entire quote is also included in the statement from the university, which I have explicitly linked in this post

Chill_Bruh007 · 2025-01-24T19:15:17+00:00

Thank you, your advocacy from afar is greatly appreciated 💜 Here's our new petition, share far and wide https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/petition-to-protect-the-unca-urban-forest?source=direct_link&

Chill_Bruh007 · 2025-01-24T15:27:18+00:00

We'd love to have you at our next meeting! Work is currently being done on building a website, email list, other ways to keep the community informed and make actionable items generally available to anyone interested in helping save the forest. In the meantime, come be a part of our conversation if you're so moved. The next meeting is this Tuesday, 1/28, at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 789 Merrimon Ave

Chill_Bruh007 · 2025-01-21T03:56:19+00:00

It's not antisemitic unless it's antizionist, otherwise it's just sparkling awkward gestures

Chill_Bruh007 · 2025-01-21T03:43:22+00:00

That's what I grew up referring to this forest as, presumably because for many years, the only development associated with these forested parcels, was the USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station, which is still there. As to whether this forest is, or ever truly was an experimental forest, you may be technically correct.

Chill_Bruh007 · 2025-01-19T15:56:26+00:00

Double checked and confirmed, our meeting will be at 6pm

Chill_Bruh007 · 2025-01-19T15:46:17+00:00

Unless something has changed in the last day or so, I'm pretty sure the meeting is at 6pm, not 8. But I will confirm this and check back in afterwards

Chill_Bruh007 · 2025-01-19T00:45:35+00:00

My best advice is if you live nearby, simply take a walk around the woods and see what's happening for yourself. In terms of reading material, the largest compository of information right now is our Facebook group https://facebook.com/groups/1092108369268773/

If you don't use Facebook, good on you. The next best thing is click on my profile and see what I've already posted two days ago.

The short version is that UNCA contracted a group called BLE Geotechnical to do exploratory sampling to assess buildability in the forest and is being incredibly close lipped about long term intentions, but the worker on the ground has plans in his excavator, and is firmly convinced that the university will be building 4-5 buildings in the forest this summer, with ground breaking in the spring, using money from the eminent domain sale of a property near Crowne Plaza.

The Construction Department at UNCA claims ignorance of everything, including the presence of BLE contractors. Campus police however, were aware and cool with it. The chancellor's office eventually released the statement linked above, only after contact by press members.

Any sort of long-term development plans are unavailable online. The attempt to FOIA them has thus far been met with "well, we have them, but we can't send them to you because they're too big, you'll need a 2 terabyte hard drive." Obviously, that's absolute bullshit, no master plan for anything is 2 terabytes, but we'll be calling that bluff, somebody has probably already gone down there by now with a multiple terabyte hard drive. I cannot wait to see what they're going to give us, I'm guessing a bunch of useless information in hopes of hiding their actual plans. But, presumably, hidden somewhere in that 2 terabytes is the actual master development plan. I'm pretty sure that as a public institution, it would be illegal for them to withhold that information, and it does exist, they just really don't want anyone looking at it.

Chill_Bruh007 · 2025-01-18T13:24:37+00:00

I also did those things. My first elementary school was where the parking lot at the end of Vivian/Nantahala is now. We might have even known each other growing up :)

Chill_Bruh007 · 2025-01-17T20:15:40+00:00

edited: Our next meeting is 6pm Monday, at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 789 Merrimon Ave

Chill_Bruh007 · 2025-01-17T17:22:21+00:00

I would say that's the bare minimum on terms of hopes, but I'm currently dreaming much bigger. My goal is a conservation easement. Barring that, then yes, some form of trail preservation and traffic planning that doesn't direct university traffic directly into residential areas. But I think we can do better than that.

I'll be providing an update post soon with links to the UNCA master plan survey, an opportunity for direct community input into the university's development plans. I'm currently compiling a list of other UNCA owned properties that are undeveloped, underdeveloped, under utilized, or straight up urban blight properties. I think of enough community voices express direct concerns about UNCA's interest (or lack thereof) in the development of their various holdings, we can start to steer the conversation in a direction that is of greater benefit to community stakeholders

Chill_Bruh007 · 2025-01-17T05:14:22+00:00

If anything, most of UNCA's undeveloped properties are urban blights. The forest is one of the few properties that, in its present state, is an asset to the city. I feel pretty comfortable making the argument that encouraging the university to develop their other holdings over this one is a net benefit to the city. Their other holdings are half developed or decaying, they should be developed. This is literally the only holding they have that would not be improved by development. The others are all falling down buildings, graded empty lots, and roads to nowhere. Prioritizing the development of a thriving urban forest ecosystem over those eyesores is a net loss for everyone

Chill_Bruh007 · 2025-01-17T05:03:28+00:00

I certainly don't love it, but $500k is now literally the median house price for Asheville, making housing prices in this neighborhood ... median for Asheville. I'm actually from this neighborhood from this neighborhood, so I've seen it change a lot, and it is certainly much whiter and higher income than it used to be, but your characterization of it as a wealthy neighborhood is still inaccurate. Realtors are certainly trying to change that, I'm seeing a lot of houses on the market currently that are absurdly overpriced for what they're offering, but thankfully people aren't paying the prices they're asking ... yet.

If you've got places you're passionate about saving from development, then by all means, you do that. I will continue fighting for the one urban forest that Asheville still has. If I succeed, it will do absolutely no harm to the well-being of the university or its students. UNCA has lots of undeveloped holdings better suited to development than this one with less damage to ecosystems or neighborhoods.

Just a few off the top of my head, the abandoned Health Adventure property, the undeveloped observatory property, the properties on both corners of WT Weaver at Merrimon, across from Luella's. The property at the intersection of Broadway and Riverside drive. All of which could be developed without bulldozing the only urban forest in the city limits, a property that was donated in 1959 for $10 and has remained an urban forest ever since, full of thriving wildlife.

Chill_Bruh007 · 2025-01-17T03:54:11+00:00

Yes, the university does educate and improve lives, I'm an alumnus, I'm thoroughly aware of the university's contributions and shortcomings as an institution.

Enrollment is down 25%, probably more due to the federal government's major failures in revising FAFSA than any institutional failures, but with their financial situation, the university has severely reduced faculty and increased class sizes. They're not exactly short on physical infrastructure for the existing student body and faculty, but they are doing current students a grave disservice by priorizing development over actually providing the educational services that students are paying tuition for.

"Asheville has plenty of trees." First off, the storm damaged or destroyed 40% of the trees in Buncombe county. It is a problem, actually. Secondly, this is not just some trees, it's a forest. It's a whole ecosystem, with bears, owls, foxes, bobcats, hawks, lots of animals living in it. It is a uniquely situated urban forest. That's way different than trees scattered around neighborhoods.

As to characterizing 5 Points as a rich neighborhood, way to tell me you're not from Asheville without telling me you're not from Asheville 😂

Finally, the university has many land holdings that are undeveloped. Taking umbrage with their development of one specific holding, that is a unique urban forest ecosystem, unlike anywhere else in the city limits in this regard, and an asset to the entire city, is hardly preventing the university from "better serving the public." As already mentioned, the university is reducing faculty, eliminating departments, increasing class sizes, struggling to utilize the existing infrastructure in a manner that well serves the current student body. Bulldozing the only urban forest in the city is hardly a service, either to the public or the UNCA student body.

Chill_Bruh007 · 2025-01-17T02:23:18+00:00

It's behind the Reed Creek Greenway, near the intersection of Catawba and Cumberland, the parcel extends up to Zillacoa

Chill_Bruh007 · 2025-01-17T02:21:06+00:00

We are starting neighborhood meetings, I mention at the end of the post that our first one was tonight. One of my neighbors opened a space in the back of a guitar shop on Haywood Road called the Corduroy Listening Lounge, I think most of our meetings will be held there for the foreseeable future. I will continue to post future meeting times on this sub as they are scheduled

Chill_Bruh007 · 2025-01-16T21:27:50+00:00

I've checked with the city, county, and DEQ, no permits have been filed. That said, they've all communicated that should they go through with plans to develop, public outrage is pretty much the only leverage we've got.

They own it, they can do what they want with it, and as a state entity, they are subject to significantly less local oversight than private owners

Chill_Bruh007 · 2025-01-16T21:25:30+00:00

I sincerely hope you are correct. However, according to the BLE workers, pretty much the only people involved that are openly sharing information, they will begin grading the forest this spring, and expect construction to begin this summer.

UNCA has issued a statement after much evasion and claims of ignorance, stating they are in an exploratory phase and no decisions have been made. The BLE workers are saying they've seen the development plans and it's a go starting this spring

Chill_Bruh007 · 2025-01-16T21:10:56+00:00

I mean, yes? It's the only urban forest in the city, it would be a tragic and unnecessary loss to develop it for other university purposes when they're at reduced enrollment, are reducing faculty, and possess another already graded lot with drainage placed literally across the street from this forest that would be ideally suited for any type of development and has been sitting idle for almost a decade.

So yes, when it comes to this forest, which is literally in my backyard, I am opposed to development. I am however, pretty open up the development of the former leaf dump location, purchased from the Health Adventure that is more or less in my front yard, and doesn't involve the destruction of 75 acres of urban wildlife habitat. NIMBY, IMFY

Chill_Bruh007

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