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<br />
<br />Mitigation Success: Asheville's Acquisition Project -
<br />Contributing to the City's "Green Infrastructure"
<br />
<br />Asheville's mitigation story is unusual in
<br />
<br />t\'VO respects - it involves acquisition of
<br />commercial properties, and it is an
<br />important parr of a broader effort to
<br />revitalize the Asheville riverfront. In the
<br />process, it will c8ntribute to the City's
<br />
<br />greenways. its "green infrastructure."
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<br />Asheville's Link to the French Broad River, The French Broad River has been an
<br />integral part of the birth and development of the City of Asheville, In the early
<br />1800s, the river was instrumental in providing access to western North Carolina, In
<br />1827, the Buncombe Turnpike was completed, opening up the French Broad River
<br />Valley to rapid development. During the mid-1800s, stagecoaches traveled along
<br />the turnpike route, opening the mountain region to visitors seeking cooler tempera,
<br />tures, It was during this time that tourist travel was born, along with health sani-
<br />tariums and resort hotels throughout the region,"
<br />
<br />In the 1880s, the coming of the railroad stimulated a boom era in Asheville, Tracks
<br />were laid in the bed of the French Broad River, connecting the area with Tennessee
<br />and Sparranburg, South Carolina, Factories and supply businesses were built along
<br />the Asheville riverfront, and railroad tracks multiplied along the commercial strip,
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<br />In the early years, the French Broad River was a favorite auracrion for citlzens
<br />seeking places to relax, The most famous recreational area was Riverside Park,
<br />built in 1904 by the Asheville Electnc Company,
<br />
<br />Floods and the Decline oj the Riverfront. The French Broad River has flooded
<br />scores of times, The most serious event occurred in July 1916, when the water rose
<br />an estimated 20 feet and property damage exceeded $3 million (1916 dollars),
<br />Asheville's commercial center was heavily damaged,
<br />
<br />
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<br />
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<br />TheJlooded French Broad Riverfrom Park Avenue on July 16, 1916,
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<br />Although Asheville has experienced chronic flooding since the early 18005, the
<br />severity of the 1916 flood effectively ceased riverfront development. By this time,
<br />the community was already expanding away From the river. The riverfront quickly
<br />became a dumping ground for garbage, abandoned cars, and junk, By the 1960s,
<br />
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<br />August 1999
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