Battle Brews Between City and Pack Square Conservancy in Asheville, North Carolina

A battle has been simmering and is now at a boiling point regarding the sale of a parcel of land in the very center of downtown Asheville, North Carolina. A small portion of Pack Place, named for George Pack who deeded the land to the city back in the early 1900's, is at the center of this big controversy which pits politics against conservation and beautification.

Back in November of 2006, County Commissioners voted and approved the sale of a parcel no bigger than 2/10 of an acre to Black Dog Realty. They are planning to construct a 10-story mixed use building with both retail and residential space. The problem is that this particular parcel was voted on as part of what is called a "consent agenda" which is, in essence, a package of matters that the City Council votes on as a part of each meeting's agenda. Simply put, it didn't receive the attention it should have because of how it was packaged and processed by the City Council.

The problem now is the parcel, according to the Pack Square Conservancy, was set aside by George Pack back in 1901 as a piece of land intended for public use by the people of Asheville. The Conservancy, a citizen's group made up of business owners, officials and concerned citizens, is up in arms about the prospect of losing the parcel and not fulfilling the intentions and wishes of George Pack.

George Pack was a philanthropist who, at the age of 54, moved to Asheville. During the next two decades he devoted much of his time and finances to creating the Asheville we know today. He was focused on its beautification, the literacy of its population, and the education of its children. He is seem as something of a founding father of the city, though he later returned to New York where he died. There are several buildings and monuments standing today that are a tribute to the man who gave so much to Asheville. They include Pack Memorial Library, Pack Square, and Pack Place.