I was interviewed by the firm engaging community members about what the UNCA campus should look like. Here are some excerpts from that conversation:

Question 1 of 4: Should development include housing beyond traditional student housing? If so, what types of housing would most effectively support enrollment, retention, and broader community connection, and why?

KR: If it was UNCA’s property over on Broadway where the City has some very specific plans and goals around dense housing development because of its more supportive infrastructure–it’s a four-lane road–then UNCA has a lot of potential. There are transportation options on that corridor.

If it’s just about the WT Weaver property, then the question I would have is do you have the infrastructure to support it?

Discussed: Location, affordability, transportation, infrastructure, and funding partnerships

Question 2 of 4: What types of amenities or services would most meaningfully benefit both students and the broader Asheville community?

KR: With previous leadership at UNCA, there was a vision for Broadway on Broadway […] because UNCA has dropped that plan, we’re looking at other opportunities, and it’s just really sad that UNCA is not at the table because you have music and performing arts programs.

So it’s not just amenities, it’s what kind of neighborhood are we building around, and how could it benefit UNCA and the community? 

Discussed: Alumni & community benefits purpose-built communities, and Helene recovery

Question 3 of 4: What kind of shared spaces, recreational, cultural, or educational, would best strengthen interaction between the University and the community, and why? Some ideas might be sports venues, performing arts spaces, park land, walking trails, outdoor gathering areas.

KR: UNCA already has a rare asset with the urban forest that faces W.T. Weaver. That fits into the neighborhood’s needs, the community’s needs, the stormwater needs, but also fits into some of the classes and structure of the environmental studies at UNCA. If there’s something the city and the county can do, partnering with conservation to help make the financials work for the long-term sustainability of UNCA, then I hope that this can be part of that invitation to partner.

Answer to question 3 continued:

KR: When it comes to sports facilities, I’m looking at the national trends around cost versus return on investment. I’ve done a lot of resource mapping around where our ball fields are, what our soccer facilities are, where people play lacrosse.

As a performing artist, I’ve played Austin City Limits, played Radio City Music Hall.I’m familiar with Asheville’s performing arts facilities.

It’s really concerning to me that UNCA is considering another open-air, multiple-thousand capacity venue.

Discussed: Preserving the urban forest, mapping local and city-owned facilities, regional booking trends, and long-term sustainability

Question 4 of 4: Are there other innovative ideas the university should consider that would help advance the financial sustainability, enrollment goals, housing strategy, and community connection?

KR: If there was more community connection and inclusion, there’d be many opportunities for partnership with the city, county, and local organizations. I think the community really longs for UNCA to be a true partner, and if that were happening, I think we’d find more innovation.

WT Weaver having a really dense development on it is going to be a traffic nightmare. I don’t see how that results in more people wanting to come to UNCA as students.

Discussed: More collaboration, communication, connection, and partnerships. Broadway on Broadway is not a new idea. It’s just a better idea.