Asheville – UNC Asheville has announced plans to develop part of its forestland bordered by Broadway and WT Weaver Boulevard. The 45 acres of urban forest, which includes the Asheville Botanical Garden, has held a Millennial Campus designation since 2021.
This designation was established for the UNC System by the NC General Assembly in 2000. Areas may be designated if the Board of Governors finds that they will “enhance the institution’s research, teaching, and service missions as well as enhance the economic development of the region served by the institution.”
On June 13, the university announced that it would undertake a two-phase project to build a stadium, student and faculty housing, and a childcare facility. UNC Asheville is collaborating with the Asheville Soccer Club to construct the stadium, which will serve not only UNC Asheville’s men’s and women’s Division I soccer teams but also Asheville’s men’s and women’s United Soccer League teams. A UNC Asheville press release states, “The stadium will also be designed to host multiple types of events that will draw people from across the region and state to the University and city.”
The announcement did not commit to preserving certain green spaces; instead, it stated that the plan was “consistent with the university’s commitment to balancing environmental sustainability with its need to ensure financial sustainability through vibrant student, faculty, and staff experiences.” It then provided a brief summary of past efforts, including its donation of land for the Reed Creek and Glenn’s Creek greenways, the creation of a permaculture garden, the preservation of land during the construction of the university’s observatory, and a partnership with the botanical gardens, which it said would “soon be solidified via a long-term agreement.”
In January, excavation and boring activities upset students and neighbors who were enjoying the area recreationally. They demonstrated outside the woodland trails in February and launched the Save the Woods Facebook group, which now has 12,500 signatures on a petition backed by MountainTrue.
Protesters expressed concern over the university’s lack of transparency. The website saveuncawoods.org states, “In this destructive process, animal habitats were disturbed, long-term ecological research plots maintained by UNCA professors and students were destroyed, and the many Asheville community members who walk the trails daily were alarmed at the sudden and shocking development.”
As late as April, UNC Asheville assured the public that it had no specific plans for the site. However, in mid-May, suspicions arose when the university posted a not-for-public-use sign. Although it was posted six months after Helene, the university claimed, “The property contains hazards, including: unstable and fallen trees, risk of falling branches, uneven terrain.”
It is possible that the university’s leadership viewed Helene’s wreckage as an opportunity to build before the forest regrew. However, users indicated they still loved the woods in their damaged state and cautioned against destroying habitats. Chancellor Kimberly van Noort cited Helene’s damage as an incentive to build but emphasized an economic focus. “We witnessed tremendous losses – to the environment, businesses, jobs, housing, and more. The Millennial Campus initiative is a new opportunity to build a future of hope and prosperity for our campus and the community while addressing critical needs and diversifying our revenue streams,” she said.
The university did host a public comment session on April 16. Like many public information sessions, this one followed a format where participants were asked how they wanted something when, in fact, they did not want it at all.
Neighbors expressed their enjoyment of the nature trails, while individuals affiliated with UNC Asheville spoke about the woodland’s educational value. It provided a home to multiple NSF-funded biological investigations, served as still life for art students, and even contained archaeological treasures.