what about asheville nc? (low income, condos, homes)

[billbottles]

is Asheville, NC a good place to start a photography business? my wife and i are considering moving there after she graduates from photography school. what are the pros and cons of starting a business there?

[j1n]

I'd suggest doing a search and seeing just how glutted Asheville already is with similar businesses. "Cons" might be lots of competition.
Depending on what type of photography she wants to specialize in...
But if it's outdoor/landscape or adventure type stuff, the "pros" would be your proximity to things to shoot.

[magcats]

There's almost no other place I'd rather live than Asheville. But it is difficult for the middle class to find work. I would definitely check out the Asheville yellow pages online to see the number of studios here. People in the arts are definitely drawn to the area.

[Asheville Native]

Asheville has many "starving artists".

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by magcats

There's almost no other place I'd rather live than Asheville. But it is difficult for the middle class to find work. I would definitely check out the Asheville yellow pages online to see the number of studios here. People in the arts are definitely drawn to the area.

As "Asheville Native" said in his post, there are many "starving artists" in Asheville. Yes, artists are attracted to the area, but I doubt many can support themselves. I read somewhere that there were about 4,000 artists living in the area - seems like a lot of competition.

Unfortunately, Asheville seems to be becoming like another town I lived in years ago - Sarasota Florida. This beach town was once a Bohemian paradise - until all the rich northerners moved in, knocked down all the old historic buildings, took down the trees forcing wildlife to find new habitat and built huge condos and homes on the beaches leaving little access for the locals. It costs and arm and a leg to live there, there are no "true artists" anymore, just over-priced "artsy-fartsy" stuff, and the snob factor is off the chart. I hate to see that happen to Asheville, but I see the writing on the wall, and with such a thin economy, it won't be long before things are very unbalanced there.

Asheville is certainly a beautiful place, and my hubby and I have enjoyed it; but seeing the changes we have in the 3 short years since we started coming to the area, we have decided to stay in our own state and have moved to a nice town in the middle of it, a town that is working class and has all economic classes represented, and a real economy. Asheville is a wonderful place to visit, but if one is an "average joe", probably not a good place to live.

To the OP I would say it would be a big risk opening a business in Asheville, every time we go back for a visit we see more of our favorite little neat businesses and restaurants have closed up shop. The town just cannot support it all.

Good luck to you.

[LoisMae]

How would it be for retirement? Is is liberal or conserative? Also, does it have public transportation. It looks lovely on line. I am searching for a cosmoplitan city to retire in that i can afford (obviously NY is out unfortunately.)

[67walkon]

Gypsy, where in Florida did you move?

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by 67walkon

Gypsy, where in Florida did you move?

We now live in Lakeland, which is in the center of the state. We love it here.

[Asheville Native]

Originally Posted by LoisMae

How would it be for retirement? Is is liberal or conserative? Also, does it have public transportation. It looks lovely on line. I am searching for a cosmoplitan city to retire in that i can afford (obviously NY is out unfortunately.)

City, or at least those elected are flaming liberals, and way too liberal with my tax dollars. The county, residents and elected officials are just the opposite, lots of "W" stickers still seen.

This creates some rather juvenile bickering between county commissioners and city council members, and for them to work together for the good of both sides just doesn't happen.

Public transportation leaves huge voids in the cityscape where buses never get closer than a couple of miles. It has been designed to serve the low income areas to help them get to work at the hospitals or the GPI. Living in a city neighborhood and being 3 miles from the closest bus line is pretty typical. And the geography also plays a part in that as Asheville is far from the typical block or grid layout.

[LoisMae]

Thanks for the information. I think that pretty much decides it for me!!