Asheville leaves a lot to be desired (Raleigh: to rent, house prices)

[angrycandy]

Originally Posted by ShipOfFools42

The outlying areas are VERY different from what I described. If you want normal, cookie-cutter, suburban housing with regular, boring people (no offense to anyone), you can find that here too. You just gotta poke around.

A few years into living here I now "see" this. I cannot wait for the kids to get out of the house - then I can move away from Wisteria Lane.

When we visited Asheville before moving here, I fell in love with downtown. "Problems" and all. I find I need to constantly remind myself of that. We remain in east Asheville for AC Reynolds -- but it's very white bread, stepford wives-like out here.

And as often as I feel like a fish out of water - I still love it.

[red.tm]

Originally Posted by Why Did I

I'm new here and had to post after reading yet another review of Asheville from someone who recently moved here.

I have been in Asheville for almost 5 months. I did a lot of research before my move, visited a couple of times and finally made the plunge. Now, I am thinking to myself..."What a HUGE mistake. HUGE!" As an artist, I came to Asheville, checked out the River Arts district and thought this would be a great place to be inspired....

For all those coming thinking of coming here from Miami.....you will be bored to death here!!!!!

I totally agree with you. There's a lot of hype about AVL and it leaves you kinda flat with the reality of it. The air is bad, the people are odd and not as open minded as they think, the teachers in primary schools outside the city still say things to the students like, "Humans aren't animals because the bible says so" (not even kidding on that one), the art's more craft. I could go on. And YES, I'm FROM HERE. I love my family and they make it worth staying but no Asheville is not perfect nor is it all that 'arty' (depending on your definition and I tend to think 'worthy of a gallery' or somehow expertly expressive or evocative). I'm all about green but the hippie vibe leaves me cold.
My suggestion: Santa Fe. Or a large city, if that's more your thing but I'll always miss Santa Fe. Not more than I love my family, but nevertheless... I've never really understood the AVL hooplah.

[angrycandy]

Originally Posted by red.tm

the teachers in primary schools outside the city still say things to the students like, "Humans aren't animals because the bible says so" (not even kidding on that one)

I can attest to this. I was forced to address a teacher in form of a letter for saying something eerily similar to this to my child's class and not exercising neutrality in regard to religion, religious beliefs, etc at school.

This was also the same teacher that openly bragged during Open House night that she told the students the TV wasn't working (when it was) and that was why they couldn't watch Obama's "Back to School" speech. Made me physically ill.

And that's when my Husband chimes in and jokingly says "Welcome to the south!"

[Asheville Native]

Originally Posted by queenofbavaria

I did not manage reading the whole thread yet, but it makes me really upset - and then very sad, when people complain about homeless people in downtown

That may be because Asheville caters to the homeless. 3 huge shelters all within blocks of what is probably the center of the downtown area. City leaders hell bent on eliminating homelessness not by motivating people to improve their lot in life, to strive for independence, but to train them to be life long leaches on the teats of taxpayers.

The "homeless" master plan of the socialists on council is to "give" the homeless a place to live, without any requirements or effort on the part of the homeless. The substance abusers, who by choice, choose not to provide for themselves are given places to live, and are not even required to remain sober, or even attempt to seek help for their addiction.

The "Professional Homeless" in this country have their own communication underground, and Asheville is know as an easy touch. Give it away and the leaches will latch on to the teat of a taxpayer.

And the truly down on their luck "temporally homeless" people are just pushed aside while the professionals belly up to the trough.

[Asheville Native]

Originally Posted by angrycandy

I can attest to this. I was forced to address a teacher in form of a letter for saying something eerily similar to this to my child's class and not exercising neutrality in regard to religion, religious beliefs, etc at school.

This was also the same teacher that openly bragged during Open House night that she told the students the TV wasn't working (when it was) and that was why they couldn't watch Obama's "Back to School" speech. Made me physically ill.

And that's when my Husband chimes in and jokingly says "Welcome to the south!"

Remember that there is no hatred or bigotry as pure and as deep as that learned from a hate spewing bigot on Sunday morning with a bible in his hand.

[Asheville Native]

Originally Posted by Cofga

I think what seems to offend most folks who post derogratory comments is the area around Pritchard Park on Patton Ave downtown. And the reason for the homeless congregating there? Well, if you walk about 4 blocks west on Patton you'll find a mission there that takes in homeless at night. Then promptly each morning they shove them out the doors and they walk up Patton Ave to the park area. They hang out there and occasionally approach folks for handouts--although I've never been approached by anyone so I guess I have bad karma.

Anyway, I have heard folks claim that the city actually attracts homeless folks with a very laid back attitude and support system for them. Now maybe if we closed down the shelters and regularly sent out the police to tap them with billy clubs then maybe they'd take a hint and get out of town. But is that really the way a civilized community treats folks like this? Many are mentally challenged, or vets who never readjusted, or in this day folks who are out of a job and ran out of unemployment. I don't know what the truth is or how to address the problem but I do know that unless the economy stars to pick up faster, soon we'll be seeing more homeless in the future--Larry

Not only west, but about 3 blocks north to the Salvation Army shelter, or 3 blocks south to the ABCCM shelters. Just these three shelters can house between 600 and 700 who then panhandle and harass the people on the sidewalks until the shelters let them back in every evening.

Check the sexual offender register site and see how many list the Rescue Mission on Patton as their address.

Build it, and they will come.

[angrycandy]

Originally Posted by Asheville Native

Remember that there is no hatred or bigotry as pure and as deep as that learned from a hate spewing bigot on Sunday morning with a bible in his hand.

Amen.

[anonymous joe]

I don't live in Asheville but frequently visit. I like the place. The downtown is cool, the burbs are nice, and there's all kind of adventure to be had in the nearby mountains. I just "love" the condescending attitudes towards Asheville from those who long for "real cities." I lived in NYC for awhile. It was cool, but it's also a very unique city. Most big cities suck. And as for your longing for "diversity" that Asheville lacks, it also lacks the violent crime that comes with muti-culturalism.

[urscnj]

Whew. Thank you for the review. Like you, I have done a lot of research on best places to live and I have visited several times. I was enticed partially because they were said to be gay friendly and the mountains. When I went to one are outside of Asheville to look at property I was shocked to see Confederate flags and then learned that people of color did not live in that area. In fact when I looked it up online it was 99.9 percent white. I wasn't trying to be the first irregardless of beauty or price. I was still considering the Old Fort area but your review tells me I need to perhaps reconsider a larger metopolis, perhaps Cincti. Thanks for your honest assessment.

[jbird22]

Originally Posted by Asheville Native

Remember that there is no hatred or bigotry as pure and as deep as that learned from a hate spewing bigot on Sunday morning with a bible in his hand.

A.N. I simply love this quote. C-D won't let me give you any rep points b/c I you probably got the last five in a row.

Great line. (Not all fit this bill, but PLENTY do.)