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asheville goes though this circle/cycle and it changes but it returns - similar to but different
in my home town i recall we progressively sold daniel boone hats, rubber tomahawks, feather headdresses, native crafts learned by flower children, scented soaps, pottery, mountain music/crafts, beer in gyp joints, junk shops, tourist traps, small businesses and of course furniture in the past 50 years. It is still selling things to the transiting tourists.
People lined up on HWY 70 before the interstate traveling from wherever to see the park and 'observe Indian Culture' and of course picked up souveiners. so there was a market for said memories of their visit to the remote culturally different unsophisticated WNC. Maggie sez...
We had summer visitors who stayed the season, not unlike the Vanderbilts. But on a much lower class scale. We had summer camps and religious conferences, conventions, and summer meetings. We had Florida people who kept second residences. We had midwestern industrialists who built bungalows. We had people from all over who came for the curative powers of the cold clear air and mineral springs.
We experimented with liberal education with Black Mountain College and UNC-A.
People drove from all over to stare at the locals, the indians, the hillbillies and returned home (with trinket) thinking what a nice place to have visited.
We had small manufacturing such as Gerber, Motorola, Northrup Grummond. etc
And Asheville, was a mountain town a regional farmers' town and the biggest town in the region where folks shopped and ate a Woolworth's and S&W. JC Penney's, Sears, Belk's down town. We had our big days, parades, small town life. Our local businesses sustained the surrounding community for that which they needed. Now we sell beer and trinkets. But it isn't much different from selling anything else.
Which I guess is where I am going, it is like weaving the same theme over and over again. The same but different. So if we can repeat this pattern and somehow get some small manufacturing going to add a little more balance, it would be nice and a continuation.
Since anything eco and organic is just going to get bigger and bigger acording to forecasters, I'd say that part of Asheville is here to stay. Might as well build on that strength, especially since so many other places are so far behind.
Hi folks. Long time lurker here about to take the plunge and relocate to AVL. I plan on renting for a while just to make sure I want to set roots down...been waiting for 8 years to make this move and no better time than the present. Don't worry, I can take my job with me. My question is, where do you see Asheville in 5 years? Will the economy there ever stabilize...as far as better job market, will home prices skyrocket again, etc? Thanks in advance for any info.
For starters, I think it's particularly difficult to predict the overall economy/job market based on the current global economic uncertainty. However, assuming we don't fall into a global recession/depression (and I don't think we will, FWIW), I think this area will slowly and gradually recover, probably better than most places.
There are still massive numbers of baby boomers who will be retiring in the next 10+ years, and many of them will seek retirement in Asheville.
Also, since people tend to take vacations and travel, regardless of the economic climate (in bad times, they may not take a 2-week trip to Tahiti, but they will still drive to the mountains), the tourism-based economy will, at worst, remain steady.
The River Arts district will continue to expand and gradually produce more housing, restaurants etc., and West Asheville in general will probably see the greatest growth.
In sum, I don't see any "skyrocketing" of home prices or economic development, but we'll probably slowly and gradually crawl out of this hole and resume moderate growth. I think home prices will be moderately higher in five years, and significantly higher in 10.
disclaimer: I am not a professional economist or financial advisor and this information should not be construed as "advice".
Totally agree with you Asheville Native.I have been here 23 years and have seen only the hospital expand.There really aren't many jobs for young people and most young people I know from the school I work at have left Asheville and not returned . We lack diversity in the job market.
Totally agree with you Asheville Native.I have been here 23 years and have seen only the hospital expand.There really aren't many jobs for young people and most young people I know from the school I work at have left Asheville and not returned . We lack diversity in the job market.
Unfortunately true. I am a "young person" who is leaving Asheville actually sooner than I thought: this summer. But then I am only going to Boone. Still, once I am done in Boone, I will be 25 years old, and I will be outta here. And I've already been planning where I'll go. I will always fondly remember my time in this extremely special place, but I can't stay here, for many reasons. Probably the biggest is the climate, but other than that, there just aren't any jobs here for anyone really. Unless you're a nurse or something. I just don't care to make $8-10/hr forever. Plus it's too damn hot here.
Totally agree with you Asheville Native.I have been here 23 years and have seen only the hospital expand.There really aren't many jobs for young people and most young people I know from the school I work at have left Asheville and not returned . We lack diversity in the job market.
At least the hospital provides a number of jobs that pay a living wage. Nor is it the only growth, there is the Grove Park Inn expansion, lots of $8 - 10/hr. jobs. The new hotel on the Biltmore Estate, more $8 - 10/hr. service jobs. Same for Hotel Indigo, Haywood Park Hotel, and the Grand Bohemian which has the distinguishing feature of being built right in the middle of an area that has flooded repeatedly, with the city's blessing.
Other growth, Sitel call center keeps hiring at $8 - 9/hour
Square-D... gone, BASF...... gone and recently 100's of high paying jobs at Volvo have left.
Hi folks. Long time lurker here about to take the plunge and relocate to AVL. I plan on renting for a while just to make sure I want to set roots down...been waiting for 8 years to make this move and no better time than the present. Don't worry, I can take my job with me. My question is, where do you see Asheville in 5 years? Will the economy there ever stabilize...as far as better job market, will home prices skyrocket again, etc? Thanks in advance for any info.
I don't see a lot changing here in the next 5 years. I have lived here since 1997, in the time leading up to the "Real-estate Bubble", and have seen some things change, but nothing too drastic. With the market the way it is, new home construction has come to a halt, and it seems tourism has slowed some as well.
In a way, I am fine with this as I love the area the way it is, except for the job market. To be brutally honest, it really stinks here!!
I'm moving within 50 miles of Asheville and the proximity has nothing to do with why I'm moving where I'm moving. Through observation of the economy and real estate prices, I believe they will go even lower in the next couple years, which is good for me, but the only population growth I see in the area is from retirees minus the people moving out to find work. Asheville area population may even shrink. The younger crowd will not be moving here unless they're like me and want a warmer climate, no job, and rural lifestyle.
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