Answer Man: Affordable housing project at Fuddruckers site still a go? Any updates?
ASHEVILLE - Fast-casual burgers to affordable apartments? The developer who planned 186 apartments at the former Fuddruckers site was approved for a $1.5 million affordability grant in 2021. What's the plan now?
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Question: Whatever happened to the development plans for the old Fuddruckers site on Charlotte Street?
Answer: We tackled this question about a year ago, just after the Charlotte Fuddruckers site was demolished, but it may be good to follow-up on some of the still active parts of the development.
The developer, Kassinger Development Group, has been working toward this project for the past six years, with slow but steady progress, and City Council approval since October 2021. The OK came with a $1.5 million affordability grant under the Land Use Incentive Grant, or LUIG.
The development would have brought nearly 40 units of housing at 80% of Asheville's area median income. For one person, they would have to earn $47,600 at 80% AMI in Asheville in order to qualify in 2023.
After the City Council approval, the property was sold to the developer for $4.5 million in December 2021, according to Buncombe County Property Tax records.
The Fuddruckers — which was voted 2007's best burger by Asheville Citizen Times readers — was torn down in 2023. The restaurant closed in 2020 after a 34-year run in the area.
Yet, since the demolition of the former burger-slinging fast-casual joint, construction permits for the development have not been submitted. A zoning permit was obtained in August 2022.
Tree-in-lieu payments outstanding
While fees for the development were paid in 2021 and 2022, the city of Asheville permitting system indicates there are still some outlying payments.
As it turns out, trees are pretty expensive!
The city system reports the developer owes $82,413 in tree fee-in-lieu payments. The payments are required by the city if developers don't comply with over canopy cover requirements.
Kassinger Development Group has also built four other Asheville-area developments, including the mixed-use, affordable housing at 360 Hilliard, which received a $1 million LUIG grant during its approval process. During its development, a fire at 360 Hilliard was declared arson — setting the project back around four months.
I left a call and email with Payne Kassinger, the representative listed for the development, but didn't hear back before the deadline.
Speaking on behalf of planning staff, Miller said the development can still move forward from here.
"The Conditional Zoning was approved by Council on 10/12/21 and would 'expire' in two years, which has passed. However, the condition requiring expiration after two years presents the City with an option to revert the property to the original zoning designation but that would take specific action from the City. Therefore, the development approvals for this project are still valid," Miller told the Citizen Times.
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Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Answer Man: Affordable housing project at Fuddruckers site still a go?
