Asheville Approves ADA Compliance Plan

The city plans to make improvements to pedestrian infrastructure and bring its public streets into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

1 minute read

October 28, 2022, 6:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Asheville, North Carolina plans to improve its pedestrian infrastructure and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance through a plan known as Close the GAP, which the city council approved on Tuesday night. In an article for WLOS, Andrew James highlights the plan’s main focus areas.

The document is designed as “a high level plan that’s more of a guiding document that we'll work with internally to help us prioritize our projects,” according to Lucy Crown, the city’s transportation planning manager. As James explains, “The plan took nearly three years to develop, using studies of the city’s corridors and pedestrian infrastructure, identifying priority areas where improvements are needed.”

The plan outlines “extensive” ADA improvements that would cost an estimated $101 million to complete to bring the city into full ADA compliance. “This work includes sidewalk repairs, curb ramp upgrades, signalized intersections, greenway upgrades and ADA retrofits, as well as improvements to transit stops.”

Wednesday, October 26, 2022 in WLOS

Aerial view of snowy single-family homes in suburban Long Island, New York

New York Governor Advances Housing Plan Amid Stiff Suburban Opposition

Governor Kathy Hochul’s ambitious proposal to create more housing has once again run into a brick wall of opposition in New York’s enormous suburbs, especially on Long Island. This year, however, the wall may have some cracks.

March 20, 2023 - Mark H. McNulty

Empty parking garage at night with yellow lines marking spots and fluorescent lighting

Rethinking the Role of Parking in the American City

In cities big and small, the tide is turning against sprawling parking lots, car-centric development, and minimum parking mandates.

March 16, 2023 - The New York Times

A futuristic version of New York City, with plants growing neatly on top of modern skycrapers.

Friday Eye Candy: 20 AI-Generated Cityscapes

AI-generated images are creating new landscapes and cityscapes, capable of inspiring awe or fear.

March 17, 2023 - Chris Steins via Medium

"For Rent" sign in yard of red building

Rent Increases Highest for Lowest-Income Households

Renters at the lower end of the spectrum see no relief in sight as rent hikes remain stubbornly high.

53 minutes ago - Marketplace

Rendering of Baylor Scott & White Health Administrative Center in Deep Ellum, Dallas, Texas

A Dallas Architect Designs Statement Buildings With a Purpose

The Dallas Morning News’ architecture critic profiles one of the city’s most important current architects.

2 hours ago - The Dallas Morning News

A mountain range at sunset appears in the background of this photo, with cacti in the foreground.

Biden Designates a New National Monument in West Texas

The Castner Range National Monument in West Texas is the second of two new national monuments announced by President Joe Biden this week.

4 hours ago - The White House

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

HUD’s 2023 Innovative Housing Showcase

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.