UNC Board of Governors gave the green light to allow UNC Asheville to continue its work on its Millennial Campus designation. The project includes changes to more than 50 acres of university property such as a controversial move for construction on the school’s popular forest.
This key step follows unanimous approval from UNCA’s Board of Trustees on July 11 to enter into a ground lease agreement. There was public backlash against the vote , according to the Asheville Citizen Times.
Over a dozen residents spoke out recently during public comment at a County Commission meeting on July 15, BPR reported. They opposed UNCA’s plans for the millennial campus that could lead to the demolition of 45 acres of urban forest on its south campus.
Swadesh Chatterjee, a board member on the committee on University personnel board member, questioned the university’s rush to vote despite community concerns.
“ Why can't we first let the chancellor meet with the community, fill the pulse and calm them down?” Chatterjee said during the BOG meeting.
Chatterjee has been on the board since 2023.
“If we go to the community after we agreed to give it to the endowment fund, I think they think that decision has already been made,” he said.
Thursday’s vote means that the university has permission to enter into a 99-year ground lease with its endowment fund to begin negotiations with developers.
UNCA Chancellor Kimberly van Noort told the BOG she has met with officials from the city of Asheville and will be meeting with Buncombe County officials next week.
“ We're keeping those conversations very open and they are helping advise us on community engagement and best practices here in Asheville,” Van Noort said at the meeting.
The University has already identified the main prospective developer as Asheville Stadium District Real Estate Project LLC. They are managed by Mark McCullers, principle of McCullers Group, who has been involved in other sports stadium projects, according to van Noort.
What’s the plan for the UNCA Millennial Campus?
In early June, UNCA officials announced a proposed development plan for portions of its Millennial Campus designation properties that includes a 5,000-seat multipurpose stadium.
In a collaboration with Asheville City Soccer Club, the stadium is the first big step in the project. It would host United Soccer League soccer matches, UNCA events, and major concerts, according to a power point from Thursday’s BOG meeting.
The project also includes the construction of housing and retail space.
Phase one includes over 300 units of “affordable workforce” and student housing, and over 30,000 square feet for retail space.
During construction, The project's developer would also pay rent to UNCA's endowment fund starting at $1.07 million. It would then increase by 3% annually with an initial five-year deferral to allow time for construction and permits, according to van Noort at the BOG meeting.
The university says that phase two is still being drafted.
