Asheville Arts District Wins National Preservation Award

Asheville's River Arts District has received a prestigious National Trust for Historic Preservation award, recognizing the community's decades-long effort to transform a mile-long stretch of former industrial buildings along the French Broad River into one of the Southeast's most vibrant cultural destinations.

The award, presented at the annual National Preservation Conference, cited the district's success in preserving historic industrial architecture while creating a sustainable ecosystem for working artists, creative businesses, and cultural tourism.

"The River Arts District is a model for how communities can honor their industrial heritage while creating something entirely new and vital," said the National Trust president. "It's preservation at its most dynamic."

The district, which once housed textile mills, tanneries, and rail yards, now features: - More than 300 working artist studios - Over 25 galleries and creative businesses - Annual visitor traffic exceeding 500,000 - An estimated $45 million in annual economic impact

The transformation didn't happen overnight. It began in the 1980s when artists seeking affordable studio space began moving into abandoned warehouses. Over the decades, a grassroots community organization worked to balance growth with affordability, ensuring that the artists who created the district's character could continue to work there.

Recent challenges have included balancing development pressure with artist affordability, managing flood risk along the river, and integrating the district with Asheville's overall transportation and sustainability plans. The community has addressed these through a combination of artist-friendly zoning, flood resilience infrastructure, and a dedicated arts district management organization.

The recognition comes as other North Carolina cities, including Durham, Winston-Salem, and Wilmington, look to develop their own arts-centric revitalization efforts. Asheville officials say they welcome visitors from other communities interested in learning from their experience.