Asheville’s Downtown Haywood Streetscape Complete

What started as a maintenance project in Downtown Asheville turned into a renovation of the entire Haywood Street corridor, from Vanderbilt Place to College Street. McGill was honored to partner with the City of Asheville to provide surveying, site design, and construction administration for this important project.

“The Haywood Street project is a prominent streetscape project for the City of Asheville with much historical significance,” said Carrie Cranwill, EI, Landscape Architect and Engineering Associate at McGill. “This project is providing a safer, walkable sidewalk for business visitors, appropriately spaced trees, and a more pleasant pedestrian experience overall.”

McGill staff began the project by gathering input from the public to assist with creating a corridor master plan. The team then established goals that included needed sidewalk rehabilitation, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements, street resurfacing, stormwater improvements, sanitary sewer improvements, water line improvements, and added site amenities.

Coordination with multiple agencies was critical throughout the project. McGill collaborated with the City of Asheville Water Resources Department, Metropolitan Sewerage District of Buncombe County, and Asheville Downtown Association, along with other leaders from the City of Asheville. The multi-agency team used creative and innovative approaches to accomplish project goals, while maintaining the unique character of Downtown Asheville.

Haywood Street now has a brand-new look with wider sidewalks to protect pedestrians. It will provide a safer and more enjoyable space for citizens and visitors for decades to come. Read more details about the challenges, solutions, and results of the project in our Haywood Streetscape case study.