Save St Lawrence Basilica

The City of Asheville has scrapped plans for a park across from the beautiful and historic Basilica of St Lawrence, and a hotel is being planned instead. I don't know where they are going to put a hotel the size of which they are considering, including retail areas and parking. (Are they serious?)

The Basilica was built in 1905 by renowned architect Rafael Guastavino, who designed the "tile arch system" used in parts of the New York subways. The same tile arches are inside the Basilica, designating it an historic landmark.

The proposed retail-hotel development will completely overshadow the Basilica (one of my favorite places in the world) and cut off access from downtown Asheville. Also, after construction, I don't think you'll be able to see the Basilica from I-26 at all.

This is why we need landmarks preservation, folks.

More from Democratic Underground, AshevillePARC.org, and Mountain Xpress.

They seem determined to ruin Asheville.

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Save the Basilica!