Asheville's River Arts District

In the early days, the River Arts District was home to Cherokees; the estate of Asheville s first millionaire, James McConnell Smith; and the Southern Railroad Depot. It was also known as Asheville s first industrial district; one of the area s most vibrant African American communities, which has since been decimated by urban renewal; and the base of prominent grassroots organizations such as RiverLink, Mountain Housing Opportunities, the West-End Clingman Avenue neighborhood, and the River District Artists. In 1989, Asheville s citizens developed a long-range revitalization plan for the city. As Asheville boomed in the early 1990s, the River Arts District lagged behind. In 1995, fire destroyed the district s most prominent landmark, the Asheville Cotton Mill, prompting a phoenix-like renaissance."