ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — In Biltmore Village, the signs of recovery are easy to spot — and so are the reminders of what was lost.
Some shops have reopened and the sidewalks are busy again, but paper still covers windows, for-sale signs mark some properties and fencing surrounds others nearly two years after Tropical Storm Helene.
Now, the city is looking ahead, asking residents to help shape plans to restore the historic village’s sidewalks, curbs, trees and other public infrastructure damaged by the storm.
Asheville officials are asking residents to weigh in on plans to restore infrastructure in Biltmore Village damaged by Tropical Storm Helene.
The city’s online Biltmore Village Infrastructure Recovery Survey will remain open until noon Tuesday, Aug. 11.
The grant-funded project focuses on restoring historic public infrastructure along Biltmore Plaza, Kitchin Place, Boston Way and Swan Street, including brick sidewalks, granite curbs, ADA-compliant pedestrian ramps, trees and street landscaping.
The city received about $2.49 million through the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Small Business Infrastructure Grant program in fall 2025 to support the first phase of the project.
The current funding limits the initial project area, but the city is seeking additional funding that could allow the work to expand to other parts of Biltmore Village.
City officials said community feedback will help determine priorities as the restoration plan is developed. Residents are being asked to weigh the importance of different streetscape features and potential design trade-offs.
The feedback will be considered along with budget limitations and the city’s strategic goals before a recommended restoration plan is finalized.
Biltmore Village was developed in the late 1800s by George W. Vanderbilt at the entrance to his estate. Architect Richard Morris Hunt and landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted helped design the village as an English-style community.
The village was designated a historic district in the 1980s, and design standards were established to preserve its historic character. A 1992 development plan also called for restoration of original sidewalks, curbing and tree plantings.
The current project is part of Asheville’s broader recovery from Helene, which damaged infrastructure throughout the region in September 2024.
Residents can complete the Biltmore Village Infrastructure Recovery Survey through the city’s website before it closes at noon Tuesday.
