The following article was published in The Weaverville Tribune
Trailer Park Almost Vacant
Bulldozers and earth moving equipment are hard at work at Northridge Commons, at the corner of US 25/70 and Monticello Road, the site that will one day house a Wal-Mart and Lowe’s in Weaverville.
Mountain Terrace Trailer Park, located on the site now owned by Charlotte developers Harris Murr and Vermillion, is almost completely vacant. A few empty trailers and blank spaces remain.
J.Q. Freeman, spokesman for Harris, Murr and Vermillion, said the project is moving forward.
“We’re pleased with the progress,” said Freeman. “Things are coming along well.”
Workers are currently clearing trees. Following the grading, the development’s infrastructure, including water, sewer and roads, will be installed.
Vertical Construction may begin as early as fall but could take until early 2008.
“This is a long process,” said Freeman. “We’re excited about coming to Weaverville.”
Freeman said there were no new businesses currently to announce coming to Northridge Commons.
Weaverville First, a local group of concerned citizens were put in charge of distributing money from public and private donorsto the residents of the park to help with their moves.
According to Jody Ochs, a spokesperson for the group, only two units that applied for help still remain in the park. The residents eviction letters gave them till May 28 of this year to vacate the premises.
$62,000 was given to Wearville first from Harris Murr and Vermillion. Ochs sadi she believes that $46,000 is from the developers, $10,000 from Lowes and $6,000 from Wal-Mart, along with some private donations as well.
Ochs said the residents submitted estimates from qualified vendors and between $2,000 and $3,000 was given to each qualified resident.
“We’ve never done anything like this before,” said Ochs. “The residents are grateful.”
Ochs said the process couldn’t have been done without the property’s new owner, Steve Vermillion.
“He stepped up to the plate,” said Ochs. “He was easy to work with.”
She also thanked Phillip Rosse of Asheville Affordable Housing Coalition for his assistance during the process.
“We had a great team working on this,” said Ochs.
Jim MacKenzie – The Weaverville Tribune
