News

Historic Skyland going back to Roaring Twenties roots

By Bill Moss, Published: October 18, 2012

The city of Hendersonville is reaching back more than 75 years to restore the historic Skyland Hotel to its original appearance.

To do that, the city will take something away.
Architect Chris Rogers explains work that will take Skyland back to its original look.The city's Historic Preservation Commission on Wednesday authorized the demolition of the 1970s glass box that was added on top of the original open-air balcony. The new plans call for the return to the 36x20-foot balcony look and will open up the northern-most half block that is now crowded by heavy brick columns and planters.
Specifically, the historic board authorized the demolition of the room enclosure and patio area, the brick column coverings, metal storefront canopies on either side of the original concrete terrace, repair of the original brick and precast concrete façade and restoration of windows that were converted to doors leading to the room over the terrace.
Conceived during the Hendersonville and Laurel Park land boom of the Roaring Twenties, the Skyland Hotel was built to serve tourists and businessmen who at the time were visiting the area to buy and sell. The timing was bad. The six-story luxury hotel opened on June 29, 1929, exactly three months before the stock market crash that began the Great Depression.
The Skyland had 75 guest rooms, a ballroom and a sun parlor with a balcony and included five commercial spaces on the ground floor. Thirty-two rooms were added to the rear above the ballroom in 1947.
"In 1961, plans were made to enclose the balcony with the three outside walls being primarily glass. The hotel rooms became condominiums in 1974. Based on photographic research, the exterior stair and stair landing / patio area were added sometime between 1977 and 1987," city planners said.
As part of the third phase of downtown streetscape improvements, the City Council authorized City Manager Bo Ferguson to add the Skyland work to the 500 block improvements. The work is all on the exterior or on the facade; investigating the history of the building city officials determined that the additions above the public sidewalk had never been permitted.
On Wednesday the Historic Preservation Commission spent most of their time discussing canvas awnings that will replace the old metal covers. Plans call for three awnings on either side of the balcony overhang.
The owners of the Living Room, a coffee shop and restaurant just south of the main entrance, and State Farm Insurance, on the northern most corner, told the board they were concerned about the awning's effect on their existing signage. The board agreed that the awnings should be uniform in style and color but left it to the contractor and architect to choose both.
Some board members questioned whether the redesign needed awnings at all. Chris Rogers, of the Glazer Architecture firm in Asheville, said the awnings will help shade the west-facing businesses that get afternoon sun.
Sue Green, who owns the Living Room restaurant with her husband, and State Farm agent Skip Sawyer said they agreed awnings were desirable but worried about signage.
The work on the Skyland and on the 500 and 600 blocks of North Main should get under way in early January as part of the $1.4 million project to redo the sidewalks, replace waterlines and repave the street, city officials said. The project is scheduled to be done by June.