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Politics

GOP to open new headquarters

Hendersonville Politics

Leaders signal greater cooperation on water issues

Henderson County commissioners aren't pleased that non-city residents pay 60 percent more for water than Hendersonville residents. Whether they can do anything about it is in doubt.   Read Story »

Henderson County Politics

Teachers rally for Wood

Teachers and other educators rallied for state Senate candidate Rick Wood on Sept. 13, promising to become "Woodworkers" for the Democratic nominee running for the seat held for 12 years by Tom Apodaca.   Read Story »

Hendersonville Politics

LIGHTNING EDITORIAL: Leaders strike a blow against mediocrity

In praise of the joint medical education building and cancer center on the Pardee Hospital campus, an architect, the new tenants and county leaders used words like transformative (twice), state of the art (many times), legacy, once in a lifetime  and even "magic."   Read Story »

Henderson County Politics

Apodaca names campaign committee

State Senator Tom Apodaca is turning to a longtime ally to chair his re-election campaign.   Read Story »

Hendersonville Politics

Don't miss this week's Hendersonville Lightning (20)

Don't miss this week's issue of Hendersonville Lightning, 40 pages of news, features and exclusives plus the TV book.   Read Story »

Hendersonville Politics

Apodaca receives top award from WCU

Tom Apodaca, a Western Carolina University graduate and former trustee who has risen to the top ranks of the state Senate during his six terms, received one of the institution's highest honors on Friday.   Read Story »

Henderson County Politics

Hill, Meadows debate at WCU

CULLOWHEE — Democratic challenger Tom Hill and U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows engaged in their first and maybe only debate in their contest for the 11th Congressional District.   Read Story »

Henderson County Politics

Wood kicking off fall campaign with rally for schools

Democratic candidate Rick Wood is kicking off his fall general election campaign for the state Senate with a Public Education Rally on Saturday, Sept. 13, in the auditorium of West Henderson High School.   Read Story »

Hendersonville Politics

Loft apartments possible for Grey Mill

The 99-year-old Grey Hosiery Mill may not make it to its 100th birthday but the ground under it could be the site of loft apartments.   The Hendersonville City Council is expected to take up the status of the historic stocking factory on Thursday. Two council members said they're ready to give Hendersonville developer Jim Hall a shot at an apartment development he first pitched in 2010 and resurrected last year."I think it's going to go to Jim Hall's group," Councilman Jeff Miller said.Hall's proposal for loft apartments and a brewery, code named Bravo 4, were the remaining prospects for the property. The brewery, however, needed more property and was being recruited as well by Tennessee and Charlotte."They were supposed to give us an answer," said Councilman Steve Caraker. "From what I gather they have basically moved on."Hall and Hendersonville native Austin Fazio partnered with the White Challis Redevelopment Co. of Daytona Beach, Fla., to propose 30 loft apartments for the historic mill. Hall said he did not want to comment about the plans before the City Council acts. The financial outlook for redevelopment of historic properties has dimmed because the state Legislature repealed tax credits that made old-mill projects feasible."The last time I talked to Hall he said it was still doable," Caraker said.The city published a legal notice two weeks ago announcing the intent to redevelop the mill property as a brownfield site — a state regulatory requirement for property that could have pollution from past industrial use. The notice said a project could include "residential, retail, offices, entertainment, brewery or food production facility, and other commercial uses."Hall "has said he wants the best thing for Hendersonville all the way through this process," Caraker said. "So if something else came up that would have more economic value than his project, he'd be willing to step aside and let them have it."The council members both said a newly discovered water leak has added urgency to the mill property decision."If this goes on much longer we'll be spending $10,000 to 15,000 a year to keep it dry," Caraker said. "I think something needs to happen before the building crumbles."A city-commissioned appraisal assessed the property at $600,000 with the structure and $750,000 without it. Demolition could cost $200,000. Council members have said they're open to giving the property to a developer who commits to a project. The question of who pays for demolition, should there be one, has not been resolved.If raw land makes more sense than using the historic structure, Miller said that's OK with him."This ol' boy is for taking the bulldozer to it," he said. "I'm tired of it. The thing's leaking, we're spending a lot of money and it's making us look stupid."       Read Story »

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