Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer posted to social media, saying she sent a letter to Costco asking them to return to the table on the proposed Costco in West Asheville.
In the Thursday, March 5, Facebook post, Manheimer says that on Monday, March 3, she pulled together a meeting with the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the planning department staff for the City of Asheville, and the sellers of the property Costco wanted to build on.
Manheimer says in the meeting, they worked through the issues that Costco raised when pulling their application. The NCDOT, planning department and sellers then put together information in response to the list of items and sent letters to Costco.
As previously reported, a project manager for Costco cited the anticipated timeline and increased costs as reasons for withdrawing.
"I personally sent a letter and I'm posting it here on my social media. We're hopeful that as a result, Costco will come back to the table," Manheimer said.
Manheimer says that the issues involving the city are resolvable by the city council and that if the application were to make it to the city council, the council would have the ability to waive certain requirements under what's called "conditional zoning."
"I think what we've seen is the council is very supportive of this project and they're likely to do that," Manheimer said.
COSTCO WITHDRAWS APPLICATION FOR ASHEVILLE LOCATION DUE TO INCREASED COSTS
The NCDOT issues the group worked through involved talking with state legislators, looking for additional resources to continue making improvements to Exit 44, specifically the off-ramp, which has been planned but not funded.
"There are some possibilities there to make the improvements to that exit that will support not just the Costco project but the other development we're seeing in that area of Smokey Park Highway, including an Aldi, possibly a Harris Teeter, a medical park and apartments," Manheimer said.
Manheimer says a lot of development in the area is triggering the need for road improvements so traffic can move along the corridor.
The seller has some things that will need to be discussed with Costco, including site challenges that would require filling dirt and retaining walls. The site challenges would be expenses that Costco would have to shoulder, which Manheimer says might be negotiable with the seller.
"So we're hopeful we'll be able to find a resolution there. Anyway, more to come, and everyone, keep your fingers crossed, and we'll keep working our hardest to see if we can make this project work. It's really important for Asheville. It's really important for the residents of Asheville. It creates jobs and affordable food, most importantly, for the people that live here. So we're going to work really hard to try to make this project work," Manheimer said.
In the letter sent to Costco, Manheimer says that the City of Asheville will be applying for a grant from the North Carolina Department of Commerce to extend sewer infrastructure in the area.
PLANS FOR ASHEVILLE COSTCO SUBMITTED TO TECHNICAL REVIEW COMMITTEE
Manheimer also mentioned that she did not know the project needed additional political coordination or executive-level engagement; had that been made clear, she says she would have welcomed the opportunity to become more involved in the project sooner.
"I respectfully ask that Costco reconsider its withdrawal and allow us the opportunity to re-engage directly. I stand ready to again meet with your team at your earliest convenience to review next steps and confirm a coordinated path forward," Manheimer said.
View full letter below:
Dear Costco Development Team,
I was disappointed to learn of your decision to withdraw the application for the proposed Costco development in Asheville. I am writing to personally invite Costco to re-engage with the City of Asheville so that we may work together to move this important project forward.
Monday, I convened a meeting with the property sellers, Enka Samet, LLC and Fletcher Partners, Inc., along with representatives from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and City of Asheville planning staff. That discussion was productive and solution-oriented, and it made clear that there is a viable path forward to address outstanding transportation and site considerations.
Because this proposal is a conditional zoning application, Asheville City Council ultimately has the final decision-making authority regarding those elements within the City’s control. We would welcome the opportunity to work collaboratively with Costco to bring this project across the finish line in a way that meets the company’s operational needs while supporting the community’s long-term growth objectives.
Costco is an important potential community partner for Asheville. The project represents a significant investment that would bring quality jobs to our region while also providing access to affordable groceries and household goods for our residents. Expanding access to affordably priced food options remains an important priority for families in Asheville, and Costco’s presence would serve residents throughout Western North Carolina.
In parallel, I am working closely with local elected officials, state legislators and the NCDOT to identify funding opportunities that would enable additional improvements to the Smoky Park Highway corridor at the I-40 interchange. These infrastructure investments are not solely tied to the Costco proposal but are essential to supporting broader development already underway along Smoky Park Highway, including an Aldi grocery store, the potential for a Harris Teeter, new medical facilities, and planned multifamily housing.
Ensuring that transportation infrastructure keeps pace with this growth is a shared priority among city, regional, and state leadership. Additionally, the City of Asheville will be applying for a grant from the NC Department of Commerce to extend much-needed sewer infrastructure in the area. Continued collaboration is essential to reinforce the regional importance of coordinated infrastructure planning and to advance solutions that support responsible economic development.
I want to acknowledge candidly that I understood the project to be progressing constructively at the staff level, both within the City and with NCDOT, and I was not aware that additional political coordination or executive-level engagement was needed. Had that been made clear earlier, I would have welcomed the opportunity to become involved sooner to help remove obstacles and align partners.
Costco represents the kind of high-quality investment and long-term partnership that Asheville values. We remain committed to working proactively with you to resolve remaining challenges and to support a successful outcome.
I respectfully ask that Costco reconsider its withdrawal and allow us the opportunity to re-engage directly. I stand ready to again meet with your team at your earliest convenience to review next steps and confirm a coordinated path forward.
Thank you for your consideration, and I hope we can continue this partnership.
Sincerely,
Esther Manheimer
