The Swannanoa community is invited to
participate in a community-wide "Visioning Process" to help unite residents and
businesses around common values and goals, and to spur renewal in Swannanoa. The
process will bring Swannanoans together to share their hopes and dreams for
Swannanoa’s future.  

 
The first community meeting will be held
on Tuesday, November 17 from 5:30-8:30 at the MAIN Swannanoa Fire
Station, 103 South
Avenue, in the old downtown area.  Free pizza and soft drinks will be
available.
 
Participants will have an opportunity to
talk about what they value most in their community and what they see as
Swannanoa’s primary challenges and opportunities.  Topics the community might address include
renewing Swannanoa’s town center, planning affordable housing, transportation
and safety, signage, public spaces, and
streetscaping.
 
A team of design professionals from the
North Carolina State University College of Design will assist with the visioning
process and will facilitate the community meeting. 
 
Using the input received at the meeting,
designers will create conceptual drawings and other materials that will help
residents and business owners visualize some of the possibilities for
Swannanoa’s future.  These materials will
be presented to the community for additional feedback at a second meeting in
January 2010.  After final modifications
are made, interested citizens will work together to identify possible funding
sources and partners to assist with bringing the community’s ideas to fruition.

 
This independent, community-based
process is non-governmental and is not affiliated with any incorporation or
non-incorporation group.  Anyone who
lives, works, or owns a business or property in Swannanoa is invited and
encouraged to be a part of the community conversation.  The meetings are open to people of all ages,
walks of life, and points of view.
 
The costs of this citizen-driven effort
will be covered by personal and business donations and grants from the Community
Foundation of Western North Carolina, the Catholic Campaign for Human
Development, the Center for Participatory Change, and the UNC Highway Safety Research Center. 

 
A
number of other groups, organizations, and individuals are offering support and
services in connection with Swannanoa’s visioning process, including NC State
University College of Design, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service,
Swannanoa Fire Department, Swannanoa 4H Center, Swannanoa Business Association,
Buckeye Cove Community Club, Swannanoa Pride Community Coalition, and Land of Sky Regional Council. For more
information, please contact 251-6622.
 
Please help spread the word about the
November 17 community meeting by forwarding this email to anyone you think might
be interested.