Up for Asheville City Council’s Tuesday meeting is consideration of acceptance of money to beautify Asheville. Since this is going to be a vibrator of new synergies and a definer of our (pronounced ower for full impact) sense of place, it is surely to get a nod from at least six on council.

This time, the moneys are coming from the Pack Square Conservancy. $4,340,663 has been contributed by private donors, including $500,000 from the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority. In April, city council approved receipt of $3,759,337 in magic money, which we are always told is free because it does not come from the city’s budget. This particular lucky pot o’ gold is to be paid from the Federal Highway Administration – but first, it will pass through the state DOT to get a few more fingers in the pie.

Upon approving the contract for landscaping, which may run up to $8.1 million, Asheville will get its very own Acropolis. Quoting from the staff report:

This project generally consists of the construction and/or installation of a stage/pergola with extensive electrical service, expansive areas of brick paving, granite veneered signage/seat walls, an interactive fountain, large stabilized lawn, flagstone and concrete paving, small fountain with waterfall, seating terraces, landscape lighting, specialty railings, site furnishings, large fountain service to a 20 foot + diameter bronze bowl, street paving and granite curb installation, irrigation, and extensive landscape plantings.

There is just one tiny glitch. It seems there may be some buildings of architectural interest in the way of the park. But to make sure, council is also being asked, by way of the consent agenda, to approve $105,300.42 for an architectural inventory.