As you may recall, Stewart Coleman threatened to construct condominiums almost adjacent to Asheville City Hall and the Pack Square Conservancy. It was later discovered that the land had been sold to Coleman in violation of a deed restriction, and the project was stopped. Meanwhile, local green activists learned there was a majestic magnolia tree on the property that Coleman wanted to cut down. They camped and chanted spells under it, and finally succeeded in saving it. Coleman continues to want to build the condominiums, waiting for his appeal on the matter of the deed restriction to be heard in court. As he waits, others have noticed that the world-famous Hayes and Hopson building on his property (photo here) has historic relevance, and they are appealing for a designation. It is rumored that there is a jail underneath the magnolia tree Coleman wants to assassinate.
by Leslee Kulba
Wild West blogger