Project Introduction
Set against the dramatic backdrop of the ancient French Broad River and just minutes from downtown Asheville, the Ferry Road Master Plan reimagines what it means to live in harmony with nature, equity, and community. Spanning 342 acres of unparalleled natural beauty, this bold vision delivers a mixed-income, mixed-generation neighborhood where conservation and connectivity drive every design move. From the outset, City Collective and its partners envisioned more than just a neighborhood — we envisioned a legacy: a place where affordability meets opportunity, where diverse housing choices coexist with vibrant public spaces, and where the story of Buncombe County’s next chapter begins. This is not just a master plan; it’s a blueprint for a more just and joyful future.
Key Project Challenges
The ambition of Ferry Road’s promise was matched only by its complexity. The site demanded a solution that preserved over 55% of its ecological landscape while unlocking the capacity to deliver over 600 housing units across multiple affordability levels. Balancing a bold housing vision with Buncombe County’s call for environmental stewardship, the team faced layered challenges: weaving deep affordability with financial feasibility, integrating multi-generational housing types without losing community cohesion, and aligning a complex phasing strategy across multiple development partners. Every design decision required nuance, every square foot demanded intention, and every stakeholder needed to be brought into a collective vision that honored the site’s past while looking unflinchingly forward.
Key Project Innovations
To rise to the challenge, City Collective and its collaborators orchestrated a suite of transformative innovations. Two distinct but equally powerful site plans were developed—each celebrating the land through conservation-forward urbanism, missing middle housing, and a central spine of shared amenities. Instead of clustering affordability, the plan distributes income tiers sitewide, ensuring equity is embedded into the fabric of everyday life. Trails, trailheads, and green corridors are not afterthoughts—they’re the connective tissue that binds neighborhoods, schools, child care, and services together. A landmark investment in multi-generational housing includes LIHTC-financed family and senior units, a robust Habitat homeownership offering, and walkable, market-rate options. Community-centered childcare, civic gathering spaces, and active transportation systems round out a neighborhood designed not just to function—but to flourish. Ferry Road isn’t a subdivision. It’s a model for 21st-century living, rooted in stewardship, equity, and connection.
Client
LMG, Habitat for Humanity, Volunteers of America
Location
Asheville, NC, USA
Primary sector
Urban Design & City Planning
Value
$800M USD
Project years
2025
Services provided
Urban Design, Architecture, City Planning, Landscape Architecture
Project team
Principal-in-Charge – Justin Kearnan
Project Manager – Blakes Reeves
Design Lead – Blake Reeves
Collaborators
Bowman, Unique Places to Save
