UPDATE: The governor’s office sent out the following press release at around 4:30, Wednesday, April 4:

Gov. Perdue to Make an Economic Development Announcement in Buncombe County Gov. Bev Perdue will make an economic development announcement on Thursday in Asheville. What: Economic Development Announcement in Asheville Who: Gov. Perdue and other business leaders Where: Asheville Chamber of Commerce, 36 Montford Ave., Asheville



When: Thursday, April 5, 4 p.m.

This morning, city officials, crews unloading hay bales, state troopers and Asheville Police were swarming the 7-acre Craven Street property rumored to be under contract for sale to craft brewer New Belgium. Asheville Director of Public Works Cathy Ball and Economic Development Director Sam Powers were conferring as crews worked on what appeared to be a stage area. Troopers told Xpress they were part of Gov. Bev Perdue’s advance protection detail. The governor may be at the new Linamar manufacturing site in south Asheville later today and is said to be planning to stay overnight at the Western Residence in north Asheville. (Craven Street photo by Bill Rhodes)

But there’s no official confirmation yet that Perdue will be taking part in an announcement on Craven Street. Although it’s rumored that the property — once the Western Carolina Livestock Market (photo by Max Cooper) — is under contract for sale to New Belgium, no sale has yet been recorded. In 2006, the property was sold to a locally based private corporation, the French Broad River Group.

Dispatches via Twitter on Wednesday morning, April 3:

@cibonline: Funny to feel ahead of the curve on the #newbelgium #avlbeer thing. Guess I’m better at keeping a secret than I thought. Excited!

@dustyallison: Prepping for the cameras?!? RT @WDTacoShop: Lots of activity in the stockyards this morning. #avlbeer #ashvegas

@beerpulse: Report: @NewBelgium could make Asheville announcement this week http://t.co/4TelGVU0 #craftbeer #beer #avlbeer

APRIL 3:

Asheville’s Twitterverse has been abuzz with unconfirmed but reliable (so they say) reports that craft brewer New Belgium will indeed build an East Coast facility in town, possibly at the old WNC Livestock center on Craven Street. Word is, there will be an announcement later this week. But so far: nothing but the buzz.

City workers unloading bales of straw, preparing for officials tomorrow.

A few dispatches from the Twittersphere about New Belgium yesterday, April 3:

1:30 p.m. Russ Bowen: @RussBowenNews: Multiple sources say New Belgium is coming to Asheville. Announcement coming possibly this week. #avlnews #avlnews

1:31 p.m. Russ Bowen: @RussBowenNews: New Belgium says Asheville and philly still on list not ready to comment but does say very interested in Asheville #avlnews #avlbeer

3:51 p.m. Anne-Fitten Glenn: @Brewgasm: Hear that @newbelgium’s East Coast Brewery WILL be built in #Asheville. Formal announcement Thursday 4/5. #avlbeer #ncbeer #craftbeer