ASHEVILLE — A redevelopment project proponents say would transform empty former retail space into a vibrant residential and commercial center is facing serious pushback from elected officials.

The proposed $45 million redevelopment of closed Sears properties at the Asheville Mall needs the approval of City Council. But after criticism at a March 12 council meeting of potential impacts to a neighborhood, the project's failure to meet city urban-style design guidelines and a link to nationwide job losses, a vote on the project was delayed.

The project is now set to come back to the council on April 23.

Car-centered design meets resistance

Some neighboring residents, as well as council members, lauded the project by Seritage SRC Finance LLC that includes a six-story apartment building, five one-story retail buildings and a movie theater.

"It is really exciting to have a redevelopment of the Sears at the mall," Mayor Esther Manheimer said. "I hope we’re going to see more reuse of older properties."

But Manheimer and some other council members said they wanted the project to use a more urban design with taller buildings and a less car-centered approach, as laid out in Asheville's recently adopted comprehensive plan.

"If we say we are going to bend the rules here and bend the rules on the comprehensive plan that a lot of people gave input on, it gives me some heartburn," she said.

Neighbors in Kenilworth Forest, meanwhile, said they were concerned about traffic and noise from large air-conditioning machinery and other equipment.

Decline of retail, Sears, factors in

Councilman Keith Young noted the chairman of New York-based Seritage Growth Properties, Eddie Lampert, was also chairman of the company that shut Sears and Kmart stores nationwide, leading to tens of thousands of job losses, including in Asheville.

Seritage Senior Vice President of Development Paul D'Arelli defended the company and project, saying the development would help with employment.

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"There was a Sears that closed on this location. We are bringing jobs back."

But Young said Seritage needs to increase the affordable housing component they have promised for the 205 apartments. The company had agreed to make 10 percent of the units affordable. But Young said because of the role Lampert played in eliminating jobs, that number should be raised to 40 percent and that those rents should be even cheaper than promised and guaranteed for a longer time period.

"Those folks don’t have jobs, but they are going to have to have some place to live," the councilman said.