The Flatiron Building on Battery Park Avenue in Asheville, North Carolina was completed in 1926. The nine-story[2] 52,000-square-foot building was designed by New York architect Albert C. Wirth and built by L. B. Jackson Builders of Asheville.[3] It is a contributing building to the Downtown Asheville Historic District.[4] In its first decade, it was home dozens of businesses, as well as WWNC, Asheville's oldest radio station. Jimmie Rodgers, whose star persona and Appalachian musical style earned him the designation "Father of Country Music", made his first broadcast performance from WWNC's 8th-floor studio.[5]
Flatiron Building | |
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| Location | Battery Park Avenue, Asheville, North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 35°35′42″N 82°33′19″W / 35.5950°N 82.5552°W |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts[1] |
| Part of | Downtown Asheville Historic District |
| Designated CP | 1979 |
The building was largely occupied by business professionals, physicians, and dentists throughout its first 50 years. As Asheville slowly recovered from its post-Great Depression slump, the Flatiron's tenant mix turned over to more creatives, therapists, and small tech startups (particularly during the 2000s).
Midtown Development Associates bought the building in 1985 for $440,000. A $1 million renovation took place at that time.[3] Early in 2018, building manager and co-owner Russell Thomas put the building up for sale with a $16 million asking price; the buyer would be required to preserve the building.[6] On October 8, 2018, Thomas announced the building needed $3.5 million in renovations. Shortly thereafter, local developer Philip Woollcott presented plans to convert the building from offices to a boutique hotel.[2]
The restoration and renovation project lasted roughly 4.5 years, partly due to delays forced by the COVID-19 pandemic. The hotel includes a Italian-Appalachian restaurant called Luminosa, a rooftop bar, an underground speakeasy, and a coworking space. The building itself has been largely preserved, with details including historic terrazzo and marble flooring, transom windows, and door signage highlighting 29 of the buildings' previous tenants.[7] The Indigo Road Hospitality Group began accepting reservations for the 71-room Flat Iron Hotel in 2024. The hotel and restaurant officially opened on May 15, 2024.[8]
In 1997, local artist Reed Todd installed an 8-foot tall cast iron sculpture of an antique flatiron just across Wall Street, to the building's east. The sculpture has become a popular tourist landmark and backdrop for street performers.[9]
References
edit- ^ Egner, Jeremy (October 13, 2016). "36 Hours in Asheville, N.C." The New York Times. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
- ^ a b Davis, Dillon (October 10, 2018). "Asheville's Flatiron Building may become a hotel. Its tenants have concerns". Asheville Citizen-Times.
- ^ a b Lunsford, Mackensy (November 7, 2017). "Flatiron celebrates 90 years in Asheville with cocktails". Asheville Citizen-Times.
- ^ David R. Black (n.d.). "Downtown Asheville Historic District" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places - Nomination and Inventory. North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
- ^ Chesky, Anne. "WNC History: Asheville's Flatiron Building, from 'Human Fly's' 1926 climb to today's hotel". The Asheville Citizen Times. Retrieved 2024-07-17.
- ^ Bradley, Rob (March 15, 2018). "Historic Flatiron building in downtown Asheville up for sale". WLOS. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
- ^ Kennell, Tiana (March 15, 2024). "The historic Flat Iron building to reopen as boutique hotel, reservations now open". Asheville Citizen-Times.
- ^ Kennell, Tiana (May 15, 2024). "Flat Iron Hotel, Luminosa restaurant opens in downtown Asheville". Asheville Citizen-Times.
- ^ "Flat Iron Sculpture". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 2024-07-17.