Asheville Savings branch opens Fletcher Branch

Developer: Asheville Savings Bank, established in 1936. This will be the bank’s 13th branch, said Jack Maney, vice president of operations. Asheville Savings Bank has locations in Buncombe, Madison, Henderson, Transylvania and McDowell counties.

Architect: Glazer Architecture, Asheville. Design architect is Patti Glazer.

General Contractor: McCarroll Construction Inc., Arden.

About the project: The 3,400-square-foot, one-story building features a traditional architectural style with an exterior that incorporates natural stone, pebble-dash stucco and wide trim pieces. It will offer a remote drive-through with two-way video conferencing.

Location: Corner of

Lot size: 1.5 acres.

Status: The building’s shell is up, and it should be open for business in early 2008, Maney said.

Why Fletcher? Maney said the Fletcher area is booming in retail and residential development. “The other reason is we have another branch in Hendersonville and one in Skyland, so this will give us a branch right in the middle,” Maney said.

Contact information: Vikki Bailey, Asheville Savings Bank vice president of marketplace administration, 254-7411. Web site: www.ashevillesavings.com.

A New Office building is planned for Fletcher.  Mike Summey, a prominant Real Estate investor, located here in Western North Carolina, is planning to build a modern 11 story tiered office building on a prominant site where Fanning Bridge Road crosses I-26.

AdvantageWest, the regional economic development commission for the 23 westernmost counties of NC, is working with the developer to find 1 or even 2 corporate tenants for the two tiered designed building.  The aim is to bring more high paying jobs to the Hendersonville area.

The building design is for 150,000 square feet of office space.  The initial marketing of this project is to Florida and the Gulf Coast for companies that are concerned about the hurricane risk and increased costs including insurance, and business disruption.  The developer anticipates this building will bring 200 to 400 workers to the area.

Mike Summey is a co-author of "The Weekend Millionaire" book series.