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by Cecil Bothwell in Vol. 14 / Iss. 12 on 10/17/2007

We come here to build chateaux or straw-bale homes. We live in high-rise condos and under bridges. We are bleached and black and tanned and tattooed and pierced and brown and broad and tall and tiny. Our schools teach English as a second language to native speakers of more than 40 tongues.

We are each unique, and so is our city. Our fave politicians are a developer, a musician and a psychologist, while our unsung heroes are an actor/director, war protesters, a community arts leader and ... that same psychologist.

We love coming here, but sometimes can't afford to stay. It seems we like our terrain and our buildings tall, but want more of the former and less of the latter. Old neighborhoods beat out upstarts, and when it comes to advocacy, we want to save the river, the air and the forests, and plant more trees downtown, to boot. But once again, our readers have told us that the best reason to live in Asheville isn't the city, it's the setting.

Local Politician

1. Terry Bellamy

2. Robin Cape

3. Carl Mumpower

Unsung Hero

1. Charlie Flynn-McIver

2. The Kuhns

3. Kitty Love

3. Carl Mumpower

Best Reason to Live in Asheville

1. Mountains -- Hall of Fame

2. People

3. Beauty/Climate

Best Reason to Leave Asheville

1. Cost of living

2. Overdevelopment

3. Lack of jobs

Local Environmental Group

1. RiverLink

2. Canary Coalition

2. Dogwood Alliance

3. Quality Forward

Neighborhood

1. West Asheville

2. Montford

3. North Asheville

New Building

1. The Ellington

2. None

3. Charlotte Street Animal Hospital

New Community Development

1. None

2. Biltmore Park

3. No clear winner

2007

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