Big Jake Enterprises, LLC is the development entity behind Beacham’s Curve Neighborhood Redevelopment Project. Jim Diaz, along with partner Brian Barwick are closing in on the final stages of Phase I of their redevelopment of the Beacham’s Curve area of East/West Asheville. In the past year, OWL Bakery, Pizza Mind and most recently, Archetype Brewing have opened their businesses in the beautifully reimagined buildings at 265, 285 & 295 Haywood Road. They are currently working on the last Tenant Up-Fit for Gan Shan West, the newest addition to the neighborhood. Diaz and Barwick are proud to have Gan Shan join their community of established experienced and authentic local food and beverage operators.
Diaz and Barwick are currently finalizing design and development drawings for permitting for Phase II of their redevelopment project. Phase II involves the construction of 10 Live/Work buildings. The designs of the buildings are meant to honor the history and tradition of much of the existing early 20th Century architecture throughout urban core of West Asheville. The Mardis Building, home to King Daddy’s Chicken & Waffle, WHIST Greetings & Gifts, and Second Gear is one example of a West Asheville building that has inspired their building designs along with the Bledsoe Building at the Five Points near the Brew Pump.
Just west of Mountain Valley Water, five, two-story, zero-lot-line buildings are planned. On the other side of Archetype Brewing (heading toward the RAD), five similar, but slightly smaller buildings are planned. All 10 buildings will be merchant-built for sale. These pedestrian oriented buildings will provide quality space options for small business which is much needed an in demand in West Asheville to include sufficient parking. Each unit will have two exclusive parking spaces and then share common use of a surface parking lot accessible to all future owners and patrons of the buildings that are part of the Beacham’s Curve Neighborhood Redevelopment.
The Haywood Road Form-Based (Zoning) Code allows for myriad commercial and residential uses, giving future owners of these buildings endless potential for how to use them. Developers Diaz and Barwick imagine some owners may choose to put their retail business or office on the first floor of their building and reside above on the second floor. Or, they could occupy the entire building for a residential use. The flexibility of use for the buildings, in such a hot and up-and-coming area provides an excellent investment opportunity for owner/occupants or investors.
Phase III of the Beacham’s Curve Neighborhood Redevelopment will round out the vision for the entire project with the construction of two, three-story, twelve-unit apartment buildings located deep inside the curve behind the commercial and mixed-use buildings. The intention here for Diaz and Barwick is to retain ownership for the long-term and provide their commercial tenant’s employees with quality convenient housing options to help support affordable lifestyles in Asheville.
Phase III of the Beacham’s Curve Neighborhood Redevelopment will round out the vision for the entire project with the construction of two, three-story, twelve-unit apartment buildings located deep inside the curve behind the commercial and mixed-use buildings.
Adhering to new urbanist principles, this project represents one of Asheville’s best examples of urban in-fill redevelopment. Developers Diaz and Barwick have received positive feedback from the community as they are revitalizing a neighborhood commercial core and hitting all of the desirable highlights along the way including adaptive re-use of existing buildings, creating residential density in an urban core, delivering pedestrian-oriented mixed-use buildings all while providing attainable housing options for the local community as part of the final Phase III.
