HomeHendersonville NewsHendersonville Explores Innovative Use of 13 Acres Behind Historic Bradford Berry House

Hendersonville Explores Innovative Use of 13 Acres Behind Historic Bradford Berry House

Hendersonville’s ambitious plans for a 13-acre development behind the iconic Bradford Berry House could potentially include constructing a bubble structure as high as 100 feet, envisioned for indoor sports activities.

The Mayfair Development Plan, first greenlit in 2004, spans approximately 16 acres, flanked by the Aladdin Temp-Rite facility and Hendersonville City Hall. Momentum for the project accelerated in 2021 when Oldacre McDonald presented Phase II plans. The latest iteration features three commercial structures at the front and a sizable commercial plot adjacent. The city also received a donation of 13 acres from the project developers.

Hendersonville is set to acquire this land, along with the historic Bradford Berry House, dating back to the 1790s under Major Henry Bradford, a figure in the Revolutionary War, and a nearby cemetery, by the year’s end.

Mayor Jamie Clary remarked, “We really haven’t come up with a plan for what would happen with the house and the 13 acres behind there. That’s something we’ll look at, but in the course of our conversations at our last board meeting, we wanted to have maximum flexibility for what we could put there.”

The city’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen recently passed a 7-5 resolution allowing for the potential construction of a bubble structure, not exceeding 100 feet, at their discretion. Clary mentioned that several organizations have indicated a need for additional park facilities.

However, some board members expressed reservations. Alderman Jeff Sasse voiced concerns about the visual impact of such a structure: “I’d hate for 20 years from now seeing a dome structure there, a bubble structure that just obscures this entire landscape, especially in an area where it is so beautiful.”

Clary, in response, suggested alternative uses for the site, including event spaces or offices. “We made sure we had maximum flexibility for what we do with that property. It might be something involving parks, it might be something involving business, it might be vacant land, it might be something involving history; I’m pretty sure it’ll be something involving history,” he explained. “What we did gives us flexibility to come up with several ideas and take input from several people.”

Additionally, a unanimous vote approved an amendment allowing the city to transfer the Bradford Berry House to a nonprofit for restoration and upkeep.

Once the city takes ownership of the land, house, and cemetery, it will seek opinions from individuals and corporations on the best utilization of the property.

Celeste Weatherford

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