Downtown Public Restroom Survey City of Asheville North

Downtown Public Restroom Survey City of Asheville North Carolina Original study done by Parks and Recreation 2002 Updated by the Office of Economic Development July 2006

Public Restrooms n. Issues 2002 • Abuse of existing facilities • Some facilities not designed for heavy public use and lack required maintenance • Lack of awareness of some facilities open to the public • Some facilities are not handicap accessible • Limited availability • Provision of public restrooms for the residents and visitors who are not accommodated by private restroom facilities 2006 update • Issues are about the same; Limited access has been further defined to being between 7 -9 am and 5 -9 pm for homeless population and being between 9 pm and 8 am for tourist population

Public Restrooms for Homeless Population: The Gap in Service Currently 32 restrooms located in Downtown Asheville were considered somewhat accessible by the public. Yet it is questionable to describe restrooms that may exist in public facilities (e. g. the Asheville Transit Authority, on 360 W. Haywood Street) as actually being “public restrooms”. Most restrooms that are consistently available after 5 at night are through homeless service providers (ABCCM, Hospitality House, etc) Amy Sawyer, coordinator of Asheville’s 10 year Plan to End Homelessness says the gap for public restroom service to the homeless population is from 7 -9 am and 5 -9 pm

Public Restrooms for Visitor Population: Not Advertised, but likely more accessible. • Similarly to the Homeless population there are quite a few restrooms in public facilities that visitors would not traditionally seek out (e. g. Transit Authority on W. Haywood). • In addition, the visitor population may feel more comfortable (than the homeless population) using many of the private (business) facilities available. Often times these restaurants are located in restaurants or nightclubs.

Public Restrooms n. Optimum Qualities 2002; 2006 the same • • • Open to general public Visible Handicap accessible Strategically located Well-lighted Durable design • • • Attractive Promoted as an asset Year-round usage Monitored and maintained Discourages vagrancy Convenient hours of operation

Survey of Existing Restrooms in Public Facilities

DOWNTOWN PUBLIC RESTROOMS 06' LOCATION ADDRESS HOURS OF OPERATION CONTACT # PUBLIC FACILITIES OPEN DURING DAY 1 City of Asheville: City Hall 70 Court Plaza Asheville, NC 28802 8: 00 a. m. - 5: 30 p. m. (Monday - Friday) 828. 251. 1122 2 Buncombe County Court House 60 Court Plaza Asheville, NC 28802 8: 00 a. m. - 6: 00 p. m. (Monday - Friday) 828. 250. 4001 35 Woodfin Street Asheville, NC 28801 8: 30 a. m. - 7: 00 p. m. (Monday - Thursday) 8: 30 a. m. - 5: 00 p. m. (Tuesday, Wednesday, & Friday) 828. 250. 5000 53 Asheland Avenue Asheville, NC 28801 5: 30 a. m. - 10: 00 p. m. (Monday- Friday) 8: 00 a. m. - 7: 00 p. m. (Saturday) 1: 00 p. m. - 6: 00 p. m. (Sunday) 828. 251. 5909 52 Market Street Asheville, NC 28801 [April - October: 9: 00 a. m. - 5: 00 p. m. Tuesday - Saturday 1: 00 p. m. - 5: 00 p. m. Sunday, Monday Closed] [November - March: 10: 00 a. m. - 4 p. m. Tuesday - Saturday 1: 00 p. m. - 4: 00 p. m. Sunday, Monday closed] 828. 253. 8304 39 South Market Street Asheville, NC 28801 10: 00 a. m. - 5: 00 p. m. (Tuesday - Friday), Saturday by appointment, 1: 00 p. m. - 5: 00 p. m. (Sunday) 828. 252. 4614 3 4 5 6 Buncombe County Health Department YMCA Thomas Wolfe Memorial Visitors Center YMI Cultural Center

10: 00 a. m. - 5: 00 p. m. (Tuesday - Saturday) 1: 00 p. m. - 5: 00 p. m. (Sunday), Closed Monday 828. 257. 4500 7 Pack Place 2 South Pack Square Asheville, NC 28801 8 Asheville Transit Authority 360 West Haywood Street Asheville, NC 28801 6: 30 a. m. - 7: 30 p. m. (Monday - Saturday) 828. 253. 5691 Asheville Public Library 67 Haywood Street Asheville, NC 28801 10: 00 a. m. - 8: 00 p. m. (Monday- Thursday) 10: 00 a. m. - 6: 00 p. m. (Friday) 10: 00 a. m. - 5: 00 p. m. (Saturday) 2: 00 a. m. - 5: 00 p. m. (Sunday) 828. 250. 4700 Asheville Civic Center 87 Haywood Street Asheville, NC 28801 10: 00 a. m. - 5: 00 p. m. (Monday- Friday) 10: 00 a. m. - 1: 00 p. m. (Saturday) 828. 259. 5736 828. 778. 8941 9 10 11 Food Lion Skate Park Corner of Flynt and Cherry Street Asheville, NC 28801 12: 00 p. m. - dark (Monday- Friday) 10: 00 a. m. - dark (Saturday) 1: 00 p. m. - dark (Sunday) 12 Grove Arcade 1 Page Avenue Asheville, NC 8: 00 a. m. - 6: 00 p. m. (Monday- Saturday) 828. 252. 7799 13 Chamber of Commerce 36 Montford Avenue Asheville, NC 28801 8: 30 a. m. - 5: 30 p. m. (Monday- Friday) 9: 00 a. m. - 5: 00 p. m. (Saturday- Sunday) 828. 258. 6101 14 Buncombe County: Department of Social Services 40 Coxe Avenue Asheville, NC 28802 7: 30 a. m. - 5: 00 p. m. (Monday- Friday) 828. 250. 5500 15 City of Asheville: Office of Economic Development 29 Haywood Street Asheville, NC 28801 8: 30 a. m. - 5: 00 p. m. (Monday- Friday) 828. 232. 4500

16 Municpal Building 17 Senior Opportunity Center 36 Grove Street Asheville, NC 28801 828. 350. 2062 18 United Way 19 NC Cooperative Extension Service 94 Coxe Avenue Asheville, NC 28801 (828) 2555522 20 Public Works Building Aston Park 336 Hillard Avenue Asheville, NC 28801 828. 251. 4074 RESTROOMS IN PUBLIC FACILITIES THAT ARE OPEN AT NIGHT (8: 00 P. M. - 8: 00 A. M. ) 828. 253. 4723 828. 254. 1529 21 22 Salvation Army Shelter 204 Haywood Street Asheville, NC 28801 23 Western Carolina Rescue Mission P. O. Box 909 Asheville, NC 28802 24 Hospitality House (828) 2595339 25 ABCCM 155 Livingston St

PUBLIC BUILDINGS NOT EASILY ACCESSIBLE 26 Buncombe County Finance Building 205 College Street Asheville, NC 28801 8: 30 a. m. - 5: 00 p. m. (Monday- Friday) 828. 250. 4100 27 Buncombe County Minority Affairs 34 Valley Street Asheville, NC 28801 8: 30 a. m. - 5: 00 p. m. (Monday- Friday) 828. 250. 4130 28 Buncombe County Sherrifs Department 202 Haywood Street Asheville, NC 28801 8: 30 a. m. - 5: 00 p. m. (Monday- Friday) 828. 255. 5555 29 Buncombe County Soil and Water Conservation 155 Hilliard Avenue Asheville, NC 28801 8: 00 a. m. - 5: 00 p. m. (Monday- Friday) 828. 250. 4785 30 Buncombe County Administration 205 College Street Asheville, NC 28801 8: 30 a. m. - 5: 00 p. m. (Monday- Friday) 828. 250. 4100 31 Parks and Recreation 199 College Street Asheville, NC 28801 8: 30 a. m. - 5: 00 p. m. (Monday- Friday) 828. 250. 4260 32 Federal Government Building

Case Studies: While social issues surrounding the need for public restrooms varies from town to town, the question of providing adequate public restrooms is faced by all municipalities.

Black Mountain, North Carolina • • • Old taxi stand converted into public restrooms in 1999 at a cost of $70, 000 (owned property) Cleaned twice daily, 7 days/week (during tourist season) by private company Doors lock automatically in evening; at 6 pm Sunday-Thurs, and 9 pm on Friday and Saturday $17, 500 initially budgeted by city annually for maintenance; now $18, 000/year Located in heart of downtown shopping district Employees anecdotally relate that there are many less social issues facing the town of Black Mountain than facing the City of Asheville.

Chattanooga TN • • • Public restrooms located in Coolidge Park (10 acre passive park downtown) Restrooms are located inside a multi-purpose park pavilion Open to public from sunrise to midnight every day Full-time staff make hourly checkups Subject to frequent vandalism Park Rangers are present at all hours restrooms are open Roanoke VA • No “Public Restrooms” currently exist downtown • Nearest public restroom is located in a city park just outside downtown area. • Extensive damage has occurred over the last decade • City has increased horse-mounted and bike patrols in area • Cleaning occurs 3 times daily, all year • Recent renovations include installation of stainless steel vandal resistant fixtures and security cameras

Boulder, Colorado • • $275, 000 public restroom located in downtown pedestrian mall Free-standing facility constructed in 2002 A major vandalism event in January 2004 caused $8, 000 in damages; no repeat instances Originally open 24/7, now only open during daylight hours Cleaned twice daily Significant police presence Initially, frequent vandalism required creative deterrents including piped-in classical music and fresh cut flowers in wall-mounted vases; now much less of a problem Budget for annual maintenance is: 2. 5% of the building replacement value ($275, 000+inflation) annually=$6, 875 AND and additional 1% annually for major maintenance and 1%in a sinking fund of renovation and replacement =$2, 750 each

Atlanta, Georgia • MARTA (Transit Authority) has installed these Exeloo units at rail stations. • Gives you a set amount of time before doors open. • Mostly self cleaning, needs infrequent “human” cleaning. • Anecdotally a success (so far).

Public Restroom O p t i o n s 2006

Option #1: Utilize and Promote Existing Restrooms in Public Facilities – – o Increase visibility with additional signage Enhance physical features Extend hours of operation Work with partners to gain trust/buy in for effort Advantages: • • • Relatively inexpensive Accessibility increases Distribution around downtown Year-round usage Could be implemented somewhat soon o Disadvantages: • • • Unless many resources are dedicated to making this a success, this is basically the “do nothing”/“no change” option Conflicts with existing resources and client operations Real physical improvements likely needed and would have cost involved Additional cleaning and monitoring systems likely required Evening availability would require additional resources

Option # 2 Build new facilities, likely in the pocket park on south side of Rankin Deck or other central location – Renovate or construct a new facility especially for a public restroom with perhaps ancillary uses – Restrooms would be sizeable and strategically located – Attendant would clean and maintain the facility; discussion of joint funding through a couple of private partners is possible o Advantages: • • Centralized location Handicap accessible Potentially very attractive facility Year-round usage Can be designed for durability Secure and monitored Potentially very visible o Disadvantages: • • • Physical and operational costs Day and evening availability would require additional resources Significant time required for design and construction

Option #: 3 Renovate and Maintain Restrooms at 29 Haywood Street – Great Location – Project would resemble a combination of options 1 & 2 – Estimates of cost vary widely, but would be slightly less than option 2 (new facilities at pocket park) – It is widely accepted that the costs associated with daily operations of the restroom would have to include the wages of an attendant.

“What if” Scenario? The Public Restrooms at 29 Haywood St were closed on 02/20/2002 *Most of the calls were for Intoxication and for Suspicious Persons

Option #4 Automatic Pay Toilets (APTs) – Units vary in cost; from “free” to $100, 000 + maintenance per unit. – Considerable costs of obtaining units can be offset by extensive advertising on exterior (kiosks) – Many manufacturers; lots of new types of ATPs – Mixed success throughout several very large cities in the United States San Francisco, CA

Options explored in 2002, but not considered in 2006: Portable Toilets Deluxe Portable Toilets Integration into new Public Parking Deck

Summary of 2002 options: Reflects 40% increase in original cost quotes since 2002 10% increase in estimated maintenance costs Option # Description Time to implement Initial Cost Estimate Annual Maintenance, Staffing and Materials Cost 1 Utilize Existing Restrooms in Public Facilities* Immediate Minimal $35, 000 now $38, 500 2 Standard Portable Restrooms (5 units) Immediate $2, 500 $10, 500 (Cleaned twice daily, open 24/7) now $3, 500 now $11, 500 3 Deluxe Portable Restrooms (5 units) 1 month $5, 000 $10, 500 (Cleaned twice daily, open 24/7) now $7, 000 now $11, 500 4 New Restrooms in Downtown Storefront* 12 months + $175, 000 -$250, 000 $45, 000 (Cost does not include purchase of existing building) now $ 245, 000 -$350, 000 now $49, 500 5 New Restrooms Integrated Into New/Existing Uncertain $90, 000 -$150, 000 $45, 000 Downtown Parking Deck* now $ $126, 000 - $210, 000 now $49, 500

Review of 2006 Options 1. Utilize and Promote Existing Restrooms in Public Facilities. 2. Build new facilities, likely in the pocket park on south side of Rankin garage or other central location 3. Renovate and Maintain Restrooms at 29 Haywood Street 4. Automatic Pay Toilets (APTs)

Next Steps/Recommendations • Further explore of all these options except Option #1 (promote and utilize existing facilities). • Aggressively pursue collaboration with outside agencies to make sure community needs are met and to explore possible cost sharing.