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Julian Price, Asheville's beloved philanthropist and community activitist, died on Monday, November 19, 2001. Price (seen in top photo on right.) made the decision to move to Asheville after a visit to the downtown Asheville area in 1990. During his initial visit to Asheville, Price found he possessed a strong affinity for the quaint Asheville urban landscape. At the time, downtown Asheville was experiencing severe economic times, and Price saw a great opportunity to participate in the revitalization of urban Asheville.The important role Price played in the downtown renaissance of Asheville over the past eleven years is now well documented. Price created Public Interest Projects, Inc. as an organization to coordinate and implement his vision for downtown Asheville. He hired Pat Whalen to head up Public Interest Projects. Whalen, at the time, was a successful attorney in Asheville, heading up his own law firm, Whalen, Hay, Cash and Wolcott. Pursuing his goal to develop downtown residential housing as the foundation for the revitalization of urban Asheville, Price used Public Interest Projects to develop the Carolina Apartments, the Asheville Hotel Apartments (seen in second photo), 134 and 138 Biltmore Avenue and the Old Penney's Building Condominiums. The completion of these historic restoration projects created over seventy-five upscale residences in downtown Asheville.
Teaming up with his wife, Meg McLeod, Price helped Quality Forward add a significant quality and beauty to Asheville's downtown through the planting of trees and flowers. When Price heard that the Asheville Parks and Recreation did not have the funds to purchase the park benches and shrubs for the new Pritchard Park located in downtown Asheville (seen in bottom photo), he immediately authorized Public Interest Projects, Inc. to pay for the park benches and shrubs so they would be in place for the opening ceremony.
While all of these accomplishments do speak worlds about Price and his influence on the Asheville community, there is still a wonderful side to him that is not captured by his many accomplishments. He was, above all else, a very kind person, a sort of "gentle giant." Standing at over six feet, five inches in height, Price struck a very imposing figure. But, at the same time, he could not have been more sincere about the simple way in which he lived his life, or his desire to try to improve the quality of our community. He had a delightful, pure appreciation for life that has had, and will continue to have, a constructive influence on the Asheville community. Thank you, Julian, we are the better for you having shared your life with us. I only wish it could have been for a much longer time. You are already greatly missed.
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Price also had an intangible influence on Asheville that is far more difficult to define. He was able to influence the various governmental, civic and volunteer organizations to cooperate and work together to accomplish significant projects. The renovation of the exterior fa�ade of the George Vanderbilt Apartments is a good example of Price's influence to bring together various parties to accomplish a common good. Price also worked with Roger McGuire to help develop Pack Place.
The restaurants, Laughing Seed, Salsa's and Zambras, are all products of Public Interest Projects and have added a flavorful zest to the culinary scheme of Asheville. The Mountain Express weekly newspaper has also had a subtle influence on Asheville's city government, and has added a cultural flavor to Asheville that is difficult to capture in words. Many new residents of Asheville have said that the Mountain Express newspaper played a major role in influencing their decision to move to Asheville. Through Public Interest Projects, Inc., Price will continue to have a positive influence on the Asheville community.