A bus stop in Montford, known for its unique design that featured the community’s history in images and words, was destroyed by a drunk driver last May. An initiative to raise funds for its rebuild begins February 1. The fundraising efforts will involve GoFundMe, the Montford Neighborhood Association, Chiesa restaurant, and the restaurant Little Jumbo.
In 2017 two bus stops were installed in Montford, each with a two-sided board that in words and images brought to life the neighborhood’s history. Last May, a drunk driver destroyed one of them. The City of Asheville said it would not help fund a rebuild since it was not a standard bus stop, but did okay a rebuild if funds could be raised elsewhere. Lewis Rothlein, a person interested in having the stop rebuilt, found out that the parties that designed and installed the bus stop were willing to rebuild it, and that the builder already has drawn up a proposal for the rebuild.
After talking with many neighbors who felt the same way, they along with the Montford Neighborhood Association (MNA) are beginning an initiative on February 1 to raise the money to raise the bus shelter.
On February 1, a GoFundMe will be launched. Also, on that date, the MNA will begin taking checks earmarked for the bus stop. In addition, the Montford restaurant Chiesa will dedicate its Community Collection Box (a tradition in this restaurant) to the bus stop, and will match contributions up to $1,000. Finally, Little Jumbo, a Montford restaurant, is dedicating February 19 to the bus stop, and will donate 10% of total sales on that evening to the bus stop rebuild.
The cost to rebuild the stop is $14,000, but an applied-for grant, and a contribution from an organization in the area could halve that amount. All donations are tax deductible.
Visit montford.org for additional updates on the initiative.