The Rice White Building

Asheville, North Carolina

MERITS

Historic Tax Credit Project

National Historic Register

HISTORIC PRESERVATION / MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING / COMMERCIAL 

Constructed in 1890, downtown Asheville’s Rice White building originally housed two retail stores and doctors’ offices on the street level, an undertaker’s business on the second floor, and assembly halls serving local fraternal lodges on the third floor. In 1930 the second and third floor were transformed into a small downtown hotel. The building was converted in the early 1950’s to a single retail furniture store.

Rowhouse Architects designed the renovated building, which has two retail spaces on the Biltmore Avenue level, reproducing the 1920s facade featuring projecting storefront display bays. The remainder of the building was adapted for ten residential units. Two units have two-story configurations, and five of the units feature loft mezzanines that open to the living areas below.