Lexington Ave was originally called Lexington Park and was a bustling farmers market with many Mom and Pop General and Curio shops filling the store fronts.
( Lexington Market at the Hiawassee St. Intersection ) |
While Asheville prospered in the 1910s and 1920s, the Great Depression hit Asheville quite hard. Most of Asheville's banks closed. The 'per capita' debt held by the city (through municipal bonds) was the highest of any city in the nation. Rather than default, the city paid those debts over a period of 50 years. From the start of the Depression through the 1980s, economic growth in Asheville was slow. During this time of financial stagnation, most of the buildings in the downtown district remained unaltered. This resulted in one of the most impressive, comprehensive collections of Art Deco architecture in the United States.
Today The Historic Lexington Park District is filled with one of a kind boutiques, gallery's, restaurants and gift shops, an experience not to be missed when you are visiting Asheville, NC.
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