Buncombe County to Purchase Former Asheville Mall J.C. Penney Site for $5M Emergency Hub
By Marge Farrington | Published 2026-05-27T21:30:14.477Z
News
Location: Asheville, NC, Buncombe County
Buncombe County plans a new Emergency Operations Center after Hurricane Helene. Enhancing disaster preparedness and response capabilities.
Buncombe County -- In a major move to bolster local disaster resilience following the lessons of Hurricane Helene, Buncombe County officials announced plans to transform a vacant retail anchor into the county's very first standalone Emergency Operations Center (EOC).According to a May 27 news release from the Buncombe County government, the county intends to purchase the 6.24-acre property at the Asheville Mall—formerly occupied by J.C. Penney—for $5 million. The prominent retail space at 7 S. T
Keywords: Emergency Operations Center, Buncombe County, Hurricane Helene, disaster preparedness, emergency response, EOC, emergency management