Chimney Rock Village Seeks Assistance As Recovery Plans Move Forward

Chimney Rock officials have opened a Request for Qualifications for engineering firms to lead the East Infill Project, a key piece of the community’s long-term recovery from Hurricane Helene. Statements of Qualifications are due Dec. 2, 2025, and the selected firm will prepare a Preliminary Engineering Report and may later oversee full design and construction if federal funding is awarded by the Economic Development Administration (EDA).

The RFQ comes as the Village advances major redevelopment concepts on both sides of Main Street. Ideas include a 7,400-square-foot mixed-use incubator with elevated storefronts to improve resilience and support future business growth. These concepts stem from the “Raise the Rock Recovery Action Plan,” created with consultants Destination by Design (DbD).

In his November Mayor's newsletter, Peter O'Leary said, "Streetscape improvements will be installed from the Village Square eastward to the Lake Lure boundary. Also included is the site preparation work for the Village property next to the Chimney Rock Post Office. This will be developed as a commercial infill to provide spaces for businesses destroyed by the flood. As you can imagine, these businesses, as well as some potential newcomers, are very interested in seeing this project get underway."

The village continues to pursue funding to carry out the plans outlined in the master plan. "We are working with the US Economic Development Commission (EDA), the state of NC through GROW NC, as well as other state agencies such as DEQ, DOT, and Chimney Rock State Park," O'Leary said.

"We have also received private donations into the Chimney Rock Economic Development & Investment Team, Inc (CREDIT)," O'Leary said. "This fund is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, established to provide supplemental funding within the commercial business district of Chimney Rock Village. If you are interested in donating to this fund, please contact the Village Administrator, Steve Duncan at 828-777-5718."

At the Aug. 19 council meeting attended only by WCAB News, officials approved sweeping budget amendments tied to storm recovery and adopted the plan. Town administrator Steve Duncan recalled the scale of damage: “We were devastated by Helene,” he said, noting widespread loss of buildings, water and sewer systems, bridges, and revenue. 

The recovery plan includes a full rebuild of the village’s streetscape. Consultant Ron Hancock said, “The entire streetscape will need to be rebuilt and restored,” work that was nearly complete before the storm. More than $5 million in state-funded projects will overhaul sidewalks, curbs, gutters, stormwater systems, and ADA access throughout the village, including major improvements at the gateways, plaza, and commercial core.

DbD consultant Eric Woolridge said N.C. Department of Commerce $5.5M funding may shift to the east side of the village to avoid conflicts with NCDOT’s reconstruction. DriveNC.gov reports the road from Chimney Rock to Bat Cave is not expected to fully reopen to the public until June 30, 2027, though the village and state park remain accessible from Lake Lure. 

Infrastructure repairs continue, with permanent water service restored and paving work set to begin near the post office. A temporary wastewater package plant supplied by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers remains in use.

Officials say the new RFQ will help move the East Infill Project from planning to implementation. WCAB News will continue tracking Chimney Rock Village’s recovery and redevelopment efforts.