Two California organizations came to Asheville in late 2021, eager to purchase and convert the former Ramada Inn in East Asheville into permanent supportive housing for unhoused people. They pledged to use their “secret sauce” solution to address Asheville's challenges of sheltering some of the city's 500 unhoused individuals.

BPR's Laura Hackett and Laura Lee examined hundreds of court records and interviewed dozens of sources. The reporting revealed unpaid city permitting fees, lawsuits against the California organizations, a foreclosure on the property and more.

In January 2024, Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer said the city would not proceed with the partners, ending a two-year delay on the project.

The series, “Secret Sauce” Expired, won a 2024 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for investigative reporting. The Murrow Awards, presented by the Radio Television Digital News Association, are among the most prestigious honors in broadcast and digital journalism.

The Public Media Journalists Association also recognized the series, awarding it second place in the Investigative category of the 2024 awards.