ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The climbing wall that has been on the plaza at 43 Wall Street for more than 30 years is gone. The last of the wall was removed Thursday, leaving only the safety netting behind.
City officials said the wall was taken down to make space for a new tenant after Climbmax Climbing Gym relocated.
The gym moved into the city-owned space in 1993.
“The city was strategic in activating this location as part of a downtown revitalization effort alongside original Climbmax owner Stuart Cowles, who owned and managed the gym for nearly three decades,” the city said on its website. “At the time of opening, Cowles reported that it was ‘one of the first climbing gyms in the country.'”
The gym has moved from Wall Street, so the city is preparing for a lease with a new outside party, yet to be determined, the website said. To ensure optimal marketability of the space for prospective tenants, removing the exterior and interior climbing walls is necessary.
The exterior climbing wall will be auctioned, which is required as part of public processes, in early September, the website said. The interior climbing structures will be removed this fall. Then, the space will be available to be leased.
“Parameters are currently being developed for this important city-owned property on the Wall Street corridor, including prioritizing a tenant that will support continued activation of this area,” the website said.