ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The massive Interstate 26 Connector project has claimed another victim — Asheville Racquet Club Downtown.

Club manager Daniel Giammalvo said the North Carolina Department of Transportation had already acquired the property at 27 Resort Drive.

“We’re already leasing it from the DOT,” Giammalvo said Tuesday.

Giammalvo, who is also the tennis director, said he’s not sure when the racquet club will have to vacate the property.

“We’re not 100 percent sure. We’re probably looking at 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 years,” he said.

UNCA FUNDRAISING FOR $4 MILLION TENNIS FACILITY

On Thursday, UNC Asheville, whose tennis teams use club courts, announced plans to build a $4 million tennis facility on campus.

NCDOT spokesman David Uchiyama said the I-26 Connector project will also cut into part of the club’s golf course.

Giammalvo said the club has plans to relocate, probably closer to Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts Asheville, which is also on Resort Drive.

“We’ll probably have a little different look, but we have a couple different ideas,” he said.

Asheville Racquet Club Downtown will have to move to make way for the Interstate 26 Connector project.

I-26 CONNECTOR CLAIMS THREE MORE PROPERTIES ON RIVERSIDE DRIVE

The road project has already claimed the Salvage Station and three neighboring properties on nearby Riverside Drive.

The music venue took to social media in May to let fans know this would be its final season at the Riverside Drive space.

According to Uchiyama, the state has notified and already acquired property from:

  • Bernard Coates, who owns the warehouses next to The Salvage Station.
  • Riverside Partnerships, which owns land where Fastenal, Asheville Hardwoods and Inspire Personal Fitness are located.
  • The heirs of Peggy Morgan Duyck, who also own land in the area.

I-26 PROJECT CLAIMS SALVAGE STATION LAND BY EMINENT DOMAIN

But some notable businesses in the area won’t be impacted by the I-26 project, Uchiyama said.

“Not touching Sam’s Club, not touching Westgate, not touching the Crown Plaza hotel,” he said. “And again, exact locations and right-of-way impacts will be determined by the design-build contractor.

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