Asheville Reporter

The process to dismantle the remaining Vance Monument structure at Pack Square Plaza is set to commence on Tuesday, with an estimated duration of two months. The contractor will initiate the staging process on Monday, May 13.

During the removal, North Pack Square will be closed to vehicular traffic to facilitate demolition. Conversely, South Pack Square will remain fully operational, including parking and loading spaces, barring any closures due to special events.

The areas depicted in yellow and green in a provided image will be inaccessible during the Vance Monument removal. The contractor anticipates completion of the removal work by mid-July. Subsequently, a local landscaper will install plantings at the former monument site. The landscaping contract is currently under finalization and work will begin immediately following the removal's completion. Once completed, Asheville Parks & Recreation will maintain the site along with other park areas.

In 2023, community input was sought for the vision for Pack Square Plaza which will inform the long-term design for the wider plaza area, including the former monument site.

The Vance Monument Task Force recommended removing the Vance Monument and this recommendation was confirmed by Asheville City Council at their regular meeting on March 23, 2021. A lawsuit filed in 2021 aimed to halt the monument's removal but was dismissed by Buncombe County Superior Court. In March, this dismissal was upheld by the North Carolina Supreme Court. A second lawsuit has since been filed.

City attorney Brad Branham commented on the decision to proceed with removal: “The City maintains its position that the North Carolina Supreme Court upheld the City’s right to remove the monument by way of its March 22, 2024 unanimous decision rejecting the plaintiff’s appeal. That decision cleared a path for the City and community to move forward with a new vision for Pack Square. Our intention is to continue the process to implement that vision until or unless another court ruling dictates otherwise.”