Removal of Vance Monument Base to Begin May 14

Ashevlle -- May 13, 2024: Press Release City of Asheville Government: The removal of the remaining Vance Monument

structure at Pack Square Plaza will begin Tuesday, May 14 and last approximately two months. The contractor will begin the staging process today, Monday 13.

What to expect during the removal:

North Pack Square will be closed to vehicular traffic throughout the removal process to allow for demolition to take place.
South Pack Square will remain fully open, including parking and loading spaces (except when closed due to special events).

See attached map of construction area. The areas shown in yellow and green will be closed during the Vance Monument removal. 

The contractor expects the removal work to be completed by mid-July. Soon after, a local minority-owned landscaper will install plantings in the former monument area, which was previously determined as a short-term treatment for the site. An updated landscaping contract is currently being finalized, and that work will begin as soon as possible following the completion of the removal. Once completed, the site will be maintained by Asheville Parks & Recreation along with other areas of the park.

The decision to move forward

In 2021 a lawsuit was filed to stop the removal of the monument but was dismissed by the Buncombe County Superior Court. In March 2024 the North Carolina Supreme Court upheld this dismissal. A second lawsuit has since been filed. 

City Attorney Brad Branham addressed the decision to proceed with removal at this time: 

“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.”

What’s next for Pack Square Plaza 

A future vision for Pack Square Plaza was defined by the community in 2023 and will inform the long-term design for the wider plaza area, including the former monument site. The City received a $3 million grant from the Mellon Foundation in June 2023 which includes funding for design and engineering for a new, more accessible and inclusive Pack Square Plaza inspired by the Vision Plan. That project will kick-off this summer with a design firm on board this fall. Funding for construction has not yet been identified.

Find more information about the Pack Square Plaza Visioning project and background on the Vance Monument removal at ashevillenc.gov/packsquare.