The Plaza (Salisbury, North Carolina)
The Plaza | |
| Location | 116 S. Jackson St., Salisbury, North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Built | 1909-1911 |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival |
The Plaza is the tallest building in Salisbury, North Carolina. When built between 1909 and 1911, at seven stories tall, it was believed to be the tallest building in North Carolina. Called The Grubb Building for owner Clay Grubb, the Renaissance Revival skyscraper was one of four buildings in the town designed by architect Frank Milburn. When Grubb died in 1913, he still owed $122,500, and his building was sold at auction. The Wallace Family bought the building for $115,000 in 1914 and it became known as the Wallace Building.[1] The building had fewer tenants after doctors moved out to be closer to Rowan Memorial Hospital. In 1960, the building was modernized, and the next year, Wallace Building Associates bought it. The building was sold again in 1978, at a time when it was mostly empty.[2] Ralph and Anne Ketner bought the Wallace Building in 1989, renovated it and gave it to the city. It now has offices and residences.[1] It is located in the Salisbury Historic District.[3]
The Ketners required the city to keep the building for at least 30 years. Because most of the building's uses were private, the city decided it should not be spending so much money on it. The city agreed in October 2022 to a request for proposals for purchase and development with existing tenants respected.[4]
A plan from the Wallace family to buy the building for $2.2 million is on the agenda for the Salisbury city council meeting on July 15, 2025. Lane Wallace of LW Ventures said the plan is to renovate the building at a cost of $7 million with historic preservation a priority. Developer Clay Grubb, a descendant of the man who built The Plaza, is involved.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Wineka, Mark (September 7, 2015). "Yesterday: Construction of a 'second Renaissance revival skyscraper'". Salisbury Post. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
- ^ Sullivan, Robert (July 20, 2025). "City sets public hearing on Plaza sale; more information given by developers". Salisbury Post.
- ^ Robert Topkins and Mary Alice Hinson (October 1975). "Salisbury Historic District" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places - Nomination and Inventory. North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
- ^ Strillacci, Elisabeth (October 20, 2022). "The Plaza up for sale: City to issue RFP for purchase, redevelopment". The Salisbury Post.
- ^ Sullivan, Robert (July 11, 2025). "Wallace family looking to purchase The Plaza". The Salisbury Post.