The City of Boise closed down the Urban Ascent climbing gym in April to make way for a new affordable housing project. It left the area without a significant place for rock climbers to scamper up the wall without venturing outside.

Two buildings at Emerald St near Pond St. will be combined for The Commons Climbing Gym. The newly revamped buildings will consist of a rock climbing gym, a bouldering area, an exercise room and a yoga studio/party space.

At buildout, the gym would be 11,432 square feet, with an estimated $1.3 million cost according to City of Boise permit records.

The Commons shares a parking lot with the proposed Bench House Brewing Company.

It will compete with Vertical View Climbing Gym, which is already going up in Meridian.