This is a real cliff hanger.
A Queens climbing gym reopened Wednesday, five months after being shut down for failing to file the proper paperwork — but its owner is still between a rock and a hard place.
The Buildings Department dropped its case against The Cliffs at Long Island City, which closed 20 days after it opening for operating without a certificate of occupancy.
But an alleged bribe made by owner Mike Wolfert last year in a bid to expedite the gym’s opening is still a rocky matter, said Phyllis Weiss of the Queens District Attorney.
If convicted of bribery, Wolfert faces up to seven years behind bars. The climbing guru declined to comment on the charges, saying that it’s still an ongoing investigation.
Even with the charges still hanging, Wolfert on Thursday said the Buildings Dept. decision is a huge relief. He plans on hosting a grand re-opening in the near future.
I’ve reached the top, I’ve summited. I want to focus on the next peak.
“I feel like the weight of the world is off my shoulders,” said Wolfert, explaining that the gym was missing a form “that spoke to the structural integrity of the walls.”
After an exhausting audit by the agency, the gym walls were found structurally sound and the 30,000-square-foot indoor complex on 44th Drive was allowed to re-open, said Wolfert.
“They didn’t require any changes,” he added.
Wolfert said the closure had a “pretty tough impact” on his business, but he’s ready to move forward from here on out.
“I’ve reached the top, I’ve summited,” said Wolfert of the five-month closure. “I want to focus on the next peak.”
That includes after-school programs for at-risk youth and adding evening classes for the professional set.
Still, Wolfert likely has a rocky road ahead.
The Westchester resident was arrested last year on charges of trying to bribe an undercover investigator posing as a Buildings Dept. inspector to secure construction permits to speed up work. Wolfert allegedly promised the inspector “cash or whatever” to take care of paperwork.
He’s accused of handing over $94 and promising $1,000 more once the problem went away, according to court papers.
bstebner@nydailynews.com
