Statler Hotel Demolition Progress

[hunchentoot]

Here's the machine in action....

http://www.waitingforlunch.com/statler.avi

I have quite a few more short videos, but all of them were taken leading up to the collapse of this section, which took about 40 minutes of plucking out beams and yanking at a central support. The demolition crew was hollering at people to stay out of the Washington Blvd. median even though it was outside of the fenced-off area, which was a fine idea.

[SOSaD]

So, I understand that little white building next to the former statlet is still going to stick around for a bit? Sweet. Maybe when demo is complete, someone could get some interior pics of that building.

[RustTown]

Interior pics?!

[wolverine]

Actually, that small building has got to go. I would actually, like to see the entire site cleared now, since it will allow a better chance of a larger building to go up, if it can occupy the whole block.

[Allan]

Yeah, with the way that little white building was constructed, it will slowly begin to cave in on itself. Of course the fire was most likely started from the demolition in the first place....

[Fletch]

Ouch... The neverending demolition sore

[detroitfan]

Well it looks like this will be the last week of major demolition work on the Statler as only two columns of windows remain. So if anyone wants a last look or pics of the Statler now is time to do it.

[ZachariahDaMan]

Anyone taken any pictures lately?

[richthofen]

So is that machine basically a hydraulic jaw on a crane of some sort? It looks similar to what they used to take down a set of reinforced concrete stadium stands at my college, except that it was only mounted on a backhoe since the thing was only 3 stories tall...

[Allan]

So is that machine basically a hydraulic jaw on a crane of some sort? It looks similar to what they used to take down a set of reinforced concrete stadium stands at my college, except that it was only mounted on a backhoe since the thing was only 3 stories tall...

Yeah, that's pretty much what this is. They were just finishing up destroying the last of the building when I was downtown this afternoon.

[Michi]

Yah, I saw the last few pieces going the way of rubble.

Soooo, once the debris is all hauled away and the site is cleared, are we going to be parking on it, or is it going to be inaccessible, paved, gravel, any info? What's the first step?

[Allan]

The site needs to settle first before they can do anything with it.

[detroitfan]

Did anyone get any last of shots it before they finished her off?

If I remember correctly they'll just plant grass basically it'll be like the Kennedy block before construction.

[Allan]

I got a few with just a small 5 story section standing. I will post them early tomorrow morning.

[statedude3]

I will not pay to park on such a historic site. If it's not free I will take my business elsewhere.

[Michi]

Yah, same here. I was just wondering what will be there when the bull dozers are gone and the crickets start chirping.

[Brother Ray]

Did anyone get any last of shots it before they finished her off?

If I remember correctly they'll just plant grass basically it'll be like the Kennedy block before construction.

This photo was taken yesterday (10/26/05). I have no idea if the rest is even standing. You can see below that they already planted the trees and grass on the median. I guess it's the city's way of saying "Come on, let's get a move on things! We have a Super Bowl to get ready for!" The Statler is officially gone.....

[Allan]

BR, what time were you there yesterday? I took the same exact photo.

I just drove by tonight...there is nothing left now.

[rbdetsport]

It makes me cringe when I remember that we are not getting anything out of demolishing this building. It is so horrible that the City did not take any proposals for it seriously and that Detroit did not have a plan for the site set.

[Jin Kim]

How much would the land where Statler used to stand plus the small buildings and the parking lot that AAA owns be in the open market?

[SOSaD]

Any recent photos of the Statler doing its best to not be there?

[WBG4]

I was looking at this pic and it looks like what ever the tram thing is called runs over part of the basement. This could be interesting

[Allan]

The people mover columns are actually in the basement of the Statler, since the Statler's basement extended under the sidewalk.

[WBG4]

Well surely they'll botch this demolition some where and that looks like a good bet

[wolverine]

Uh Oh. I was entirely unaware the people mover goes over the basement. How the hell are they going to work this one out? Looks like it will be shut down for the superbowl.