This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jul/11/detroit-historic-park-avenue-hotel-implodes

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Historic Detroit hotel implodes in seconds to make way for arena Historic Detroit hotel implodes in seconds to make way for arena
(about 5 hours later)
A 13-story historic hotel that stood for 90 years in Detroit was reduced to rubble in less than a minute on Saturday.A 13-story historic hotel that stood for 90 years in Detroit was reduced to rubble in less than a minute on Saturday.
Related: Puerto Ricans living in Detroit: a view to two crises highlights 'powerlessness'Related: Puerto Ricans living in Detroit: a view to two crises highlights 'powerlessness'
It took about 15 seconds for the one-time Park Avenue Hotel to come crashing down after the first of the charges could be heard going off. Officials said 200lbs of dynamite were used to bring down the structure, which was built in the 1920s. It took about 15 seconds for the one-time Park Avenue hotel to come crashing down after the first of the charges could be heard going off. Officials said 200lbs of dynamite were used to bring down the structure, which was built in the 1920s.
The implosion was part of Olympia Development’s ongoing construction project that will bring a new hockey arena and entertainment district to an area north of downtown. The $450m, 20,000-seat arena is expected to open in 2017. The NHL’s Red Wings currently play at Joe Louis Arena, which has been around since 1979.The implosion was part of Olympia Development’s ongoing construction project that will bring a new hockey arena and entertainment district to an area north of downtown. The $450m, 20,000-seat arena is expected to open in 2017. The NHL’s Red Wings currently play at Joe Louis Arena, which has been around since 1979.
The arena, which is largely funded with public money, has caused controversy in a city that famously filed for bankruptcy. The arena, which is largely funded with public money, has caused controversy in a city that filed for bankruptcy.
Imploding the Park Avenue Hotel “helps us, because it allows us to take it down in one time and not have to have this be a very prolonged [process] and affect the neighbours and everyone else”, said Sean Hollister, senior project manager with general contractor Barton Malow-Hunt-White.Imploding the Park Avenue Hotel “helps us, because it allows us to take it down in one time and not have to have this be a very prolonged [process] and affect the neighbours and everyone else”, said Sean Hollister, senior project manager with general contractor Barton Malow-Hunt-White.
People gathered on the tops of nearby parking garages and high-rises to catch a glimpse of the implosion, which produced a sizeable dust cloud that advanced toward some of the onlookers. People gathered on the tops of nearby parking garages and high-rises to catch a glimpse of the implosion, which produced a sizeable dust cloud that advanced towards some of the onlookers.
Hollister said crews would wash the windows of nearby homes and businesses, and trucks were at the ready to clean area streets. It will take weeks to clear away all the debris from the implosion, he said.Hollister said crews would wash the windows of nearby homes and businesses, and trucks were at the ready to clean area streets. It will take weeks to clear away all the debris from the implosion, he said.
The Detroit Historic District commission voted last month to raze the vacant ex-hotel.The Detroit Historic District commission voted last month to raze the vacant ex-hotel.