The historic St. Mary’s Catholic Church rectory in Owen Sound. The empire-style building was constructed in 1872. A wraparound porch was added in 1917 and was enclosed, as it appears today, in 1965. Denis Langlois
“Not only would we be destroying building materials superior in quality to what we can easily obtain today, we would be burning fossil fuels to transport these wasted materials to the landfill,” Elgie said. “Replacing these building materials extracts a huge toll on our natural environment – the fossil fuels burned, the greenhouse gases emitted, the air and water pollutants generated when new iron ore is mined, new steel smelted, new girders manufactured and transported to warehouses and ultimately Owen Sound – to mention just a few of the greenhouse gas-emitting steps in the construction process.”
Source: Demolishing rectory in Owen Sound bad for conservation, environment: ACO | Owen Sound Sun Times
“One entered the city like a god; one scuttles in now like a rat,” architectural historian Vincent Scully Jr. lamented.
Source: Remembering America’s lost buildings – CNN Style
SHERRY STREETER / SENTINEL PHOTO – Demolition progress on the former Swift and Co. plant in Shenandoah on Sept. 23, 2019.
The former Swift & Company plant at the corner of East Centre and North Bower, a three story brick warehouse stretching the length of the unit block of Bower, towered over the east end neighborhood since the late 1800s or early 1900s.
Source: Century old, long abandoned former meat packing plant coming down – The Shenandoah Sentinel
The building, built in 1913, will be completely torn down and the land will be used as a green space, Historic Preservation Coordinator Sharon Ferraro said. It is unknown if any of the stained glass inside the church, including the dome ceiling, will be preserved.
Source: Demolition begins on century-old Christian Science church building in Kalamazoo – mlive.com
Demolition of Willard School set for Monday in Missoula
If there are enough useable bricks remaining, contractors will leave them on pallets at the corners of the campus for community members’ use.
Source: Demolition of Willard School set for Monday in Missoula | KECI
On April 25, the New Hampshire Demolition crew had knocked down most of the former St. Peter’s main church and had a pile of stone to show for it. GEOFF FORESTER / Monitor staff
But if a property owner wants to tear down a historical building, there’s no law – local, state or otherwise – that can stop them once they’ve gone through the demolition permit process, Shank said.
Source: Downtown: As ‘historic’ buildings fall, Heritage Commission chafes against limited role
Nat Hyman, Allentown developer and former mayoral candidate, sued the state Department of General Services in an attempt to prevent it from demolishing the Allentown State Hospital. (Kevin Mingora / The Morning Call)
Preservationists point to historic value, architectural beauty and potential repurposing in their effort to save the property from demolition. More than 5,000 people have signed an online petition to preserve the buildings.
Source: Developer Nat Hyman sues state to stop Allentown State Hospital demolition – The Morning Call
The Spanish Colonial Revival-style structure. Rag & Bone blog
A few months ago, North Carolina-based developer Grubb Properties demolished the old Grant Park School, a Spanish Colonial Revival-style structure built in 1930.
Source: In Atlanta’s Grant Park, 1930 school razed for luxury apartments, townhomes – Curbed Atlanta
Photo by Melissa Romero
It would also mark the latest of Furness’s works to be eradicated. Since the architect’s death in 1912, many of his Philly-based buildings fell into disrepair, and faced the wrecking ball—largely over the first half of the 20th Century.
Source: Frank Furness-designed South Philly church on track for demolition – Curbed Philly
Fulshear City Council voted to demolish the Switch House on FM 359 and salvage the materials for a future project. (Courtesy city of Fulshear)
“No one wanted this end result,” Assistant City Manager Brant Gary said. “But the results from the architect’s review, the current condition and the fact that that it had been converted into a more modern home. All of those things added to the decision-making process.”
Source: City of Fulshear to demolish Switch House, salvage materials | Community Impact Newspaper
“It affects everyone,” said Morris Hylton, the president of Modern Gainesville, a local nonprofit aimed at preserving mid-century architecture. “It’s an architectural landmark deserving of preservation.”
Source: St. Michael’s Episcopal Church Torn Down Ahead Of Meeting That Might Have Preserved It – WUFT News
Demolition contractor Brant Grimm told the Times-News Friday he expects to begin razing Rogersville’s historic Blue Spring House in three to four weeks. He said he said he’s willing to salvage the brick and some large timbers from the 175-year old structure, but that wasn’t part of his original plan.
On Tuesday, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen agreed to award the bid to demolish the Blue Spring House, which dates back almost 200 years, on East Main Street to Kingsport-based Grimm Construction for $23,900.
Source: Kingsport Times-News: Historic Rogersville house to be razed, but you can still salvage the antebellum brick
Photo courtesy of Donald Brewer: The city landmarked Galbraith House has been approved for demolition. Earthwise will be reclaiming portions of the structure.
A memo attached to the agreement states controls and incentives were put in place after the designation, and Sound came back to the landmarks board in 2009 to ask for controls to be removed, “stating that demolition was necessary to generate a reasonable economic return on the property.”
Source: Historic Galbraith House coming down – Capitol Hill Times
Interior of the Lockridge Medical Clinic (photo by Adam Jeselnick)
“None of us are aware of why the owner changed his mind and moved up his demolition plans.” She added that Ruis had also rejected a request to salvage architectural elements, either prior to or during the demolition process.
Source: Developer Bulldozes Frank Lloyd Wright Building as Preservationists Rushed to Save It
The exterior of the Lockridge Medical Clinic, pre-demolition. (Courtesy Montana Preservation Alliance)
The FLWBC notes that this is the first viable, or mostly un-altered, Wright building to be torn down in 40 years, and that it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The demolition was done by developer Mick Ruis in Whitefish, Montana.
Source: Frank Lloyd Wright building in Montana is demolished overnight – Archpaper.com
“The members of Preserve Historic Missoula and all those supporting the appeal to preserve the historic Mercantile building are profoundly disappointed in Judge Deschamps’ ruling to permit the demolition of Missoula’s most iconic commercial building,” Hall wrote. “We have appreciated this opportunity to express our concerns through the judicial system and its thoughtful consideration.”
Hall wrote that PHM has maintained that the deconstruction permit process for the Merc was flawed. In particular, they believe that the process followed by the city council did not comply with the Historic Preservation Ordinance. They have requested that the law be clarified. Hall said nearly 4,700 people signed their petition affirming that the Merc is worth saving.
Source: Update: Judge rules in favor of Merc demolition | Local | missoulian.com
The Historic Bell Tavern Building Michael Bupp – The Sentinal
“Whether intentional or by error in 1995, the Bell Tavern was not listed as an historic, protected building on the Township’s Cultural Features Map and Historic Buildings List referred to in our zoning ordinance. Based on that, the Township had to lift the stop-work order. Despite the lifting of the order, the developer has continued to suspend demolition, affording us the opportunity to engage in discussions about the preservation of the building.”
Source: Historic mistake for Silver Spring stone house | Mechanicsburg | cumberlink.com
Dew said the project’s price tag was too high, and that with little money available to cover the cost, the only option was “deconstructing” them. She said historic materials were salvaged from the buildings and are being stored for future use.
While Levine agreed that the restoration cost was high, he said that the town was bound by the easement to do it. He expressed frustration at the refusal of town officials to discuss the matter in any detail.
The Gurski Farm homestead with the adjacent barn in the background. State officials are questioning why some buildings on the town-owned property were taken down.
via Historic buildings on Brookfield farm razed; state wants to know why – NewsTimes.
The developer has been working on the deal since 2009 and wants to make room for a mixed use development.
“These are pretty significant, interesting buildings. I think properly restored and incorporated into the site, they would make Buckingham Palace look like a Burger King, they’re pretty neat buildings,” said Scott Jolliffe from the Calgary Heritage Authority.
via Controversy brewing over demolition of historic buildings | CTV Calgary News.
Reclamation Administration: News and Research on Building Material Waste Prevention