So the other day I posted a shot of an old building that is being torn down. Unfortunately there are a couple of more coming down as well.
This is the Kelly Building that was built to house the James Ramsey Dept. Store back in 1915. This was one of Edmonton's first department stores. Over the years it was home to many retail outlets and restaurants and offices. A couple of years ago the building was vacated so the new developer could go ahead with his plans to build a new office tower.
The reason for the scaffolding is that the bricks from the façade will be taken down and reused once the new building is built.
So I guess that once again progress rears its ugly head and another long standing landmark building will be no more
Great capture. It is sad to see old buildings coming down. While my husband and I were out tonight we noticed a couple of buildings had been torn down that were standing the last time we passed by that area. Sad.
Interesting dilemma between keeping the old and replacing it with new. Some of these old buildings have reached their 'use by' date in terms of economic efficiency, but we should preserve what has historic or cultural significance. Thankfully not my call.
Its great that you are recording these events. I'm glad some of the bricks are being used in the new building. I wonder of the new one will last as long as this one. Katharine
Great shot. Its always sad to see that progress seems to be equal to destroying existing things. Its all about money I suppose its much cheaper to pull down old buildings and start new ones, maybe there is some tax subsities doing it this way as well
The part of the city I was born only exist on photographs. An 8 lines highway
it is now . So it can be worse. You still get a building back.
But sometimes the construction is so bad (rusty irons in the concrete) that rebuilt is the best solution.
Well, at least they will rescue the bricks but you'd think with all the advancements in technology and architecture they could have figured out a way to build the new around the old. I guess 1915 is not old enough!
@tonydebont I do understand the need for new buildings but in this case it is an office tower and we currently have a number of them with a lot of vacant space so I am not sure that we need another one at the moment
@khirsch I really do not understand this especially in light of the fact that we have a number of office buildings with vacant space in them at the moment
i'm surprised the government let them do that to the building, but at least the bricks are being re-used, one small consolation perhaps. nice shot, brian.
it is now . So it can be worse. You still get a building back.
But sometimes the construction is so bad (rusty irons in the concrete) that rebuilt is the best solution.