Demolition Derby

Do people outside of North America know what the title refers to?

A broad view and details of the Arch garage demolition. The giant machines flair against it all day. I can see it from my office window. It's a bit scary.

The top picture was taken wide angle so the Arch is closer than it appears. You can see the edge of downtown proper to the right, where visitors will have to park from now on. Ain't gonna work when there is a Cardinals or Rams game.

The second picture shows how close the garage pedestrian exit was to the shaded path to the monument. The fourth could be a project by Anselm Kiefer.                           

Thar Be Monsters

Quick note. Mrs. C and I were out late last night (by our standards) hearing historian David McCullough at the St. Louis Speakers Series.

I've mentioned somewhere that the dumbest part of the Arch grounds renovation is the removal of its only parking garage. The design wizards think it is okay that the only other parking is across the highway in downtown proper. It's all a longer walk and more expensive than the one on the grounds. Now people with handicaps will have to cross city streets, which they didn't before. There will be no more path to the Arch entrance that is shaded on our blistering summer days.

This brute from Jurassic Park and its friends are doing the dirty work. More rant soon.

                              

WHAM!

As, promised, pix of the first blow of the demolition of the unsightly pedestrian bridge between the defunct downtown enclosed mall and a dead former department store. The mall is being redeveloped into a parking garage. No shortage of spaces in downtown STL! The department store is about to become an Embassy Suites hotel with apartments on the upper floors. Sic transit gloria.

Below, the scene moments before the headache ball struck.

By the way, today is the 30th birthday of Chicago photoblogger and heir to the St. Louis Daily Photo fortune, U "R" Us. Stop by and say hello.