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I been looking up a lot of Atlanta history from razed neighborhoods to destroyed landmarks. And umm it’s really jack up! there are a lot of landmarks that would had been iconic to day if they were still here. I feel this a good opportunity to learn more about other cities as well. Whether from a fire, urban renewal or what ever, list, tell the story, and post pictures of some historic land marks. Buildings, bridges, statues, and etc that would had been iconic, if they were still there in your city. Maybe it was a first in something, cool architecture or it’s just something apart of that city identity and culture. Heck tell what’s still maybe here, but what you feel is now threaten. Also what city do you feel is the worst in historic preservation.
Example: Atlanta's Terminal Station
You would think because Atlanta started off as a rail town one of the historic stations Downtown will still stand. I don't know what architecture style it is but I think it's Moorish Revival like Atlanta's Fox Theatre, they were develop by the same film.
First one that comes to mind for me, is the old Penn Station in New York that was razed to make way for Madison Square Garden in the 1960s. It was modeled after the Roman Baths of Carcalla and was practically on the scale of St. Peter's. Tragic that it was destroyed for such a bland building as the current Madison Square Garden.
Detroit has lost a lot, no doubt, but the biggest and most iconic lost is the Hudson's department store.
The 2nd largest shopping center in the country (Macy's in NY was/is first). As with the rest of the city, it gave way to suburban growth and suburban shopping malls until it finally closed in 1983. It was demolished in 1998.
The irony is that the other malls that sucked away traffic were built by the same company. I personally don't think it's the best looking thing, but it fits the city.
I actually remember watching this and thought it was pretty cool, but now it's actually sort of depressing realizing how much history has been swept away.
The Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh was an entertainment venue that was built in 1911 and demolished in 1991. The building had very ornate detailing both inside and out, plus some of the best acoustics of any entertainment venue in the United States. It hosted a great many concerts, including Count Basie's final public performance. It also hosted political rallies.
It was demolished by the University of Pittsburgh in 1991 despite massive protests. Jim Ferlo, a former City Councilman, chained himself to the entrance to keep construction workers from leveling it. The construction workers instead decided to deface most of the exterior detailing, which defeated the purpose of preserving the building.
Today, the site exists as a surface parking lot. The demolition of the Syria Mosque enraged many people, and effectively kick-started the preservation movement in Pittsburgh.
Last edited by JMT; 02-22-2012 at 02:24 PM..
Reason: Removed image
The Gateway District in Minneapolis was the original downtown. By the mid 50s it had become a large skid row and a new downtown had risen on it's southern edge. Between 1959 and 1965 the entire 22 block area of the Gateway was cleared. Almost the entire area consisted of densely packed buildings from 1910 or earlier, several landmark buildings were razed including the city's first skyscraper (the Metropolitan Building). It was the largest urban renewal project in American history and created a scar in the Minneapolis cityscape that has never healed.
For Chicago, I think the entire White City! I know the buildings were built to be temporary, but can you imagine if they were permanent? If the White City still existed today? It would be absoultely beautiful and a huge Chicago landmark.
Topics like this make me very sad. Philadelphia and its entire metro has demolished so many iconic, amazing old buildings and even entire neighborhoods!
You'd need a whole thread just for the demolished Philadlephia area buildings/landmarks/neighborhoods alone.
The Gateway District in Minneapolis was the original downtown. By the mid 50s it had become a large skid row and a new downtown had risen on it's southern edge. Between 1959 and 1965 the entire 22 block area of the Gateway was cleared. Almost the entire area consisted of densely packed buildings from 1910 or earlier, several landmark buildings were razed including the city's first skyscraper (the Metropolitan Building). It was the largest urban renewal project in American history and created a scar in the Minneapolis cityscape that has never healed.
South Downtown Atlanta had the same fate . The Terminal Station, The original Rich's department store building and etc were in South Downtown. During Urban renewal a lot of the district was razed. While the Hotel district and other DT districts started to grow. The state Capitol and other government buildings are in south Downtown but it could been more.
For Chicago, I think the entire White City! I know the buildings were built to be temporary, but can you imagine if they were permanent? If the White City still existed today? It would be absoultely beautiful and a huge Chicago landmark.
As far back as 1912, there had been comments that the name "White City" was very appropriate, given how it seemed to be a park for white people, and where black people served as objects of ridicule: one game was called the "African Dip", and it involved patrons throwing projectiles at the head of a black person, and trying to hit him. [41] Black columnists were irate that some black men willingly took these kinds of jobs.[42] Admission policies were desegregated when the neighborhood changed and more people of color resided nearby. The housing development was to be called Parkway Gardens, and at the time, it was seen as a hopeful sign that a neglected neighborhood would have new housing.[43]
The same anti-black policies that had beset the amusement park also applied to the roller rink at the park. The rink was still open, and during in the 1940s, it became the site of demonstrations and brawls as Blacks fought for their right to roller skate indoors.[25] In 1942, the Congress of Racial Equality was involved in one of these rallies.[44] In 1946, the Congress of Racial Equality sued the management of the rink, saying it was violating the Illinois Civil Rights Law.[45] Eventually, the White City rink was desegregated and changed its name to Park City. However, the Park City rink closed in 1958.[44]
Sad to see it go though. White city was still a beautiful landmark regardless of it's problems.
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[41] Black columnists were irate that some black men willingly took these kinds of jobs.[42] Admission policies were desegregated when the neighborhood changed and more people of color resided nearby. The housing development was to be called Parkway Gardens, and at the time, it was seen as a hopeful sign that a neglected neighborhood would have new housing.[43]
