[rsb320]

Are they tearing down both buildings? When, what time?

[kylejack]

There was a press conference with HPD and HFD to start at 3 but I'm not near a TV...

[AtticaFlinch]

I hope they get all the bums out this time.

[rsb320]

Ch 11 online's got it.

I'll bet it's just the older building. Looks like they might have to shut down the rail at some point.

This post has been edited by rsb320: Friday, September 18, 2009 at 3:32 PM

[sevfiv]

Yipes. I guess I'll be changing my plans tomorrow...I'm guessing it'll be in the AM?

[rsb320]

sevfiv, on Friday, September 18, 2009 at 3:32 PM, said:

Yipes. I guess I'll be changing my plans tomorrow...I'm guessing it'll be in the AM?

I caught some of the press conference through the lame speaker on my computer. I thought he said that it would take several days and something about cranes, etc. Might not be an implode.

I'm pretty sure it's the old building. I remember earlier on this thread something about that building being affected by Ike. Apparently, the cracks have expanded in the past year.

[tmariar]

The raw video I just saw on Ch. 11's site was a police officer saying they would do it "next Friday" and are going to have cops at the building 24/7 until then to make sure people don't go in and cars don't park there. Don't know if that's the official word, it's just what I saw.

[kylejack]

Quote

The City of Houston will demolish part of the old Savoy Hotel September25 because it poses an immediate danger to civilians, HPD NeighborhoodWatch Chief M.L. Curan said today in a press conference. (Despite whatan HPD press officer told us -- and others -- earlier today, the Savoy will not be imploded tomorrow).

Passers-byhave reported bricks falling from the two-building hotel's smallerstructure, he said. The area around the hotel -- along Travis and Main,between Leland and Pease -- was being barricaded during the pressconference. Police officers will be posted around the area 24-7, Curransaid. He said there were no plans right now for a demolition byimplosion, but that will ultimately be up to whichever contractor winsthe bid.

He said the police have had difficulty contacting theowner, who is currently in Lebanon. (Curran didn't remember his nameoff-hand, but a 2007 Press story identified him as Michael Nassif). The owner has 10 days to file an appeal, Curran said.

The nearby Metro line will need to be closed during the demolition -- hopefully not longer than Friday-Sunday, Curran said.

http://blogs.houston.../savoy_demo.php

No wammy no wammy, let's hope he doesn't appeal.

[Highway6]

The half-demo has been put off till next weekend it looks like.

[Subdude]

I suppose this was inevitable. The structural deterioration was enough that renovation probably would never be feasible.

[kylejack]

Demo in 7 days yet he has 10 days to appeal. What exactly is he going to appeal when his building is rubble??

[sheeats]

Coming into work this morning, I noticed they've already got all the streets cordoned off near the building, including a part of Milam - hell, they've got our entire building behind cones. It's fine on the weekend, but I can't imagine the congestion throughout all of next week. Yikes.

[sevfiv]

So the reports of falling bricks prompted this? That's been going on for a while. I wonder if something else (worse) happened. The apartment building has been caving in on itself for years now, and bricks started falling from the arches above the windows quite a while ago, too.

[jfre81]

Here's from last summer, pre-Ike, if one was to compare to its current state.



I knew I should've gone over and grabbed a brick to keep when I had the chance.

[Highway6]

Poor Big head on Main St..... i wonder if they're gonna move her prior.

jfre81, on Saturday, September 19, 2009 at 3:37 PM, said:

[sevfiv]

Here is a repost of a higher-resolution photo a friend took late last year:

[Texasepies]

Some pictures today, September 20th. 2009

Attached File(s)

•  IMG_5358 (Medium).JPG (67.85K)
  Number of downloads: 32
•  IMG_5360 (Medium).JPG (70.83K)
  Number of downloads: 34
•  IMG_5362 (Medium).JPG (83.3K)
  Number of downloads: 37
•  IMG_5365 (Medium).JPG (64.57K)
  Number of downloads: 31

[cosmic08]

I saw a report on the Savoy Friday night on 13. According to the report, just the older building is going. The report also highlighted the $3.00 parking inside the Savoy garage...they interviewed people who park there during the week. It was kinda funny to see people's reaction to the $3.00 parking/building falling down around the parking garage reaction...guess that's why it's only $3.00!

[ChannelTwoNews]

Cherry was awarded the contract to demolish the building.

http://www.khou.com/....1ab787f66.html

[kylejack]

Half a million to tear down a building, that just blows my mind.

[Specwriter]

kylejack, on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at 2:21 PM, said:

Half a million to tear down a building, that just blows my mind.

Hope that includes haul-off of the debris.

[sevfiv]

Quote

HOUSTON—The Savoy Hotel in downtown Houston has received a brief stay of execution.

Originally scheduled for demolition as early as Friday, a spokesman for Houston Mayor Bill White said the city has tentatively agreed with the building’s owner to delay the demolition until October 2. In addition, the owner will select the contractor to tear down the abandoned Savoy and will the pay for the work himself, Michel said.

Charles Mansour, the attorney for the building’s owner, said he expects the tentative agreement to be finalized by noon Thursday. Under the deal, the owner would demolish the building the weekend of October 2, 3 and 4. If he is not prepared to take the building down by that time, Michel said, the city will go ahead with its original plan and take the building down itself.

http://www.khou.com/....1ab787f66.html

[editor]

Here's the official release:

--------------
Owners of the Savoy Hotel Prepare to Step Forward to Take
Control of Demolition

The City of Houston has reached a tentative agreement with the owners of the vacant Savoy Hotel building to demolish the dangerous 103-year-old building beginning no later than October 2. Negotiations are being finalized to have the owners assume responsibility for the demolition of the structure.

Under the terms of that agreement, the owners are being asked to submit a contract with a qualified demolition contractor by the close of business on September 29. The demolition would have to take place no later than the following weekend, Oct. 2-4.

“We are very pleased  that the owners are acting in good faith and expect they will live up to their responsibility,” said Assistant Police Chief Mark Curran, head of the Neighborhood Protection Division. “They are helping to set an example for other property owners. If, however, they are unable to meet the commitment, we are prepared to step in and protect the public’s safety and interest.”

The City is prepared to begin demolition at midnight on Oct. 2 if that becomes necessary. The City awarded a provisional demolition contract today to the lowest of six bidders, Houston-based Cherry Environmental Services, Inc.  Cherry’s bid was for $448,600.

Demolition was ordered this past week after inspectors noted structural cracks in the building façade.

“It is understood the demolition process takes time to prepare utilities and other infrastructure and stage the needed equipment and personnel,” said Andy Icken, Deputy Director for the City’s Public Works and Engineering Department. “We are working through that and with surrounding property owners as quickly as we can.”

Meanwhile, the City will take necessary steps, including posting police officers at the scene, to keep the public safe and away from the structure, said Chief Curran.

The City is also working with other agencies, including the Metropolitan Transit Authority, whose Main Street light-rail line runs in front of the Savoy, in the 1600 block of Main. It is expected that the rail line would be temporarily shut down in the Savoy’s vicinity beginning at 6 p.m. on Oct. 2.

Demolition, will be performed using specialized cranes and all necessary environmental safeguards will be in place during the demolition. The demolition is expected to take the weekend, though removal of debris from the site will take somewhat longer.

[secretsquirrel]

Here is some inside shots of the Savoy Flats building. Figured I'd share 'em now since it's soon to be gone forever !!!

1. A shot of the Austin Room on the Second floor that connects the older building to the hotel.

2. Second floor area , not to sure what is was originally.

3. Second floor hallway.

4. Second floor room , on the opposite side of the wall is where all the floors collapsed.

5. All the rubble from the collapse.

6. Third floor stairway entrance

7. Third floor hallway

8. Third floor room

9.Fourth floor room next to collapse.

10. Stairs going up to the 5th floor.

11. Shot looking down from the roof.

12. On the roof .

[NenaE]

Wow...thanks for sharing those pics, secretsquirrel. I love old buildings, and hate it when one is lost, but I can see what a danger this one is, from these interior photos. It would be nice if they could salvage those bricks.

[Highway6]

awesome pics... thanks dude..

It's a shame, but photo 11 is exactly why this thing needs to come down. I had no clue it was so rundown.

[barracuda]

That must have taken some bravery after seeing photos 10 and 11. You'd think the building had sat through a couple fierce earthquakes. Thanks for the pics, secretsquirrel.

[sevfiv]

Yes, thanks for posting those! Really gives a blunt look at the handiwork of nature (and the neglect of Nassif the slumlord).

I had what felt like vertigo when looking in near the fire escape...no way I could have done that!

[arisegundo]

#11 definitely gave me an adrenaline rush.

What did it SMELL like in there?

This post has been edited by arisegundo: Friday, September 25, 2009 at 10:33 AM

[orbital]

Does anybody have pictures from inside the new hotel? I am dying to see what it looks like in there. I drove by this weekend to see it before they torn down the older part but looks like the newer part is locked down pretty tight.

[sevfiv]

Secretsquirrel may - all I have are these renderings from a brochure:



http://arch-ive.org/...-hotel-houston/

[KristinDaugherty]

Re picture 11 ... what held the floors up? I don't know much about building, but I'd think there would be some sort of floor studs or something.

[CHiPs]

Makes me wonder if there other DT buildings in such despair.

This post has been edited by CHiPs: Monday, September 28, 2009 at 3:46 PM

[porTENT]

Wow, could have mistaken it for modern-day Detroit.

[kylejack]

CHiPs, on Monday, September 28, 2009 at 3:46 PM, said:

Makes me wonder if there other DT buildings in such despair.

There's one I worry about in the 800 block of Main Street. Can't remember the name. And of course the Days Inn is looking pretty bad, as well as the Central building.

This post has been edited by kylejack: Monday, September 28, 2009 at 4:06 PM

[sevfiv]

^Battelstein's? Across from MainPlace? Kind of narrow with casement-ish windows?

map link

[kylejack]

Right, just to the right of Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches.

[secretsquirrel]

Here is also some shots from the newer Hotel. I've been inside alot of vacant buildings downtown and The Savoy Flats building is by far in the worst condition. Battlesteins is still in decent condition. I know the 1st floor and basement was being converted into a club but was never finished. The upper floors are still intact for the most part.

Old TV that still works and includes AM/FM radio

The Savoy Kitchen

The Front Desk

Conference Room

2nd floor hallway

Looking thru a connecting doorway in the newer building

Some of the misc squatters artwork

This post has been edited by secretsquirrel: Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at 10:36 PM

[editor]

This just in:

Quote

METRORAIL SCHEDULED SERVICE INTERRUPTION

When: Beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, October 2 to 11 p.m. Sunday, October 4

Where: Between UH Downtown and the Downtown Transit Center stations

Why: Building demolition – downtown Houston

Demolition of a portion of the Savoy Hotel, located on Main Street between Pease and Leeland, will require closing portions of streets in downtown, and pedestrian activity will be prohibited in the area.

There will be no rail service between the UH Downtown Station and the Downtown Transit Center (DTTC) northbound platform.

Trains traveling into and out of downtown will operate from the DTTC southbound platform. Riders traveling northbound into downtown will depart the train at the DTTC southbound platform.

METRO will operate dedicated “Rail Shuttle” buses every 15 minutes for customers wishing to travel between the DTTC and UH-Downtown stations.

Regular rail service will operate between the Fannin South Station and the DTTC southbound platform.

A flyer with this information, including a map of “Rail Shuttle” bus stop locations is available on all trains.

Normal rail service is scheduled to resume at 4 a.m. Monday, October 5.

[kylejack]

Wow, the entire weekend.

[kylejack]

Now to think about the best spot to videotape the demo from....

[editor]

It wasn't closed that long for the last demolition. Maybe they're worried about debris on the tracks or maybe they have to take down the overhead wires or something.

[Random]

Looking at the newer Savoy it's amazing to me the manner in which these buildings were abandoned. Electronic equipment, paperwork, etc, all left behind. It's as if they thought they'd be coming back or worse yet, they were trying to make a getaway.

[kylejack]

Its coming down tonight! Rail service is disrupted and there's lots of police and work crews around the building.

[musicman]

kylejack, on Friday, October 2, 2009 at 7:08 PM, said:

Its coming down tonight! Rail service is disrupted and there's lots of police and work crews around the building.

hope you have some time. from the description, might take a long while.

[Highway6]

do we have confirmation its coming down tonight ?
the rail was set to stop service tonight through sunday.

i saw the heightened police presence this afternoon.. but it makes more sense that they are just gearing up for a demo tomorrow during daylight.

[kylejack]

Hm you could be right. I wish they would announce it.

[musicman]

i believe 13 said they were starting at midnight....going to push the walls in, little by little, starting at the top.

[Highway6]

musicman, on Friday, October 2, 2009 at 9:59 PM, said:

i believe 13 said they were starting at midnight....going to push the walls in, little by little, starting at the top.

I wasnt aware it wasn't going to be an implosion.. i thought that was the norm.
Midnight sucks... anyone going out to video it ??

[musicman]

Highway6, on Friday, October 2, 2009 at 10:02 PM, said:

I wasnt aware it wasn't going to be an implosion.. i thought that was the norm.
Midnight sucks... anyone going out to video it ??

they can't implode because the owner wants his neighboring building to remain.