sevfiv Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Here is a repost of a higher-resolution photo a friend took late last year: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texasepies Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 Some pictures today, September 20th. 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosmic08 Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChannelTwoNews Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 Cherry was awarded the contract to demolish the building.http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou090923_jj_houston-savoy-hotel-demolition.1ab787f66.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 Half a million to tear down a building, that just blows my mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Specwriter Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 Half a million to tear down a building, that just blows my mind. Hope that includes haul-off of the debris. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 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/news/local/stories/khou090923_jj_houston-savoy-hotel-demolition.1ab787f66.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secretsquirrel Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 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 . 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NenaE Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highway6 Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barracuda Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arisegundo Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 (edited) #11 definitely gave me an adrenaline rush.What did it SMELL like in there? Edited September 25, 2009 by arisegundo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orbital Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 Secretsquirrel may - all I have are these renderings from a brochure: http://arch-ive.org/archive/savoy-hotel-houston/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KristinDaugherty Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHiPs Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 (edited) Makes me wonder if there other DT buildings in such despair. Edited September 28, 2009 by CHiPs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porTENT Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 Wow, could have mistaken it for modern-day Detroit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 (edited) 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. Edited September 28, 2009 by kylejack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 ^Battelstein's? Across from MainPlace? Kind of narrow with casement-ish windows?map link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 Right, just to the right of Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secretsquirrel Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 (edited) 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 Edited September 30, 2009 by secretsquirrel 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 This just in:METRORAIL SCHEDULED SERVICE INTERRUPTIONWhen: Beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, October 2 to 11 p.m. Sunday, October 4Where: Between UH Downtown and the Downtown Transit Center stationsWhy: Building demolition – downtown HoustonDemolition 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 Wow, the entire weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 Now to think about the best spot to videotape the demo from.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Random Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 Its coming down tonight! Rail service is disrupted and there's lots of police and work crews around the building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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