Cold Storage

I recall in the mid-1990s, there was talk of closing down the I-90 Innerbelt bridge to build a new bridge in the next few years.

Fifteen years later, one of the first most visible projects has been to take down the Cleveland Cold Storage building near I-90, on Abbey Avenue, adjacent to Sokolowski's University Inn. Several off-ramps along I-90 near Downtown have closed, so Orange Avenue was re-paved to juggle the increase in detoured traffic.

013a/365 - 06/16/2011

For years, this building acted as a gigantic billboard. It still amazes me how 3-4 color advertisements were precisely painted on two faces. (I'm sure, very carefully)

The view of the Cleveland skyline was taken several yards to the right of the facility. If the structure had any windows, it would have had a marvelous view of Downtown.

013/365

The destruction is progressing quickly. These pictures were taken over a span of 8 days.

Destroying stuff must be a lot of fun, danger aside. I realize there is a strategy to how one must knock down pillars and floors, but to a casual bystander like me the smaller crane looks like someone attacking a chiffon cake with reckless abandon (aspoondon?).

013b/365 - 06/16/2011

Of course, this destruction has drawn an audience. Each time we have stopped to watch, cars and cyclists pull over to drink in for several minutes the large crane pinching at the building, appearing frustrated at its inability to scratch an itch.

013c/365 - 06/22/2011

I don't know the condition of the building prior to its dismantling, but watching it get torn down with great effort over the past few days must be a testament of its sturdiness.

013d/365 - 06/24/2011

I don't think very much of it will be left 8 days from now. We shall see.

- Cassaendra