Relic of Detroit’s booming 1920s imploded to make way for Red Wings arena

The 13-story Hotel Park Avenue, a one-time lavish attraction from the booming 1920s that later became a rehab center for drug addicts, was imploded Saturday morning to make way for a loading dock for the new Red Wings arena that is under construction.

About 200 pounds of TNT reduced the Italian Renaissance-inspired building to rubble, sending a thick, blinding wall of dust and soot over the lower Cass Corridor.

The demolition ends a tense few months between preservationists and Mayor Mike Duggan’s administration.

The $450 million arena is expected to open in 2017.

All photos by Steve Neavling. 

  arena, Cass Corridor, detroit, Historic Building, hotel park avenue, Photos, Preservation, red wings

Steve Neavling

Steve Neavling lives and works in Detroit as an investigative journalist. His stories have uncovered corruption, led to arrests and reforms and prompted FBI investigations.

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