In Milwaukee, crews from Veit and J.H. Findorff & Son braved the freezing temperatures as the sun rose Saturday morning to complete a milestone piece of redeveloping Milwaukee’s lakefront. A small team worked with blowtorches and excavators to knock off the five-story clock tower at the Downtown Transit Center.
According to Urban Milwaukee, construction of $122 million The Couture, a proposed 44-story, 302-unit apartment tower, is expected to begin as soon as demolition is completed. Developer Barrett Lo Visionary Development acquired the roughly two-acre site from the county in August for $500,000, but as part of the deal is also required to pay the demolition costs as well incorporating a streetcar and bus rapid transit stop in the base of the building. A significant public access component, which will connect O’Donnell Park and Downtown to the lakefront and a new park will be incorporated into the building with a series of bridges. Design of the tower and new park are both being led by Milwaukee-firm Rinka Chung Architecture. The city is involved in financing a portion of the development, particularly the streetcar component, with a tax-incremental financing district.
The streetcar’s lakefront line and proposed east-west bus-rapid transit line are expected to begin operating through The Couture in 2019 at the earliest.
By Jeramey Jannene – Jan 8th
The tower of the Downtown Transit Center shortly before demolition. Photo taken January 7th, 2017 by Jeramey Jannene. All Rights Reserved.
In order to knock it down crews cut into the supports for the Downtown Transit Center clock tower. Photo taken January 7th, 2017 by Jeramey Jannene. All Rights Reserved.
Cutting into the Downtown Transit Center clock tower structure. Photo taken January 7th, 2017 by Jeramey Jannene. All Rights Reserved.
Two CAT excavators are all it took to push the tower over once it was prepped. Photo taken January 7th, 2017 by Jeramey Jannene. All Rights Reserved.
Pushing the Downtown Transit Center clock tower over. Photo taken January 7th, 2017 by Jeramey Jannene. All Rights Reserved.
The Downtown Transit Center clock tower beginning its fall. Photo taken January 7th, 2017 by Jeramey Jannene. All Rights Reserved.
The Downtown Transit Center clock tower starting its fast fall to the ground. Photo taken January 7th, 2017 by Jeramey Jannene. All Rights Reserved.
The Downtown Transit Center clock tower falling down. Photo taken January 7th, 2017 by Jeramey Jannene. All Rights Reserved.
The Downtown Transit Center clock tower hitting the ground. Photo taken January 7th, 2017 by Jeramey Jannene. All Rights Reserved.
The Downtown Transit Center clock as it hits the ground. Photo taken January 7th, 2017 by Jeramey Jannene. All Rights Reserved.
The Downtown Transit Center clock tower after it hit the ground. Photo taken January 7th, 2017 by Jeramey Jannene. All Rights Reserved.
The Downtown Transit Center immediately after hitting the ground. Photo taken January 7th, 2017 by Jeramey Jannene. All Rights Reserved.
The cloud of dust from the demolition of the Downtown Transit Center clock tower. Photo taken January 7th, 2017 by Jeramey Jannene. All Rights Reserved.
Middle-school humor adorned the top of the clock tower on its final days. Photo taken January 7th, 2017 by Jeramey Jannene. All Rights Reserved.
The Downtown Transit Center clock tower post-knockdown. Photo taken January 7th, 2017 by Jeramey Jannene. All Rights Reserved.
The bridge is largely all that is left of the Downtown Transit Center along E. Michigan St. It will soon be gone. Photo taken January 7th, 2017 by Jeramey Jannene. All Rights Reserved.
One of the clock faces from the Downtown Transit Center post-knockdown. Photo taken January 7th, 2017 by Jeramey Jannene. All Rights Reserved.
The tower is completely gone as a CAT 966G wheel loader comes in for clean up. Photo taken January 7th, 2017 by Jeramey Jannene. All Rights Reserved
The last remaining portion of the Downtown Transit Center along E. Michigan St. Photo taken January 7th, 2017 by Jeramey Jannene. All Rights Reserved.
The tower is gone. Photo taken January 7th, 2017 by Jeramey Jannene. All Rights Reserved.
