An once iconic skyscraper that became a symbol of destruction in Louisiana after it was ravaged by back-to-back hurricanes has been imploded after having sat abandoned for nearly four years.
The 22-story Hertz Tower crashed down in a matter of seconds on Saturday after a demolition crew set off a series of explosions inside. The tower fell in a large cloud of dust into a pile about five stories high.
The building, formerly known as the Capital One Tower, had been a dominant feature of the Lake Charles city skyline for more than four decades.
But after Hurricanes Laura and Delta ripped through in 2020, causing an estimated $167million in damages to the skyscraper, Hertz Tower became an eyesore that had shattered windows and was covered in shredded tarps.
Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter, whose administration successfully secured $7million in private money to pay for the demolition, described the implosion as ‘bittersweet’.
The Hertz Tower in Lake Charles, Louisiana crashed down in a matter of seconds on Saturday after a demolition crew set off a series of explosions inside. The skyscraper is pictured in August 2020 and after the demolition on Saturday
The skyscraper fell on Saturday in a large cloud of dust into a pile about five stories high
Hurricane Laura, a category 4 storm, ripped through Louisiana in August 2020 with maximum sustained winds of 150mph.
The hurricane battered roofs, claimed more than 25 lives in the region and left mud and debris filling streets.
Hurricane Delta then crashed ashore in southern Louisiana in October, just six weeks after Laura took a similar, destructive path onto the US Gulf Coast.
‘I know how hard the city tried to work with several development groups to see it saved, but ultimately…it proved to be too tall a task,’ Mayor Hunter, who was in office during both hurricanes, said before Saturday’s implosion.
‘At this juncture, I am ready for a resolution. It’s been four years. It’s been long enough.’
For years the owners of the building, the Los Angeles-based real estate firm Hertz Investment Group, promised to repair the structure once they settled with their insurance provider Zurich in court, The Advocate reported.
The estimated cost of bringing the building back up to code was $167 million. Eventually, the two parties settled for an undisclosed amount.
Hertz still owns the property and the future of the site is undetermined, according to the city.
Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter, (not pictured) whose administration successfully secured $7million in private money to pay for the demolition, described the implosion as ‘bittersweet’. Pictured is the moment the skyscraper was imploded on Saturday
Locals watch the implosion of the Hertz Tower on Saturday, September 7, 2024. The once iconic skyscraper became a symbol of destruction in Lake Charles after it was ravaged by back-to-back hurricanes nearly four years ago
The building had been a dominant feature of the Lake Charles city skyline for more than four decades. But after Hurricanes Laura and Delta ripped through in 2020, causing an estimated $167million in damages to the skyscraper, Hertz Tower became an eyesore. Pictured is the moment the building was imploded on Saturday
Hertz still owns the property and the future of the site is undetermined, according to the city. Pictured is the smoke-filled sky after the skyscraper was demolished on Saturday
Tuff Gary, left, and Morgan LeBlanc watched the implosion of Hertz Tower with their children Hudson, Tuff, Jr., and Zander on Saturday, September 7, 2024
Lake Charles, which sits on the banks of the Calcasieu River and is a two-hour drive from Houston, is home to around 80,000 residents.
While the city is known for its copious amounts of festivals, bayous, casinos and its Cajun flair, it also has been labeled by the Weather Channel as America’s ‘most-weather battered city.’
The Hertz tower offers an example of the city’s long road to recovery following back-to-back hurricanes that inflicted an estimated $22billion in damage, according to the National Hurricane Center.
While there are signs of rebuilding and growth in much of Lake Charles, there are still buildings that remain in disarray and residents living in the same conditions as four years ago.
Locals are still waiting for financial relief to rebuild their homes and looking for affordable housing after the hurricanes’ destruction exacerbated the housing crisis or stuck in court with their insurance provider to get a fair payout.
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