Demoltion Seattle Style: No Wrecking Balls Required

Is there a new trend in Seattle real estate development pushing green demolition? Where the wrecking ball is replaced by swarming construction workers keen on salvaging materials for reuse? It’d be a nice twist, but I’ve yet to convince myself what I’m seeing is real.

What I see when I walk through Freeway Park is the old brick building at 8th and Seneca. It’s been slated for demolition; just like its neighbor, which fell to the wrecking ball several months ago. Every morning I expect to see a pile of rubble in place of the building.

A couple weeks back, I noticed workers dismantling the building rather than simply knocking it down. Blue tarps protected the newly exposed interiors from the abysmal Seattle Spring. I thought to myself: Strange, are they actually going to recycle the old growth timbers and weathered brick? That seems out of character for money-focused developers.

By yesterday, the building had lost another floor and I spotted a container filled with neatly stacked salvaged timbers. Should I believe my eyes now?!?

A quick Google search yielded a blog entry about the new tower to be built, but no mention of the salvage-minded demolition. Surely any savvy developer wouldn’t miss such a perfect marketing opportunity. Hmmm?

I’m still skeptical, but encouraged. The visceral reaction that overtakes me when I see fine old buildings razed is not quite as gut-wrenching. (Guess I’ve been sorta numbed by sheer numbers.) It helps to know the useful materials will indeed find new life and not provide more land-fill-fodder.

Is green demo really a new trend? Seems like such a no-brainer: reuse what you can.

Once I see the demolition conclude without the aid of the wrecking ball will I become a believer? Maybe. Until then, I’m on the hunt for other eco-friendly demolitions. Any ideas where to look?