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Eerie display calls attention to Provo demolitions

Welcome to Utah. I hate it too! That is why I go to Montana all the time I can is because they don't tear them down. they leave them and you really get into the spirit of the 1880's. Utah doesn't care! They started tearing these building down right after the depression, and in order to get one preserved you have to go through all kinds of red tape, know someone, and then all kinds of red tape again. The generation of kids and so called leaders that the LDS leaders rave about all the time, scares me to death, thinking that the one I know are just dipnards! They are only concerned with one thing in life themselves! They are a me generation, and if it means tearing down an old building and putting up a trendy Mormon arts and crafts store, a clothes store that would make Brigham and Joseph shake their heads, a Big Box furniture store in order for them to feel better than the neighbors, they we do it in a heart beat. I really loathe this generation of kids, they will ruin this country, and they don't care.

Yes, most certainly this happens ONLY in Utah. It never happens anywhere else Troutman.

Of course. Blame the Mormons. Everything is the Mormon's fault. Or Bush. Can't we blame Bush, too?

WHO CARES ABOUT THE OLD BUILDINGS. HOW MANY PEOPLE EVER STOP TO GO INSIDE THEM? THEY ARE COSTLY TO MAINTAIN. BUILD NEW BUILDING.

Here's a list of old buildings that are "costly to maintain". Let's tear them down with YOUR rule!

All buildings on Temple Square in SLC
The "Joseph Smith Memorial Building"
The Rio Grande depot

I am originally from Phoenix and they have been tearing down perfectly good buildings for years. It is not just Utah who does it. In LA they buy lovely homes and tear them down to build bigger and fancier. It is what comes from looking at buildings as investments rather than history or beautiful architecture.

IN REPSPONSE TO COMMENTS BY DEAR JERRY. NO COMPARISON BETWEEN ALL BUILDINGS ON TEMPLE SQUARE AND THE HOTEL ROBERTS IN PROVO.

I applaud this guy.. I wonder if he has any good ideas for Crossroads....

Over the years the Hotel Roberts had morphed into nothing more than a haven for transients and drug users. It's occupants brought with them an unsavory element of crime to nearby neighbors. Not every historical building needs to be preserved. Having personally been inside the place (being a former social worker), the place had already been destroyed by it's occupants, long before the building itself was razed to the ground.

you preservationists are all talk.....if you want to preserve these buildings, then I suggest you put your money where your mouth is.....buy them and then shut up!

As someone who works in the Facilities Management field, let me just say that is isn't that simple. These 'treasured' building are very costly to maintain. And the liabilty on them is extreme. For example, consider all the asbestos they contain, which has to be dealt with everytime an improvement or remodel is performed. It's very costly and makes repairs and upgrades triple in cost.

The fact is, that in many cases, it is more ecconomically feasible for the owners to demo the old buildings and build new. Let alone the increases in safety, Fire, ADA, and other uses.

Consequently, the reason the buildings on Temple Square are preserved are due to the Church's dedication to their legacy. These buildings cost millions to upgrade and maintain, but the church is willing to spend it for prosterity's sake. But most cannot spend the money to keep the buidlings around, especially in a competitive market place.

In 1993, our high school track team ended up staying the night at the Hotel Roberts, because of a last minute mixup. TALK ABOUT SCARY! Just because it had the word hotel in the title, didn't mean that anyone should have treated it as one. The plumbing was horrendous, the electrical wasn't far behind... The beds, carpet, woodwork, etc... all belonged in the local landfill. There was a bullet hole through the front window, covered with a piece of tape... And the local patrons (minus our track team which did not fit the stereotypical patron) appeared to be more interested in drugs, booze, and sleaze than a good nights sleep.

The people in this article surely have good intentions. However, they need a basic lesson in economics. Economics will always govern historical features... If these people wish to save older buildings, they need to get out their wallets rather than their sleeping bags and lawn chairs. The only way to save any historical structure is to have the cash to make the necessary structural upgrades (to meet modern safety codes) and living upgrades (plumbing, electric, etc.) Otherwise, despite the age, it is nothing more than a rundown building.

Anyone who set foot in that hotel in the years before it was destroyed applauded at it's demolition. Like the previous posters it was a haven for transients, meth, and heroin. Good riddence.

Provo has long since shown significant disregard and insensitivity to the historical arcitecture in its city....take the NuSkin building for example! Hideous and out of place. In some areas of the country, any new construction in a city has to fit the outward historical design of its original buildings. Not Provo! Just a hit and miss hodgepodge of ugly concrete and glass eyesores. Drive northward from Center Street on University Avenue and you'll see all the ugly student housing! In other cities the older homes have been used by small businesses for specialty shops. Very few of those beautiful old homes have survived! Shame on Provo!!!

Tim,
Yes, because getting rid of the building will get rid of the transients, meth, and heroin...That kind of ridiculous mentality is why Provo has never cared about itself. Maybe if Provo ever had a responsible, intelligent city council... I love the art installation - too bad no one in Provo could figure it out.

Old buildings are not history, they are a safety hazard, and waste natural resources. What should happen next is all the homes built before 1960 should be leveled, and re-built with more efficient materials, to save our planet. No expense should be spared to save this wonderful world.

Ryan Neeley! Glad to hear more about you dog. It's been so long.

What are you talking about "Tear it all down"? You're talking about saving the planet but ignore the important concept of reduce, reuse, reclycle. Old building can be easily reused and with a few modifications, made energy efficient as well.

Old buildings ARE history. It's silly to suggest otherwise. It's like saying old people have no value because they are a safety hazard (their driving), waste valuable social security money, and offer nothing to society. Maybe all old people should be euthanized to save natural resources for young people. After all, "no expense should be spared to save this wonderful world".

It is sad to see our History thrown out like yesterday's garbage who are these people who do these things I come from a long list of family who were the first people to live in this valley it just makes me sick the same thing happen to the farm house I grew up in Alpine utah our Home was one of the first homes in Alpine it was said that is was Brigham Youngs Brothers Home at one time after many year's living there and good times our family had we sold and moved away a few year's later the fire Dpt of Alpine Burnt it down for training to put fires out sick sick sick they burnt down all that history with it now it is just a field next to the main street creek oh they did build a new Charter school across the street where a gas station use to be. Hum.

Provo does save old buildings. The BYU Acadamy building was a run down building were the homeless and drug users would hang. Now it has been turned into Provo Libary. I quess they just pick and choose.