Despite talk from state, others, demolitions continue unabated in LSU Footprint

1936-38 Cleveland Avenue looked like this, reduced to rubble:

and

220-22 S. Prieur Street had been erased.

Both were demolished as of the end of the day today in the proposed site of the UMC.

They were both great, intact, structurally sound, well-kept, recently occupied examples of New Orleans architecture, modified camelback variations that are endemic to this city.

It would take an act of unpardonable stupidity and callousness to demolish these buildings when the ostensible reason for demolition remains a proposed project without adequate financing or a business plan.  It's an action that the State of Louisiana, LSU Board of Supervisors, and the City of New Orleans, as well as the contractors and subcontractors involved, chose to take.

Interestingly, the sub-contractors demolishing 1936-38 Cleveland were not watering down the demolition as the machinery tore through the piles of debris shortly after 6 p.m. this evening.  Someone has video of that, and I'd imagine La DEQ would be interested.

And if, as I suspect, the crew demolishing the building works for Midwest Missouri Contractors, it's not clear that the company is licensed to do business in Louisiana, per a search of the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors.

If someone has information to the contrary, send it along.  But those are some interesting tidbits.