I'm not seeing the sense in knocking down a condo/hotel...to replace it with yet another condo/hotel. Surely they could have just renovated or expanded the property instead. I know that's not the "proper" thing to say in a city that doesn't value keeping anything more than a decade or 2 before it is considered "old" and in need of demolishing because it's all about tacky, modern luxury now, but it seems so wasteful and unnecessary to do this. Unless the property is in very bad shape (leaks, electrical issues, for example) and there's no way to bring it back from years of neglect, in that case demolition would be justified, but that did not apply to the Mandarin Oriental, which was well-maintained.
You are being practical when looking at this issue. However, the Swire Company stands to make over a billion dollars redeveloping the property underneath that perfectly good building. We have become such a throw away society that places like Miami see a building as only have a two to three decade shelf life. It is sad.
Thank you, Casey and Stephen, for an interesting and rather spectacular video of "history" in the making. Too bad that Miami has so little respect for history. The Mandarin Oriental was opened in 2000, a mere 26 years ago, and will now be replaced by just another oversized condo/hotel for the rich and famous. The beloved Miami of my childhood and youth has become a veritable cement jungle with little historical footprint to speak of. A rather sad commentary for us all.
The hotel was majestic from the outside, but I was inside a suite during my Channel 10 days for an interview for "This Week in South Florida," and the rooms were rather tiny, making technical setup a challenge. Hoping the implosion today didn't rattle anything on the rest of the Key and vicinity.
I did but there was so many other really clear views on Instagram that were not downwind. Pretty impressive. It takes a key understanding of residential development math to understand why a building that’s only a few decades old would be imploded to make way for a new one but it’s a testament to the meteoric rise of property values in Miami
I'm not seeing the sense in knocking down a condo/hotel...to replace it with yet another condo/hotel. Surely they could have just renovated or expanded the property instead. I know that's not the "proper" thing to say in a city that doesn't value keeping anything more than a decade or 2 before it is considered "old" and in need of demolishing because it's all about tacky, modern luxury now, but it seems so wasteful and unnecessary to do this. Unless the property is in very bad shape (leaks, electrical issues, for example) and there's no way to bring it back from years of neglect, in that case demolition would be justified, but that did not apply to the Mandarin Oriental, which was well-maintained.
You are being practical when looking at this issue. However, the Swire Company stands to make over a billion dollars redeveloping the property underneath that perfectly good building. We have become such a throw away society that places like Miami see a building as only have a two to three decade shelf life. It is sad.
Thank you, Casey and Stephen, for an interesting and rather spectacular video of "history" in the making. Too bad that Miami has so little respect for history. The Mandarin Oriental was opened in 2000, a mere 26 years ago, and will now be replaced by just another oversized condo/hotel for the rich and famous. The beloved Miami of my childhood and youth has become a veritable cement jungle with little historical footprint to speak of. A rather sad commentary for us all.
Best wishes,
Doug deWolfe
Odessa, Florida
The hotel was majestic from the outside, but I was inside a suite during my Channel 10 days for an interview for "This Week in South Florida," and the rooms were rather tiny, making technical setup a challenge. Hoping the implosion today didn't rattle anything on the rest of the Key and vicinity.
I did but there was so many other really clear views on Instagram that were not downwind. Pretty impressive. It takes a key understanding of residential development math to understand why a building that’s only a few decades old would be imploded to make way for a new one but it’s a testament to the meteoric rise of property values in Miami
Incredible footage! One of the best views I’ve seen
Thank you, Natalie!
Thanks Casey!
Wow and just like that. Can’t believe it. Spent a night there for my honeymoon many moons ago. Nice firework show prior.
Cant see a thing. Bad wind direction for that camera review
Did you watch the whole video. There is plenty to see, but the smoke did make the view of the collapse of the building a little hazy.