Photo Gallery: Ivory Bean Building Demolished
The historic Washington Street building came down on Friday, several months after city officials cordoned off the area due to falling bricks.
Photos
The upper floors of the Ivory Bean building were demolished on Friday, leaving a large hole in the row of buildings near the corner of Washington Street and Massachusetts Avenue.
The demolition, undertaken by the Church of Scientology, was announced earlier this month with the city's approval. The area underneath the building had been cordoned off since February when a neighbor reported bricks falling from its aging facade.
Along with the Alexandra Hotel, located next door at the corner of Mass Ave., the Ivory Bean footprint will be incorporated into the Church’s new headquarters, plans for which have been in the works since the Church purchased the buildings in 2008.
“The Alexandra has been a city eyesore for too long,” spokesman Kevin Hall said at the time. “Our restoration of this historic landmark will bring more beauty back to the gateway of the South End.”
The Franklin Crane Company and Smith and Wessell are performing the demolition, which was scheduled to take several weeks. According to the Church, a portion of the bricks removed from the Ivory Bean will be preserved and incorporated into the new headquarters.
JJ
10:05 am on Saturday, April 23, 2011
This will do a lot to improve that section of Roxbury.
Timothy Crawford
10:19 am on Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Any improvement to any of the many negelected, or abandoned properties is always a plus for any community. The steps taken by the "church" were forced due to the brick that fell in the sacred " South End " the result is no more than pulling a roting tooth only to reveal more rot! The corner building is a bueatiful building that has a cash disadvantage due to The Historic South End's Superior standards. I think half way houses in the building would benefit both Roxbury and South End. Glad I recently moved to Brighton!