Thursday, September 13, 2007

Demolition Day




I attended a media event yesterday on Phase Two of Hilldale’s redevelopment. The main, er, event? Knocking down Hilldale Theatre to make way for The Heights (top), a 112-unit condo building, a Whole Foods Market (bottom) and Hotel Indigo, an eight-story contemporary hotel.
I have a feeling that youngsters might have enjoyed the demolition of Hilldale Theatre even more than the gathered adult spectators. The machine that did the honors looked like a giant claw from one of those games at the arcade that players use to snatch a stuffed animal.
At the event, the claw first knocked into the front entrance of Hilldale Theatre, knocking down the overhang and eventually eliciting a spectacular crash of glass from the front windows. For some odd reason, it was pretty enjoyable to witness. It’s definitely not something you see every day—and kids at heart probably remember playing with a miniaturized version of that big machine.
More importantly, Phase Two is the final step in the redevelopment of Hilldale’s thirty-seven acre site that includes Sundance 608, Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co., Fair Indigo, Macy’s, Sushi Muramoto and more. More on this in our November issue.
Hilldale Shopping Center, 702 N. Midvale Blvd. hilldale.com

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