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Flint's long-empty Genesee Towers imploded

What was once the tallest building in Flint is now just a pile of rubble. This morning, 1,000 lbs. of explosives brought the building down. Demolition crews spent weeks preparing the building to be imploded.  

The 19-story Genesee Towers building has stood in the heart of Flint’s downtown for the past 45 years. But a series of explosions brought the building down in a matter of seconds.  

When the dust settled, all that was left was a pile of rubble.

The long-empty Genesee Towers has been emblematic of Flint’s economic woes.

“Essentially it’s both a physical barrier and a psychological barrier,”  says Dave Lurvey, the demolition project manager. “I think that building being down on the ground is going to help people focus on progress rather than blight.”

The tall pile of rubble will remain on the site through the holidays.

The cleanup probably won’t be complete until the spring.

Developers plan to turn the site of the former office building into a downtown park.

http://youtu.be/j1YNOF9LxqE

Steve Carmody has been a reporter for Michigan Public since 2005. Steve previously worked at public radio and television stations in Florida, Oklahoma and Kentucky, and also has extensive experience in commercial broadcasting.
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