Elevation Chandler demolition begins

Annie Z. Yu, The Republic | azcentral.com 3:42 p.m. MST November 20, 2014

Demolition of Chandler's biggest long-time eyesore Elevation Chandler began on the morning of November 20, 2014. The razing should take about 24 hours so the structure should be fully on the ground by the end of Friday. Then it will take construction crews about 2-4 weeks to fully clear the area.(Photo: Cheryl Evans/The Republic)

The dismantling of one of the Valley's iconic images of the Great Recession, a partially built hotel in Chandler, began Thursday.

Construction crews began razing the skeletal structure of Elevation Chandler, which has stood in clear view of drivers along the Loop 101/Loop 202 interchange for nearly a decade.

The unfinished building was a symbolic reminder of the recession to every freeway commuter and visitor to the popular Chandler Fashion Center.

"These are vestiges of the (financial) crisis and a reminder of one, that we went through this crisis and two, how complex some of these projects really are," said Mark Stapp, executive director of the Master of Real Estate Development program at Arizona State University's W.P. Carey School of Business.

Hines, a Phoenix real-estate firm, finally succeeded in turning prime piece of property around with plans for offices, apartments, retail shops and a hotel. A crowd of officials and residents gathered for the ceremony Thursday and to watch the long-awaited demolition begin.

"It's a great occasion for Chandler to get rid of this eyesore and have something new and improved on the site," Mayor Jay Tibshraeny said after he donned a hard hat and used an excavator to begin demolition of the building.

He added, "Yeah, that was kind of fun."

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Elevation Chandler demolition begins