MIAMI — The Mandarin Oriental Miami has stood on Brickell Key for nearly three decades. By Sunday morning, the landmark will come down in a matter of seconds.
Neighbors are preparing for street closures and a cloud of dust as crews get ready for the controlled implosion.
“It’s never easy saying goodbye to an old friend,” said Michael Ragan, who lives nearby. “The Mandarin Oriental has been a significant part of Brickell Key. They’ve always treated us really well here.”
After 26 years, engineers will implode the hotel to make way for a larger redevelopment project.
Residents say they’ve been kept informed ahead of time.
“They’ve been pretty organized,” said Alex Boulder. “The bridge has been cleaned and everything. They gave us a lot of notice.”
On Saturday, people gathered to take photos of the waterfront property one last time, capturing what many call an iconic part of the Miami skyline.
Officials say the implosion will last about 20 seconds, with the building collapsing inward.
No evacuations are required, but those in the immediate area are being asked to stay indoors, keep windows shut and turn off air conditioning units during the demolition.
Few residents expressed concern. Police and fire crews will be on standby in case of emergencies.
Miami Police Department said the entrance to Brickell Key will be closed from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
The controlled implosion is scheduled for 8:30 a.m.
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