Today, marks one year since the partial collapse of the Hard Rock Hotel construction site which killed three workers.
Since the tragedy, litigation, lawsuits, the body recovery of the workers killed and plenty of finger-pointing as to who is responsible, has made it difficult for the city and the families of the victims to put the incident to rest.
A growing make-shift memorial remembering the workers who died still stands alongside the twisted steel and crumbled concrete which would have been the Hard Rock Hotel.
A memorial of flowers, candles, signatures, and words of frustration scribbled on the construction site's safety fence outside the Hard Rock collapse site.WWL First News - Kenny Kuhn
“One year ago, our lives were irrevocably changed by the collapse at the Hard Rock Hotel site. Three families began a harrowing journey filled with loss, uncertainty, pain, frustration and — only after too many months — a small measure of closure,” said New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell in a statement released on the anniversary of the collapse. “Today we remember and say the names of three residents we lost — Anthony Floyd Magrette, Jose Ponce Arreola, Quinnyon Wimberly — and remain committed to safely bringing down the building and holding those responsible to account.”
Fast-forward to today and the bodies have been recovered but the structure still stands as demolition crews work to take down the site which has had its own challenges throughout the year.
Due to the dangerous instability of the collapse sight, it took 10 months to recover the remains of the three workers killed and closure brought to the families of the victims.
#Repost • Street art tribute to the three men who lost their lives one year ago today. 🖌🎨 #NewOrleans #HardRockCollapse 📸: @DavidMora
— The City Of New Orleans (@CityOfNOLA) October 12, 2020
🕊 Anthony Floyd Magrette
🕊 Jose Ponce Arreola
🕊 Quinnyon Wimberly pic.twitter.com/SOOnrzegqC
Several months before the bodies were recovered, the city of New Orleans and the building owners went back and forth on how to safely take down the structure. The site today remains a sore-spot in the hearts of New Orleans residents. Demolition crews hope to have the site completely demolished by January 2021.
