It’s that long-awaited time: The demolition of the Harmon Hotel, which holds the ignominious distinction of the first Strip hotel demolished without ever hosting a single guest. This $11.5 million sidewalk show will leave an awkward void next to Crystals. However, contractor — and alleged corner-cutter — Perini Tutor didn’t oppose the demolition, saying that MGM Resorts International‘s evidence-gathering had hopelessly compromised the structure. At least architect Sir Norman Foster will soon be able to pretend the whole thing never happened. (Whoever thought it would outlast Fontainebleau?)
So unnerving where the structural lapses attributed to Perini (severed rebar, for one) that it didn’t matter if $21 million would make everything right. The fear of staying in an earthquake-vulnerable building — an issue that MGM was at pains to publicize — was enough to keep one away. Its legacy was to be the biggest billboard on the Strip, although imitators are now going the big, bigger, biggest route — even MGM itself; if its Aria marquee fell over it would crush half the people on the Strip. At one stage, Harmon was wrapped with a Viva Elvis promotion (above the jump): Wow, two of MGM’s biggest flops ‘wrapped’ into one.
* “How does a McDonalds go out of business?” Well, maybe if you put it next to a clown-themed motel and a miner’s graveyard in Tonopah, that will do the trick. Look only if you truly dare. I’d be surprised if anybody gets a good night’s sleep there.
