Quick Update: Snow Building Fire

Unfortunately, a fire broke out in the penthouse apartment of the Snow Building last night: Kevin already has some pictures up of the building this morning over at BCR.

The penthouse was evidently completely destroyed, and there is variable water/smoke damage in the remainder of the building. No word on the status of the elevator.

This highlights an issue I bring up when people think I, and/or other preservationists, are overly protective of older buildings: even if you stop, say, NIS from tearing down buildings, attrition continues - perhaps through the private sector, or simply through the passage of time and accompanying natural damange/deterioration. Thus preservation isn't really 'locking up' buildings in perpetuity - it is simply a bulwark against inexorable loss. While fires aren't nearly the frequent cataclysms that occurred in earlier downtowns (including fires in the 1890s, 1910s, 1940s, and even 1960s in downtown Durham) they still can cause major destruction to a downtown.

It is my firm hope and belief that the Snow Building will survive this event - there isn't any doubt that, whatever happened, it can be repaired. Cost is always the issue, but the property is quite valuable at this point.