Old Sears / Health Department Coming Down
06.24.11
With the first phase of the Human Services Complex complete, the County has begun to demolish the Old Sears and Roebuck building, built in 1947, that has served for many years as the Health Department.
06.24.11
06.24.11
06.24.11
06.24.11
It wasn't an easy building to really like, from my standpoint, nor an easy building to argue should or could be easily repurposed - it's car-oriented facade and minimal windows are where my sense of urban design clashes against my desire for historic preservation.
But there aren't many examples of the 1940s moderne architecture in Durham; while the loss of the 1942 bus station across the street was a more painful blow in this regard, the diminishing supply/examples of this era shouldn't go unappreciated. On the bright side, the building site won't be vacant lot or more parking; the remainder of the Human Services building will be built on the site.
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6 comments:
I remember buying Spanish peanuts and popcorn from the peanut/snack bar on the main floor,sporting goods on the same floor, but mostly the toy department downstairs...escalator transport!
The Sears building never looked right to me without the street-level retail windows. And as dull-looking as it was, it looked better than what they are replacing it with. That complex looks like something the Borg would come up with. That new complex looks like something out of Brave New World. It's cold, impersonal and intimidating...which is sad and ironic considering its intended use.
Sad to see one of the last major department store buildings in downtown go.
It did have large windows that wrapped around the sidewalk level which were filled with displays of clothes, sporting goods, etc.
My family bought a large camping tent one summer at the annual tent sale held in the front parking lot on the corner of Main Street.
Distinctly remember buying school supplies, and tires!
Sears was several blocks away from the concentration of Belks, Thalhiemers, Peoples, Young Men's Shop, etc, but at Christmas time in the 1960's the sideways were so packed in the evenings people had to walk in the streets to get down to Sears.
lwn
I remember many a Saturday spent at Sears in downtown Durham with my Dad. Another great retail building from the past is gone.
As a youth, I remember seeing my feet through the X-ray machine when buying new shoes.
Woo hoo! Even a pile of burning tires would be better than that old Sears eyesore.
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