Tower’s Final Blast Makes Money
- Share via
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The city made the best of a sinking situation Saturday, blasting a tottering office tower into a pile of rubble amid money-making hoopla featuring $5 commemorative bricks.
Thousands cheered the controlled explosion that erased the seven-story Corporate Plaza from the downtown skyline in about 20 seconds. The honor of pushing the button that set off the blast went to Steve Pucszyn, a store worker who won a city-sponsored raffle. Three thousand raffle tickets sold for $5 each.
The building began to slowly collapse last month when a 40-foot-long sinkhole cut through the city center.
“What else are you going to do when Mother Nature deals you a hand like this?” asked Robin Turner, director of the Downtown Improvement District Authority.
Beside the $5 souvenir bricks, sweat shirts bearing the slogan “I Survived the Big Bang” sold for $20. The money will be split between the Downtown Improvement District Authority and the Lehigh County chapter of the American Red Cross.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
