Naval Hospital to be imploded for parking lot  
>  
> It is vacant and useless, some say. It is art deco, say others. On May 12, 
> it will be rubble. The stadiums need the land.  
>  
> By Robert Moran  
> INQUIRER STAFF WRITER  
>  
> The Philadelphia Naval Hospital's 15-story main building will be imploded 
> May 12 to make way for a 1,500-car parking lot for the sports complex in 
> South Philadelphia.  
>  
> The Saturday morning implosion at 7 o'clock will erase the most visible 
> remnant of a hospital that served military personnel and veterans since it 
> opened in 1935. The hospital was shut down in 1991, and a remaining clinic 
> was closed in 1995. The building has been vacant since.  
>  
> Nearby residents will get a preview about 10 a.m. May 8, when Controlled 
> Demolition Inc. of Maryland will conduct a test explosion.  
>  
> "People are pretty happy to see that white elephant come down," said Tony 
> Greco, president of the South Philadelphia Communities Civic Association.  
>  
> On Monday, several hundred residents met with city officials to find out 
> what to expect and what precautions to take on the day of the implosion.  
>  
> The nearest homes are within 500 feet of the property. A few residents 
> around 18th and Hartranft Streets will be asked to leave their homes for 
> the blast.  
>  
> Some residents expressed concerns about health risks from dust and 
> asbestos and about property damage from vibration.  
>  
> "The vibration will be like when a truck hits a pothole," said Barbara 
> Capozzi, president of Packer Park Civic Association.	
>  
> "They say it's safe," said Judy Cerrone, president of the Stadium 
> Community Council, referring to assurances by city officials. But "when 
> you're in close proximity, you worry."  
>  
> The test blast on May 8 will sound like a loud clap of thunder, according 
> to Controlled Demolition, which has conducted other implosions in 
> Philadelphia, including the Jack Frost sugar facility in 1997.  
>  
> Some preservationists oppose the demolition because the naval hospital 
> building is considered a distinctive example of art deco style.  
>  
> Gray Smith, an architect working in Center City, has fought for the 
> building to be used again, possibly as luxury housing or a hotel.  
>  
> "It's a sad day for my grandchildren, who will never be able to see that 
> building," Smith said.  
>  
> The parking lot should be ready for use this fall.  
>  
> The implosion is also part of the site preparation for the new Eagles and 
> Phillies stadiums. Other work under way in the area includes demolition of 
> the T-Warehouse, the site for the football stadium. The city will 
> permanently close a portion of 10th Street south of Packer Avenue to 
> relocate utilities.  
>  
> Sometime before the Phillies open their new ballpark in 2004, Veterans 
> Stadium is to be demolished.	
>  
>   [W. Frank Morris, JR]  Well Shipmates.  I guess it's a done deal.	I 
> sit here with a lump in my throat as I write this.	It will be a sad 
> site to see it go as it stood there like a "pillar of strength" in South 
> Philly.  Lots of caring and many good things went on there.  We can all be 
> proud of the part we played.	I've enjoyed all of your comments and 
> thoughts that you have shared concerning it.	We shall miss her.  I will 
> be there wearing my Naval Hospital Philadelphia Hat and my tee shirt which 
> says, I survived the Opening and the closing and the opening and the 
> closing........ 
> And I guess I will survive the implosion, but my eyes will not be dry and 
> my throat will still have that lump in it.	 I will see you all there in 
> the park across the street that morning.  
> I am going to drive up this PM for one last look and photo as I have heard 
> that you can see all the way thru the building looking down the A Ramp. 
> Have a good weekend shipmates.   Frank  _____