Sears demolition continues

By Diane Hettrick

Photos by David Carlos

Piles of rubble surround the Sears building in Shoreline Place as the gutting of the interior continues.

Crews are doing a professional job, cleaning up as they go.

I was told a long time ago that the underground spaces went all the way back to the extension wing which has the blue fronts in the photo. But it's a little shocking to see how huge the building actually is. I wonder what they did will all that extra space.

Shoreline Fire used the lower level to train firefighters to fight fires in confined spaces.

The building in the back is the Washington State Department of Transportation.

The extension in the front of the photo was the auto shop. The entry door on the other side led into a lower level where I remember a photo studio. I also remember a wall with a locked door just beyond it. Employees frequently went into the area beyond the door. Tire sales were near the entrance and I believe the retail section on the other side had clothing. But it was nowhere as big as the size of the building would indicate.

I'm realizing now that I spent very little time shopping here. I have been in the main retail level on the top floor, using the entrance near the corner near Town & Country. And I have spent some time in the area accessed from the back, usually deserted parking lot. I had no idea there was anything but solid earth underneath. Those two sections of the store probably connected but I never checked it out.

I wonder what they will do with all the chunks of concrete? They are bristling with rebar so not useful for building retaining walls.

It will be interesting to see the building plans.