Neighbors plan watch party for YMCA implosion
The downtown Riverfront YMCA will be imploded Sunday morning, and city officials are hoping people stay home and watch it on TV.
Residents, however, said they will see the building implode live, right outside their window.
The implosion – lasting no more than 10 seconds – provides enough time to throw a party, and that’s exactly what Kyle Hanson is doing.
“A few mimosas, a bloody Mary and see what this is all about,” Hanson said.
He expects about a dozen friends to come over and watch the destruction.
“We’ll be up here as long as we can be and have one foot in the door ready to roll, if need be so,” Hanson said.
No one will be allowed in the exclusion zone around the Y, which includes City Hall across the river, Simon Estes Amphitheatre and the World Food Prize building directly to the south.
“They don’t anticipate any sort of missile that are created, but better safe than sorry,” said Phil Delafield, of Des Moines Community Development.
A secondary exclusion zone will include the brownstone development Hanson lives in and the Civic Center Court Apartments.
“I can see it when it comes down,” Hanson said.
Tenants in the secondary zone will be able to stay Sunday morning, but they received notices this week, warning them about the giant dust cloud that will take at least five minutes to settle after the implosion.
The demolition crew recommends staying away from windows.
A city spokesman told vlog the pressure wave from the implosion is expected to travel across the river, creating slight risk for damage to the windows on City Hall.