Demolition of the Wilshire Grand fascinates passersby

At lunchtime, businessman Joe Wilson likes to check out the action just down the street on Wilshire Boulevard in downtown Los Angeles. It's not the traffic he's watching; it's the slow but methodical demolition of the old Wilshire Grand Hotel at the corner of two of the city's busiest thoroughfares.

"Every afternoon when I go out for lunch, I walk by to see what they're doing," said Wilson, who has now seen the hotel reduced to an entire city block of rubble. It's the first step toward construction of a 73-story skyscraper hotel planned for that spot by 2017.

In the meantime, a surprise of sorts has emerged. Once partially hidden by the Wilshire Grand, the 21-story Wedbush Center at 1000 Wilshire seen mainly from the Harbor Freeway now stands prominently for all to see, facing South Figueroa Street. Even if only briefly.

Before and after photos of the Wilshire Grand demolition

"I never seen it, but I knew it was there," subway passenger Eric Portis said of the Wedbush Center after he emerged from the Metro station across the street from the building. "I think a lot of people would say that."

Also getting a fresh downtown profile west of Figueroa are a neighboring 22-story office building at 915 Wilshire built in 1980 and the 52-story Figueroa at Wilshire tower, built 10 years later.

Still in progress at the Wilshire Grand site is the demolition of the underground garage. And starting in August, crews will begin digging the massive hole where the $1-billion Korean Air skyscraper will soon have its foundation, which is scheduled to be complete by year end.

Panoramic view from the demolition site

Keeping the Wilshire Grand name for now, the new tower will have 73 stories that include a hotel, office space and spots for restaurants and stores. It will have 900 guest rooms, double-decker elevators and an observation deck that will afford ocean views.

Businessman Wilson, who watches the progress daily, is eager for work to begin on what will eventually grow beyond the nearby U.S. Bank Tower and become the tallest building west of the Mississippi River.

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Demolition of the Wilshire Grand fascinates passersby