I photographed the Hickory Lake Apartment complex in Smyrna as it was being demolished for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Monday, November 21, 2011. There has been a great deal of controversy surrounding the tearing down of the complex with more possibly on the way depending on a decision as to whether to build a charter school on the property after demolition is complete. No firm plans have been set for what the city is doing with the land. These are some of my favorite images.
Bulldozers and excavators work to remove rubble from the Hickory Lake apartment complex in Smyrna on Monday, November 21, 2011. The complex stirred controversy last year and may again as the property may be turned into a charter school.
A child's basketball lays amidst the rubble of one of the apartment building in the Hickory Lake complex in Smyrna on Monday, November 21, 2011.
James Rogers sprays water into the pile of rubble that used to be an apartment building in order to keep dust and debris out of the air at the Hickory Lake complex in Smyrna on Monday, November 21, 2011. The complex stirred controversy last year and may again as the property may be turned into a charter school.
Piles of rubble and debris lay amongst the remaining buildings as demolition contiinues at the Hickory Lake apartment complex in Smyrna on Monday, November 21, 2011.
Mario Spencer uses a stream of water to keep dust and debris out of the air as demolition continues at the Hickory Lake apartment complex in Smyrna on Monday, November 21, 2011. The complex stirred controversy last year and may again as the property may be turned into a charter school.
Mario Spencer (left) and Cedric Ingram separate a piece of steel from a pile of debris as demolition continues at the Hickory Lake apartment complex in Smyrna on Monday, November 21, 2011.
Bulldozers and excavators work to remove rubble from the Hickory Lake apartment complex in Smyrna on Monday, November 21, 2011.
Water is sprayed on debris as an excavator works to remove rubble from the Hickory Lake apartment complex in Smyrna on Monday, November 21, 2011.
Eduardo Quinto operates an excavator as he loads a pile of debris into a dump truck as demolition continues at the Hickory Lake apartment complex in Smyrna on Monday, November 21, 2011. The complex stirred controversy last year and may again as the property may be turned into a charter school.
Piles of rubble and debris lay amongst the remaining buildings as demolition continues at the Hickory Lake apartment complex in Smyrna on Monday, November 21, 2011.
Bulldozers and excavators work to remove rubble from the Hickory Lake apartment complex in Smyrna on Monday, November 21, 2011.
I remembered when the apt complex was being built! My dad was a scurity guard then, I was a teenager and I used to stay with him at night.I remembered in the winter, it snowed on all the wood and materials on the ground.But that did’nt stop the construction workers the next day…..wow that has been 45 years plus ago…so sad! Bless that spot that stood those great buildings that had so many great memories for everyone…..