MGM Resorts seeks to demolish CityCenter’s Harmon tower

"We have been assured by demolition experts that a properly executed implosion will not pose health or safety problems for residents, visitors and adjacent businesses," said MGM spokesman Gordon Absher.

Clark County commissioners say they trust MGM Resorts would implode the building safely, if the proposal is approved. The Harmon, a 400-room non-gaming boutique hotel, was to be the final piece of the us$ 8.5 billion CityCenter. But construction was halted in 2008 as reports of structural defects became public.

An engineer deemed the Harmon unsafe last month, saying the structure could possibly collapse in the event of a natural disaster, such as an earthquake. Perini, the construction company that built the Harmon, argued that was untrue and engaged in a public back-and-forth with MGM over the building's future.

The gaming giant said it would take 18 months of tests to determine if the building could be repaired, and as many as three years to finish construction. Clark County had given MGM an August 15 deadline to come up with a plan for the Harmon. Monday's announcement, pending county approval, marks the beginning of the end.

LVI Environmental Services, the company that would perform the implosion, said in a statement that it would take six months to prepare the building and conduct the implosion.
Debris removal and cleanup would take another five months, the company said.

LVI has been responsible for a number of historic demolitions on the Strip, including those at the Desert Inn, Sands, Stardust, Aladdin and El Rancho properties.