In March 2024, the American Press received a lead that the former Capital One Tower might be demolished sooner than expected.

The city of Lake Charles had secured money from the settlement between property owner Hertz Investment Group and its insurer to cover the cost of demolition if the owner, Hertz Investment Group, didn’t make repairs by November.

The iconic 22-story structure built in 1983 had been damaged since Hurricane Laura hit the city in August 2020. Hertz ultimately didn’t make the repairs, even after settling with their insurance company, and put the damaged tower on the market.

Following up on the lead, a representative from Hertz told the American Press the tower would be imploded.

In July, Doug Burguieres, Lake Charles planning and development director, announced “tentatively” the demolition had been set for 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, and 90 days after the development, the property would be development-ready.

The exclusion zone was set, which was the area in which it was unsafe to watch the demolition from outside. It wasn’t just because of the possibility of flying debris, but because of the noise the explosions would make. The area extended about 1,100 feet from the structure.

On Sept. 7, the public turned out to see the demolition in large numbers. In 30 seconds, the tower was reduced to rubble and dust.