ORLANDO, Fla. — It was a token of the changing of the times: The Pulse sign has been removed Wednesday morning as a permanent memorial will be erected to honor the 49 lives lost at the nightclub on June 12, 2016.
What You Need To Know
Crews hoisted the Pulse nightclub sign off its foundation on Wednesday
City officials say crews will begin demolition and clearing the site, which could take several weeks, on March 18
Officials say construction on a permanent memorial will begin later this year, with completion scheduled for fall 2027
More Pulse coverage
On Wednesday morning, crews hoisted the sign of the once-popular gay nightclub off its foundation and lowered it.
The first step of the demolition process was when the crew started to take down the paneling on the Pulse sign on Tuesday.
Chainsaws were used by construction crews to cut the sidewalk outside of the Pulse nightclub on South Orange Avenue.
Spectrum News/Massiel Leyva
According to the city, the sign removal process was expected to take three days, and that timeline could change because of unforeseen circumstances. The initial phase included removing the white paneling and stabilizing the structure. Because the sign must be methodically disassembled and secured prior to removal, preparatory work may take longer than anticipated before the top portion can be lifted.
According to the city, the entire process will cost approximately $12 million to $13 million.
The city will allocate $7 million toward it, while the county will contribute $5 million, and the State of Florida and private donors will cover the rest.
Spectrum News/Massiel Leyva
Next Wednesday, crews will begin the demolition of the Pulse building.
City officials say the sign will be stored in an undisclosed location during the construction in case designers want to use it in the memorial.
They said the clearing process will include the former nightclub and the adjacent building, along with other structures within the fencing.
Earlier this year, crews removed artifacts from inside the building, including the chandeliers, posters and other items that were placed in climate-controlled storage so they are available to be used in the permanent memorial.
Officials say construction on the memorial will begin later this year, with completion scheduled for fall 2027.