ORLANDO, Fla. — Crews working to complete the cleanup of the former site where the Pulse nightclub stood had made significant progress by Friday.
Demolition of the nightclub and nearby buildings on the property began Wednesday morning. By Friday morning, only some piles of rubble and other debris remained.
The nightclub was the site of a mass shooting that killed 49 people and injured many others on June 12, 2016.
The clearing process was expected to take several weeks and include the removal of the Pulse building, the adjacent building and any other structures within the fence.
Construction of a permanent memorial to pay tribute to the people who died and to serve as a place for people to remember them is expected to begin in September 2026.
Some mixed feelings remain about the proposed memorial design and whether they truly represent the desires of those more directly involved. The city only has about 30% of the design plan completed and provided an update on it a few weeks ago.
A 60% design meeting is planned in May.
The goal is to complete the memorial by Fall 2027.
(Spectrum News)