Frank Leu Building
Montgomery, Alabama

In August of 1996, Improvement Group, Inc. acquired the Frank Leu Building, a 10 story office building located in downtown Montgomery, Alabama. The company planned renovate the building by demolishing the interior of the 80,000 square foot structure leaving the exterior walls and support structure. Company management researched the success and viability of such extensive renovations, calling on many expert local sources and traveling to Paris to view similar projects. They determined that a combination of office space and residential condominium units was a feasible use of the property.

Plans were being developed to that end when, in December of 1996, the City of Montgomery through its agent, approached Improvement Group, Inc. with an unsolicited offer to purchase the property. Management rejected that offer.

In the following months, the City of Montgomery acquired all of the property adjacent to the Frank Leu Building for its planned downtown riverfront development. In March 1997, the city again approached management with a new offer to purchase the property. Recognizing the pending condemnation, Improvement Group entered into negotiations to sell the property to the city. The city demolished the building shortly after the purchase was finalized.

News articles on the renovation, implosion pictures and implosion story.