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Fronts harden in the decision whether to blow up the Phoenix Mill Torch in Dortmund Hoerde or not. The 98 meters high central chimney with three large-scale torches for low-caloric mill gases on top has been used to flare gases remaining from the basic oxygen steelmaking process that have too low a caloric value to use it elsewhere in the mill. Even though the sometimes several dozens meters high flame finally went out in 2001, the "Hoerder Fackel" continues to spend identity to the south of the city. If it disappears, there will not a single trace be left of the 160 years long history of steelmaking in Dortmund. There can't be a better monument or symbol for this past era.
BLOW IT UP, SAM
On the pro side: ThyssenKruppSteel, formal owner of the premises and the remaining buildings of the Phoenix Ost Steel Mill who says the decision is of political nature and politics is not its business, Gerhard Langemeyer, lord mayor of Dortmund, who wants to "blow up Dortmund into the future" and who says that "a torch without a flame is not a torch", and his lackeys in the administration who signed the formal permission to use explosives months ago. On the opposite side: Stadtbezirksmarketing Hoerde, a committee that adds a local voice to political decisions about the Hoerde district, strongly opposes the tear-down and now says it feels degraded to an alias organization whose formal powers are ignored by the lord mayor. Local citizens hardly raised their voice in the torch question so far.
13 DAYS TO GO
If decisions and opinions don't change, the torch will fall January 24th, 14:00 local time. Anything else takes a small miracle.
Photo Series: 26 Things in One Abandoned Steel Mill >
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