Watch the former Holiday Inn in Rosslyn demolished by implosion.

[Chainfire]

5. The land becomes more valuable than the building.

Modern buildings become obsolete due to advances in building technique, demand for comfort and new toys, and energy efficiency, Old buildings get to the point where maintenance costs are not justified. I fought the maintenance issues on seven old buildings that I supervised on a college campus. It was a pleasure and relief to see the wrecking balls come after the 50 year old structures. It cost a fortune to heat and cool the buildings. Add that to the land becoming more valuable than the building and you get constant turn-over. If Architects and engineers could see into the future, buildings would last longer. I have become old enough to see buildings that I worked on as a young man being destroyed and it does not bring a tear to my eyes. The Holiday Inn that came down was not architectural treasure, and it's replacement probably wont be one either.