Enveloped in white and adorned with a striking green heart, Grenfell Tower rises prominently, serving as a poignant emblem of a tragedy that was once unimaginable, now revealed by a public inquiry to be preventable.
For those who dwell in its constant proximity, the announcement that it is to be reduced to ground level has elicited deep and varied emotions. Just as the responses from the bereaved and survivors have been diverse, so too were the opinions of the local residents interviewed by the Guardian.
Some argued for its preservation as a stark reminder of systemic failures, unfulfilled justice, and profound sorrow. Others envisioned a tranquil tribute to the 72 lives lost and the countless others left traumatized.
“I feel a bit emotional,” remarked one woman, a mother of two, regarding the news. “I’m genuinely surprised. I can’t grasp why they would want to eradicate it.”
One of her friends endured the nightmare of June 14, 2017. “He wishes not to see it any longer. For some, it’s just too painful.
“But for me, I want it to remain. I grew up in this area. It’s a place for remembrance. It’s not an eyesore to me. I see it every day. It represents what transpired.”
That fateful night, she fled to the 24-story building after a worried friend, whose sister resided in Grenfell and wasn’t answering her calls, alerted her. Fortunately, she survived. “I witnessed her being carried out on a firefighter’s shoulder,” she recalled.
For her, the current state of the tower “is entirely a symbol of the justice that still eludes us.” Until that occurs, she believes it should stay. “Eventually, it will be forgotten. Yet people are still mourning. This moment is far too early.”
Tracey, a mother of three adults, was among those who felt the time has come for its demolition. “When I walk to my mom’s or to church, I see it,” she shared.
“I know individuals who perished there, and I still endure nightmares. But I believe it should serve as a resting place now for those whose spirits remain trapped there.
“Currently, we cannot bid them farewell because its presence is a daily reminder of the tragedy.”
Her nephew was supposed to stay with a family friend in the tower that evening but instead opted to go to his grandmother’s house.
“It re-traumatizes us. Not that we can ever forget. But to grant them a final, peaceful resting place would be ideal. We could cultivate a lovely garden for people to visit instead,” she proposed.
Maria, 71, concurred. “Every day, I open my window and gaze at it. Every single day, the tower reminds me of that fateful day. We cannot move forward. We keep reliving it. It brings me down.”
She expressed that dismantling the tower “is the right course of action.”
“Of course, we sympathize with those who lost loved ones and the survivors. But what’s done is done.”
A commission examining plans for a memorial on the site has stated that if the tower is to be taken down, it should be “dismantled with care and respect.”
A final design for the memorial is anticipated by spring 2026, with construction potentially beginning that same year. Recently, a shortlist of five design teams was revealed, and the selection of a winning team is expected this summer.
Moss, 37, a tech worker who has lived locally all his life, mentioned: “My brother-in-law lost his aunt and uncle.”
As for the planned demolition, he stated: “It really depends on what will replace it. That decision should involve the families and loved ones of those who perished. It’s crucial that this becomes a community decision.
“I see it daily. It has developed its own significance. It’s definitely a beacon for justice. There are generally mixed feelings about it, but we must find a way to move forward.”
Elina, 41, a mother of a young child, described the decision as “heartbreaking” and challenging.
“This serves as a reminder,” she noted. “Perhaps it should be partially removed, not entirely, but some structure could remain. I also like the idea of transforming it into a living garden.
“To erase it completely from existence feels too tragic. It’s as if those lives never mattered. So, to wipe it out entirely is too severe.”
