ORLANDO, Fla. – The city of Orlando is preparing to install construction fencing as it moves forward with changes at the Pulse nightclub site, a location that has become a daily pilgrimage for those mourning the 49 victims of the 2016 mass shooting.
The city said construction fencing would be installed on or near Monday, Feb. 2, ahead of the March demolition of the site. Some community members expressed reluctance about losing the temporary memorial that has stood for years. The rainbow-colored tribute, which has become a symbol of both tragedy and resilience, will soon disappear to make way for a permanent memorial.
“It’s been here so long, it should just stay like this and serve as the memorial itself,” said Trudy Verry, who lives near the Pulse site. “I feel like if they did it right after it happened, it wouldn’t have been so controversial. But now, after so long, and after all the chalk stuff that happened, it will be a really really big deal that it will be taken down.”
[PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Orlando to begin installing fencing at Pulse site ahead of demolition]
On Monday, despite no fence going up around the site, a News 6 crew saw a large group of people canvassing around and going inside the site with what appeared to be construction maps and tools.
Some people stopped by before the change begins to pay their final respects.
Maria Diaz said she had people she worked with at the site during the mass shooting and came back every year to honor them. With the change of the permanent memorial happening, she says her hope is that it will continue to honor the victims.
“It’s not going to look the same until they finish it then,” Diaz said. “If they are going to break it down to have something for people to come and see, that’s perfect because right now I come a lot of times to see it.”
The site became a focal point of controversy after the state ordered nearby rainbow crosswalks to be painted over. In response, community members returned with chalk, transforming the sidewalks into messages of remembrance.
[BELOW: Pulse nightclub building removal set as Orlando advances memorial plans]
For visitors like Suzanne Middleton, who traveled from out of state to see the memorial before its transformation, the timeline of changes carries additional weight.
“I can’t believe it’s been 10 years... but this is kind of sacred ground. And I kind of think it should be,” Middleton said.
While the temporary memorial will become inaccessible once fencing is in place, the city plans to designate a small area where visitors can leave perishable items, such as flowers, during construction.
The building’s removal is scheduled for mid-March as plans progress for the permanent memorial. The city has scheduled a public update meeting on the design plans for March 5 at 4 p.m. Residents can review the plans at pulseorlando.org.