Brian Ulrich: Bringing Down the House

Local authorities have found a unique way to deal with the growing number of foreclosed homes in and around the city and suburbs of Cleveland: they demolish them. The authorities believe that reducing the housing supply will drive prices higher and encourage the economic growth that is necessary to end the recession. (Read the full story at Time.com)

TIME sent photographer Brian Ulrich to document several of these demolitions. Ulrich photographed a selection of these demolitions and we assembled the results into this time-lapse video.

“At several locations, neighbors came from their homes and stood not to simply marvel at the demolition spectacle but gave resounding cheers when facades of the once derelict homes fell,” says Ulrich. “It appeared that the removal of blight actually empowered people in the community over the relentless beating drum of foreclosure crisis and downturn and the greater sensation of feeling helpless. Home ownership has been integrally tied to the concept of the American dream, but we’ve lost faith in the dream and are ready for a reset.”

Photographer Brian Ulrich was previously based in the Midwest, and now resides in Virginia. An exhibit of Ulrich’s work will be on display at the Cleveland Museum of Art from August 27, 2011 to January 16, 2012. The exhibit consists of 50 images from the Copia series. This is his first museum exhibit.

See images from Brian Ulrich’s Copia project on LightBox.