Seeing these interesting photographs of the old city, Phil, I can`t help thinking how good it would have been to renovate and retain the old architecture.
A point that I have raised many times, given my former life before retirement I know a little about beautiful substantial well built buildings being demolished for no other reason that they didn't suit some architects or planners vision of the future.
Other towns and cities found their way around such crimes against history, such as where new premises were added to old building frontages so from the street they look no different, yet inside they are fully functional modern buildings.
Though as has been mentioned the cost supposedly makes it a prohibitive practice even though I don't see it myself. I just think its down to convenience myself , and having a blank slate to work with.