Published Thursday, 22 December 2011
The 16-storey block of flats has been blighted by anti-social behaviour and it has been deemed cheaper to demolish them than to refurbish the building.
It was built as part of three buildings erected in the Co Antrim area during a boom in demand for social housing. Although Latharna is still standing, Shane Houses was demolished four years ago.
The last residents of Gardenmore moved out 18 months ago and a state-of-the-art machine has been brought in from England to knock it down.
Johnny Eastwood's company Eastwood Demolition won the contract from the Housing Executive and are responsible for bringing the machine to Larne.
"It's very safe and with one man operating it, this is much more efficient," said Mr Eastwood.
"Normally we'd have to take it down floor by floor and it would take up to 20 weeks what we're doing in two."
The block is expected to be completely cleared by Christmas Day and it will stay as green land until a redevelopment plan is put in place.
Demolition at the Gardenmore site began a year ago, but the original contractor went into administration.
Chris McCarthy from the Housing Executive said people in the area were looking forward to a completed job.
"The building has been part of the landscape, but this is a new start. Local people are pleased to see it going," he said.