JERUSALEM, 5 February 2021 - United Nations representatives met yesterday with the Palestinian Bedouin community of Humsa al Bqaia, in the northern Jordan Valley of the West Bank. On 1 and 3 February, 60 people, including 35 children, were displaced from their homes and their belongings seized or destroyed by Israeli forces. Among items seized were tents provided to them as humanitarian assistance following an earlier demolition of83 other structures in November 2020, the largest single demolition since 2009.

The demolitions and confiscations were carried out after the families were verbally ordered to leave the area, although the community has made it clear they want to remain. The community has made appeals to the courts and rejected previous proposals to be moved to another location. This situation where the community is put under pressure to move raises a real risk of forcible transfer, which is a breach of international law.

The humanitarian community has also consistently expressed concerns over other impending demolitions, including of schools. One school in Um Qussa, in the southern West Bank, is currently under imminent threat of demolition, which would impact 50 children. Bedouin children, especially girls, are amongst the most vulnerable to human rights violations. Limiting their access to education and other basic services during a pandemic only exacerbates this vulnerability. Currently, 53 schools, which are attended by 5,200 children, have demolition orders placed against them. The rights of children to protection, safety, and well-being must be upheld at all times.

The humanitarian community will continue to provide assistance to those impacted by this demolition, ensure their humanity is recognised and dignity upheld, and advocate for respect for international law.

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Notes to editors:

Since the 1970s, Israel has declared some 18 per cent of the West Bank, or nearly 30 per cent of Area C, as firing zones for military training. Humsa al Bqaia is one of 38 Bedouin and herding communities partially or fully located within these firing zones. These are some of the most vulnerable communities in the West Bank, with limited access to education and health services, and to water, sanitation and electricity infrastructure.

In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, it is estimated that since 2009, some 7,400 Palestinian-owned structures have been destroyed, resulting in the displacement of over 11,000 people from their homes, including some displaced more than once. Since the beginning of 2021 alone, at least 152 structures, of which 37 were donated, have been destroyed, rendering at least 184 Palestinians homeless. The lack of Israeli-issued building permits is typically cited as the reason, even though, due to the restrictive and discriminatory planning regime, Palestinians can almost never obtain such permits. Demolitions are a key means of creating an environment that leaves Palestinians with no other choice than to leave their homes.

For a statement issued by the Humanitarian Coordinator a.i. following the demolition in November 2020, see ochaopt.org/content/west-bank-witnesses-largest-demolition-years For detailed data on demolitions: ochaopt.org/data/demolition

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UN reiterates its call for demolitions to end and for international law to be respected - UNICEF

Sumedha SharmaTribune News ServiceGurugram, February 10

Gurugram manages to only treat 10 per cent of its average daily collection of Construction and Demolition (C and D) waste, leading to increasing heaps of untreated waste at collection points.

With a channelised collection mechanism in place around 3,000 metric tonnes of construction and demolition waste is being collected daily while only a maximum of 300 metric tonnes of waste is treated at the sole treatment plant in Basai.

The situation worsened with around nine lakh tonnes of legacy waste that has accumulated over the years.

Out to tackle the issue the MCG is planning yet another treatment plant which will reduce the collection and treatment deficit and help in dealing its biggest civic crisis of C and D waste disposal.

We have a proper collection mechanism in place where people are proactively calling for waste collection but the treatment speed is yet to match this efficiency. We are mulling on setting up another plant with an increased output which will smoothen the C and D waste management of the city. We will soon be issuing tenders, revealed a senior MCG official.

The MCG has also been purchasing recycled aggregates from its Basai plant and plans to start manufacturing its paver blocks, for use in pavements and bicycle tracks, from October 2020 and a new treatment the plant would provide more raw material.

Amidst the Covid crisis, Gurugram Municipal Corporation, led by commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh, went ahead dealing with its oldest

civic issueillegally disposed of construction and Demolition waste.

Hiring a professional agency the authority went on clearing citys empty plots, green belts and Aravali area of C and D waste which had been lying there since many such years. The Corporation managed to collect around 6 lakh metric tonnes of construction and demolition (C&D) waste from across the city the highest for not just for district till date but entire NCR. The sluggish pace of treatment however seems to be defeating what promises to be a perfect C and D disposal plan.

Link:
Only 10 per cent of construction and demolition waste being treated in Gurugram - The Tribune India

Heavy snow from a three-day snowstorm last week caused two buildings in the city to partially collapse and threaten surrounding buildings. Throw in the COVID-19 pandemic and the city is facing another problem with one of the buildings.

The city worked quickly to stabilize and demolish the portions of a vacant three-story building in the 500 block of Miltimore Street after the roof collapsed on Feb. 2.

To finish demolition, crews will have to cut power to the neighborhood, leaving students who are attending school virtually because of the pandemic unable to do so.

I know the residents are very frustrated the electricity is going to be cut, Managing Director Abraham Amoros said at Monday's City Council meeting. Its going to cut into their childs learning time.

We are going to do everything we can to provide solutions to those residents."

The city is working with local organizations to ease the burden.

Our Reading Fire Department and Community Development have reached out to our partners in the community, the Olivet Boys & Girls Club and the Reading Public Library, said Communications Coordinator Christian Crespo. They are eager and available to provide their resources to any children impacted by the utility interruption from Met-Ed.

The closest Olivet club is the Clinton Street club, Crespo said.

All kids have to be registered by an adult before entry to collect emergency contact information, he said.

Community Development Director Jamal Abodalo said the electricity needs to be shut off for the safety of the contractors because the power lines are close to the building.

We are looking for a place for the children to continue their education," Abodalo said, adding that the city will also address the needs of the elderly.

An abandoned factory building in the 200 block of Maple Street partially collapsed Friday, forcing officials to evacuate nine homes.

Residents were able to return to their homes late Friday night after a demolition contractor took down a portion of the building.

All the emergency demolition is complete on both buildings, Fire Chief William Stoudt Jr. told council.

Now officials are working to demolish the remainder of the buildings later this week, he added.

With more snow in the forecast, Councilwoman Marcia Goodman-Hinnersthiz asked if the city is keeping an eye on other potential collapses.

We know we have a lot of abandoned factory buildings throughout the city, she said. I wasnt surprised about the building on Maple Street. That was always high risk.

Abodalo said the city is aware of several vacant buildings, but it's hard to determine the structural integrity of each building.

If they are owned by a property owner we cannot really enter that property because we dont have a reason, he said. The properties on the blight list, we are very vigilant and we monitor them as we go. We have continuous discussions with the property owners."

See the original post here:
COVID pandemic complicates demolition of collapsed building in Reading - Reading Eagle

The Brewton City Council took steps to approve the demolition of two properties within the city.

Steve Yuhasz spoke to the council to give information on residences located at 118 Lynbrook Drive and 21 Eula Drive. A business facility located at 1023 Douglas Avenue was also included in the topic of demolition.

Previously, the City Council has approved a time-frame for improvements to the dilapidated residence at 118 Lynbrook Drive. However, Yuhasz said that no improvements have been made at the location to stop the demolition process.

The has been no improvement or progress at the location, Yuhasz told the council. :The yard has been cut and cleaned and some debris has been removed. The property owner has paid nearly $1,000 in redemption costs and has shown a plan for further improvements. Pressure washing was planned at the residence, but has not happened due to what I suspect is weather issues.

Yuhasz said he believed the owner had intentions to continue to improve the property.

Councilwoman Carrie Brown suggested the council extend a little time to allow the owner a chance to make those improvements needed to halt demolition. Following Browns lead, the council agreed to extend time to March 8 to allow the owner to proceed with improvements.

A residence at 212 Eula Street was also set for demolition by the City of Brewton if improvements were not made on the property.

Yuhasz told the council that no work had been started on the property to indicate a plan for repairs.

We have sent the notification and have not heard from the owner, Yuhasz said. The time has elapsed. This is a small structure and is definitely a nuisance in the neighborhood.

After some discussion, the council approved moving ahead with demolition at the Eula Street location. RMCC was the low bidder on the demolition project at a cost of $1,250 to the city. No time frame for the demolition was given.

One large building in Brewton will be set for demolition as a result of Mondays discussions by the council.

The former Brewton Heights Shopping Center locationn at 1023 Douglas Avenue will be demolished based on the councils approval Monday.

Yuhasz said a request for demolition will be sent to the owner of the building which will be torn down at the owners expense.

Mayor Yank Lovelace said the cost of the demolition will be the responsibility of the owners, Namdar of Great Neck, New York.

This is a larger piece of property and will be a larger expense, Lovelace said. We will bear the cost of the residence demolitions, but this will be at the expense of the owners.

The city first addressed the issue of the old shopping center in November 2020 and had conversations with owners and developers for the property. With the current state of disrepair of the building, the owners have declared it beyond repair and have no prospects for development at that location.

No time frame was given as to when the demolition of the center would begin.

Originally posted here:
Portion of old Brewton Heights Shopping Center to be demolished - The Brewton Standard - Brewton Standard

The stadium in Mission Valley has been known by many names, San Diego Stadium, Jack Murphy Stadium, Qualcomm Stadium, and SDCCU Stadium. Though since 1967, despite all of the name changes, one thing remained constant San Diegans enjoying a day at the field.

Those days, unfortunately, are coming to an end.

After decades of the Chargers, Padres, Aztecs, and various events and concerts in the bowl of The Murph as many San Diegans fondly remember it, the place grew old and in serious need of an update.

While plans to build a stadium for San Diego State were approved, as were plans to knock down the old one.

An article in The San Diego Union-Tribune revealed that even though demolition was initially set for 2022, construction had to be expedited due to the stadium being in an unsustainable state.

In other words, the final ball had been thrown, the last bat had been swung, the final song had been sung.

It was time for The Murph to go.

Demolition started in November 2020.

Since then day by day, hour by hour San Diegos concrete titan is being broken down into rubble.

Harvard School of Design graduate and lecturer of interior architecture at SDSU James Brown looks back fondly on his days spent at the stadium.

My first job was at San Diego Stadium in 1977, he said. I was employed by ACE parking. I took the job for only one reason to get into the Charger games at halftime for freeMan, that was good.

Despite many people saying the Murph was past its prime from a sports standpoint, Brown said the architectural qualities make it stand the test of time.

The stadium was a beautiful sculpture sitting like a pearl surrounded by a chaos of parking and partyingThe edifice was classified as brutalist, as is the Geisel Library at UCSD, he said. They have strength, both literally and figuratively, in their heavy concrete structure and massing.

That brutalism making it one-of-a-kind in its heyday is what made it become a signature part of Americas finest city.

So, while the building has stature and grace, it lacks connectivity to its surroundings. It sat alone in splendorous isolation.

Clark Construction is in charge of demolition having been awarded a $250 million contract in March 2019.

Albert Valdivia, Clark Constructions vice president, grew up in San Diego and has fond memories of spending time at SDCCU Stadium.

My dad would take us to Padres games in the late innings when they would open the gates and you could get in for free, Valdivia said. I was able to play on the field in a CIF Championship game, watch my kids play football on the field during a Chargers halftime, and watch my best friend play for the Chargers for several seasons.

While many San Diegans can share similar anecdotes and sentiments, its become apparent that these memories of athletes like Tony Gwynn, Ladainian Tomlinson, Dan Fouts and others have been clouded by the recent decline of the stadium and what it had to offer.

Ill cherish these memories forever, but for years I have felt like the fan experience has been poor, Valdivia said.

Valdivia wasnt alone in thinking this, in fact in the final year the Chargers played at the stadium, attendance fell by over 100,000 compared to the year before.

Even though there was a steady decline in the experience in its later years, the stadium will be missed by many SDSU students.

Communications senior Alexis Armenta spent quite a few Saturdays at SDCCU stadium cheering on the Aztecs.

Im really going to miss the old stadium, Armenta said I had a lot of memories tailgating with my friends and then going to the football games.

With the end of an era actively taking place, all eyes are on a new one to begin.

Adjacent to the demolition, Clark Construction is also building Bashor Field at Aztec Stadium the first piece of the SDSU Mission Valley campus.

The brand-new stadium will be filling the shoes of the stadium-sized hole in San Diego. This modern, clean take on the new home for Aztecs Football has students excited.

Marketing freshman Ian Harper, is looking forward to the different atmosphere once Aztec Stadium is finished.

As a current freshman and football fan, Im beyond excited to spend time and make memories at the new stadium, he said.

This new generation of SDSU students will go on to have great experiences at a new spot a new cornerstone in San Diego culture.

Brown also shared some insight behind the new projects construction.

The design, simplified by the need for only one sport configuration, is clean, and surprisingly intimate, he said. The space on the exterior perimeter is active, engaging and offers glimpses of the field here and there, which is sure to get the blood pumping.

One key part of the project that catches Browns eye? The seating arrangement.

The field is lowered, and one will feel a similar jolt of excitement upon entering it much as we do with our basketball arena.

The design promises intimacy and access. I am looking forward to it.

Its not just students and faculty who are excited for the new field, the people who are building the new home territory for SDSU are exuberant as well.

Valdivia and the Clark Construction crew are eager for their opportunity to shape a new part of San Diegos history.

The new Aztec Stadium will have so many neat features that will feel uniquely San Diego and will be the hottest ticket in town, Valdivia said. As excited as we all should be about the new stadium, the 80 acres of parks and open space is something I look forward to bringing my family to regularly for years to come.

San Diegans may be sad to see an old legend go but it seems that Americas finest city awaits its new stadium with excitement.

The demolition is proceeding as scheduled with sights set on a Fall 2022 debut in time for the Aztecs Football home opener.

Go here to see the original:
Reflections on the demolition of SDCCU Stadium The Daily Aztec - Daily Aztec

Listen to this report as it aired on KPCW 91.7

The Park City City Council had a lengthy discussion about affordable housing at the future arts and culture district at their meeting on Thursday night. KPCWs Sean Higgins has more on what the council ended up agreeing and disagreeing on:

The sticker shock of the price of affordable housing at the future arts and culture district continues to be a hard pill to swallow for a number of members of the Park City City Council.

Estimates currently put the price per unit at roughly $600,000 thanks to construction and material costs that have steadily increased over the last year. With a total price tag for the project now hovering around the $100 million mark, council was keen to explore cost-saving options.

Thursdays discussion on the district was dedicated to the housing dilemma and showed some divisions amongst the councilors on the best path forward.

No binding decisions were made on Thursday, but a quick poll of the council showed a divide on whether or not specifically building housing at the site of the district was essential part of the project. The city owns other parcels of land and construction costs will likely be less -- possibly $150,000 or more per unit less -- if housing was instead constructed there.

For Councilmember Steve Joyce, he said it was all about asking the right questions.

To me, this is opportunity cost, said Joyce. Its not do we need affordable housing, its do we do it here? Do we do it somewhere else? Can we do it cheaper somewhere else? I actually think thats an important part of the conversation.

Mayor Andy Beerman added the projected costs and reluctance from council reflect the truth of constructing anything, anywhere in Park City at the moment.

I want to be careful what assumptions were making that this is expensive because its in the arts and culture district, Beerman said. I think this is expensive because its the first time in a long time weve gotten really good projections ahead of time to look at, that these are numbers that maybe are close to accurate and were not seeing what we want to see, were seeing the reality of building in Park City right now.

Another aspect of the project council was divided on was whether or not to move forward with any construction without firm commitments, either in writing or in the form of checks, from partners Sundance Institute and Kimball Arts Center. Both organizations plan to build new headquarters on the site, but the pandemic put their capital campaigns on hold.

Councilmember Nann Worel brought up that all of the back and forth from council could make their partners nervous about committing to the project before the city does, characterizing the dilemma as a chicken and the egg situation. Fellow Councilmember Becca Gerber agreed with that assessment.

This is a tough one, but I think from my perspective we have heard nothing but that our partners are committed to moving forward and the hard part is when we bought the property, we committed to doing an arts and culture district, said Gerber. I think that we also have an obligation to move forward with our planning and make sure were being good partners to them as well, so it is a bit of a chicken and the egg, you know? As [Councilmember Max Doilney] said, we all have to be willing to take this jump together. As we kind of hesitate about what we want to put on the area, I think that its natural that might cause some concern amongst partners.

One thing council did come to an agreement on was to move forward with prepping the five-acre parcel for eventual construction. The buildings at the corner of Kearns Boulevard and Bonanza Drive sit vacant and the city does not intend to have anyone move back in. No firm date was set for demolition, but Gerber said the rough timetable was to have the site prepped by the spring.

Discussion of the arts and culture district will continue at the next city council meeting, currently scheduled for February 25th.

Go here to see the original:
Park City Council United on Demolition, Divided on Other Aspects of Arts and Culture District - KPCW

Scene reported in July that the Cleveland Metroparks would manage the demolition with funds obtained by LAND studio through the Clean Ohio Fund.

As we reported then, the demolitions will be the "first major visible step" in the project to create a premiere public park in Cleveland. It aims to stabilize and reimagine the Cuyahoga River hillside along the bend just North of W. 25th Street and transform it into a 23-acre park.

The former Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) administrative building, and the former CMHA multifamily housing complex known as "Big 8" are the two structures to be demolished. The Big 8 facility is slated for demolition first on Monday. Protective fencing will have been erected by Monday.

A statement from LAND Studio said that the demolition could clear the way for "dramatic views" of the river and downtown Cleveland which are now obstructed.

"The clearing of these buildings will now give the community a better sense of the incredible potential this space offers," said Joel Wimbiscus, LAND Studio project manager, in a press release. "Once razed, the curtains will be drawn back to open up a dramatic view of the Cuyahoga Valley and downtown allowing Clevelanders to reunite with a vista that has been hidden for more than 50 years."

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Read more from the original source:
Irishtown Bend Demolition to Begin Next Week, Will Reveal Dramatic Views from W. 25th - Cleveland Scene

*Sigh* ... college football season is officially over and, yep, it came to a close with yet another blowout. Alabama is once again on top of the college football world, continuing the dynasty with authority last night. I've got you covered with plenty of items from Monday's title game, but we've also got some more big news to talk about -- including a semi-surprising NFL coaching change and a suspenseful development in the NBA.

Bring it on.

I was desperately hoping for a close, dramatic title CFP title game last night ... and for a little while it looked like we might get one. But Alabama's explosive offense was relentless and pulled away, keeping their foot on the gas until they cruised to a 52-24 win over Ohio State. That's yet another title victory for Bama and Nick Saban, who made history as the only coach to win seven national championships. (Saban has six at Alabama and one at LSU.)

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You want a fun fact that'll blow your mind? Saban now has more national championships to his name than the other 129 active FBS coaches combined. Just an absolutely preposterous stat.

Here are a few more stunning stats from Monday's game:

How about one more stat for the road? Alabama finished out the season averaging 48.5 points per game, which is the most in SEC history.

The amount of insanely talented skill position players that have come through Tuscaloosa over the past couple of years is just patently absurd, and Bama's gamebreakers were virtually unstoppable on Monday night. In the words of Saban himself, "good defense doesn't beat good offense anymore." And, as a Texas fan, it was beautiful to read Dennis Dodd's summation of Saban's greatness and how it's rubbed off on Steve Sarkisian:

So a big congratulations to Bama for being so damn good that last night's game was disappointingly one-sided. In a college football season that was incredibly unpredictable and chaotic, the Tide's dominance was a constant ... and they left no doubt who the best team in the country was last night.

After Week 17's embarrassing Eagles debacle, I wondered whether Doug Pederson's standing and job security within the organization might take a hit. Ultimately, Pederson and the Eagles decided to part ways yesterday, ending the coach's tenure in Philadelphia just three years after he coached the birds to a Super Bowl title. He's the first coach to be fired within three years of winning a Super Bowl since the Colts axed Don McCafferty in 1973.

All things considered, I'd have to imagine that the decision to tank in Week 17 came from upstairs, which sucks for Pederson because he took a ton of heat for that mess and didn't even get to keep his job for the trouble. But it seems safe to assume the coach will have an opportunity to bounce back and lead another organization soon, perhaps one that will give him more control.

As for what's next for the Eagles, our Jeff Kerr has put together a list of candidates that could replace Pederson... and it likely won't come as much of a surprise that Eric Bieniemy is leading the pack.

The NBA still finds itself in a bit of a mess as it attempts to navigate COVID-19 early in this new year. The league has been hit hard by outbreaks within different organizations over the past week -- several teams have struggled to put the required eight players on the floor because of the virus. Postponements are starting to pile up and the league now has to decide the appropriate next steps.

The league recently said it has no plans to press pause on the season, though there's always the chance that they reconsider that stance based on how messy things have gotten in recent weeks. That being said, there was an expectation that things would get worse after the holidays, so maybe the league will try to endure this spike while making some significant changes to protocols.

Whatever the league decides, it sounds like the next few days could bring some big news, so stay tuned for that.

I probably don't need to tell you that this year's NCAA Tournament is going to look a little different than it would in a normal year. We already know that the entire tournament will be held in the state of Indiana and have a condensed schedule, but COVID-19 will undoubtedly impact the tournament in other ways as well.

In order to get an idea of what this year's March Madness may look like, we had our Matt Norlander gaze into the future and give predictions for multiple aspects of the tournament -- including key dates and overall schedule. Here's how he thinks the schedule will look:

It's important that I clarify that these aren't solidified dates, it's just the schedule that Norlander envisions when he sees the tournament play out in his mind. It's also worth noting that the off-days included in this schedule could also be used to play postponed games, if necessary. If you want to get more into the finer details, Norlander also put together a full potential schedule using Jerry Palm's most recent bracket projection.

The more you look at this projected template, the more you realize it's going to be a chaotic, nearly non-stop event for a couple of weeks. Norlander says he thinks it's "going to be fascinating" and "the best viewing experience in tournament history."

The tournament is always a crazy and chaotic adrenaline rush, but condensing the entire thing is like shifting up and hitting the NOS button, so prepare yourself for that ride. Speaking personally, not having a tournament in 2020 has only made me hungrier for a crazy experience this year.

No. 9 Wisconsin vs. No. 7 Michigan, 7 p.m. | MICH -3.5 | TV: ESPN

Pacers vs. Warriors, 10:30 p.m. | GSW -2.5 | TV: NBATV

CFP National Championship: Alabama 52, Ohio State 24

Alabama posted 621 yards of total offense en route to an 18th national title.Winning wagers:BAMA -9.5, Over (75)

Wizards 128, Suns 107

Bradley Beal had 34 points, eight rebounds and nine assists in the upset.Winning wagers: WSH +203, Over (232)

View original post here:
Here are the most stunning stats from Alabama's demolition of Ohio State - CBS Sports

In the game preview leading up to this top ten tilt, I wrote about Michigan freshman Hunter Dickinson going up against the best frontcourt he has faced in college. Wisconsins Micah Potter was perfectly suited to both slow the Wolverine star down, and thats exactly what he did throughout the first 8 minutes.

While stopping Dickinson with his size and strength near the rim, Potter also scored five quick points before being pulled out before the first half under 12 timeout. With Nate Reuvers struggling mightily on both ends, Gard could not afford to leave Potter on the pine for long and went back to him with just over 11 minutes left in the first half.

Then, within the span of just over 40 seconds, the Badger big picked up a pair of fouls. The second came on a moving screen call with 8:18 left in the half, and Gard quickly inserted Reuvers back in.

It was a nightmarish first half on both ends for Reuvers, who finished 2-7 in the period and gave up numerous easy looks on the defensive end. He looked a step slow from the start of the night, allowing Isaiah Livers to prance to the rim for an easy layup on Michigans second possession.

With Potter on the bench, Wisconsins offense fell apart and the Badgers found themselves down 17 at halftime. The game was over by the time he came back in. Like this entire performance was, Potter sitting after an incredible start cant be blamed on a coach or a player, but instead shared between the two.

A cheap moving screen just isnt a foul that Potter can afford to pick up, knowing he already has one to his name. At the same time, with the game clearly slipping away at the under four timeout in the first half, there is no reason for Gard to leave his second best player on the night sitting. Its a steadfast rule of Gards (and many other college coaches), at least it has been for nearly every situation like this, that a player with two fouls sits in the first half. This wasnt the situation to stick to that rigid rule, but instead one where an analysis of the circumstances would show that Potter had to be out there. He wasnt, and Wisconsin paid the price.

Continued here:
Five reasons Michigan cruised to a 77-54 demolition of Wisconsin - Badgers Wire

The continuing demolition of the St. Joseph Community Center worked into the tallest part of the sprawling complex on Jan. 12.

West 21st Street was blocked from Broadway to Reid Avenue for safety as an excavator with a cutting claw, called a shear, began taking apart the five-story former hospital.

Its address is 205 W. 20th St., but the sprawling Lorain complex takes up much of the block between West 21st and West 20th streets.

Due to the height of the building, the operator drove the excavator up onto a mound of rubble to gain a longer reach to the fifth floor.

Youve got to do it systematically because you dont want anything to fall out or fall in, on him, said Dennis Dannenfelser Jr., owner and CEO of All Star Demolition Services LLC.

An excavator from All Star Demolition Services LLC, prepares to move scrap metal inside the demolition site of the former St. Joseph Community Center on Jan. 12, 2021. The demolition, already lasting about two months, has reached the five-story tallest part of the former hospital. The continuing demolition on that section of the former hospital caused closure of West 21st Street, from Broadway to Reid Avenue, on Jan. 12 and 13, for safety reasons.

The Union, N.J.-based company is tearing down the community center for owners A7 Development Group LLC.

The street was closed, although it appeared little, if any, of the building material would fall into the roadway.

Better off safe, than sorry, Dannenfelser said.

The daytime road closure was scheduled again for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Jan. 13.

Dannenfelser predicted the street could reopen once the crews had taken apart the building closest to the roadway and sidewalk.

Then, the rest of it, he said.

Dennis Dannenfelser Jr., owner and CEO of All Star Demolition Services LLC, right, speaks withSister Carole Ann Griswold, H.M., a retired Mercy Health vice president, during a ceremony to open two time capsules at the former St. Joseph Community Center on Nov. 10, 2020. Dannenfelser is overseeing the continuing demolition of the former hospital and it reached the highest point of the building on Jan. 12, 2021.

"Weve got plenty of room,Dannenfelser said.

The metal I-beams that hold up the building remained sturdy and would not collapse.

Because of that, the demolition of that section was more a procedure of taking the building apart, instead of smashing it down.

So, hes actually cutting the building down, Dannenfelser said.

The brick there will be crushed and used for fill and the metal beams will be cut and sold for scrap, he said.

The heating and air conditioning units atop the building appeared to be the highest section.

They could collapse into the building, but likely are not as heavy as they were when new because inner pipes have been removed, Dannenfelser said.

An excavator fitted with a shear, or cutting implement, by All Star Demolition Services LLC, cuts apart the five-story tallest part of the former St. Joseph Community Center on Jan. 12, 2021. The continuing demolition on that section of the former hospital caused closure of West 21st Street, from Broadway to Reid Avenue, on Jan. 12 and 13, for safety reasons.

With that section down, he said he hopes to begin demolition at the easternmost section of the building by the weekend.

After that, the three-story section, visible from West 21st Street, is made of reinforced concrete, so the crews will use another attachment to tear into it next week, Dannenfelser said.

All Start Demolition Services LLC has posted additional photos, including some aerial views, on allstardemolitionservices.com.

See the rest here:
Lorain demolition reaches top floor of St. Joe Center - The Morning Journal