By Adam AtkinsonNorth Country This Week

CANTON The planned rebuild of the Canton Dairy Queen is moving forward with the stage being set to raze the ruins of the restaurant gutted by fire a year and a half ago to make way for new construction.

The owners, Gail Crabtree and John Putman (Audrey Guthrie, Inc. d/b/a Dairy Queen), filed a notice to demolish the burned out restaurant at 51 Gouverneur St. with the states Asbestos Control Bureau on Dec. 12.

Murray said the owners have just started the process of obtaining a demolition permit with his office.

According to the notice received by the state, the project start date is listed as Dec. 31, 2019 with a completion date of Dec. 31, 2020.

The demolition work will be done by Burke Excavation Demolition Inc. of Massena.

Atlantic Testing Laboratories of Canton is to monitor the air for asbestos during the work. JEDA Environmental of Massena will be hauling the demolition waste from the site to the Franklin County Landfill in Constable, the notice said.

The restaurant at 51 Gouverneur St., built in 1950, was destroyed following a break-in and arson in August 2018. The structure was declared a total loss. The owners plan to rebuild the restaurant and reopen. The total project is estimated to cost $972,964.

The village has secured a $195,000 Community Development Block Grant from the state Office of Community Renewal for the project. The money is dedicated to reimburse the owners for new equipment costs for the rebuild.

See more here:
Demolition of Dairy Queen in Canton expected to begin soon - North Country Now

The city has been razing the annex behind city hall for about two weeks. But during these last few days of the year, the demolition has become more visible to drivers and passersby.

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City hall annex demolition to finish in two weeks - Galveston County Daily News

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Instruction

Excerpt from:
Consumers Energy in process of selecting new contractor for demolition of Weadock plant - WNEM Saginaw

Questions are being raised about demolition applications filed with the city of New Orleans as part of the plan to tear down the partially collapsed Hard Rock construction site. The 18-story structure, which still holds two bodies of the three construction workers killed in the collapse, has had an uncertain future since it caved in Oct. 12. The city announced recently that the site cannot be safely imploded and must be demolished piece by piece. Mayor LaToya Cantrell said engineers want to bring in large cranes to pluck apart the debris and recover the bodies. She said the heavy equipment needs clear lines of sight to safely operate, which is why three buildings near the Hard Rock could be demolished.The Hard Rock site sits on the corner of Rampart and Canal Streets, with no buildings on the street-facing sides.We have our people that need to get out of that building, Cantrell said Monday. Public safety has always led us. It will continue to, but as it relates to the adjacent buildings, I would say Im absolutely in favor of the demolition should it come down to a line of sight making it safer to deal with the demolition of the Hard Rock.1031 Canal Development owns the Hard Rock site and the three buildings that could also be torn down, located at 1019 and 1027 Canal St. and 1022 Iberville St. New Orleans City Council member Kristen Gisleson Palmer said she has not been briefed on the newly filed permits but the interest of the owners is concerning.We need to do our due diligence, because basically it could become a much larger development and I think you have to be thoughtful about that, Palmer said. We have to make sure that this isnt a potential land grab.An attorney for 1031 Canal Development, Steven Dwyer, said the owners only objective is public safety. In a statement to WDSU, Dwyer said: The plan for demolition is not being developed by the owner. It is being developed by professional engineers who are working for the owner and who are working for the city. The professionals are developing from a scientific point of view the safest method for demolition. The owners are in no way influencing the work of the engineers. They are following the professional opinion of the engineers to develop the safest possible plan.WDSU requested copies of the demolition permit applications from the city of New Orleans on Monday. The city cited the recent cyberattack on city government, which has left the permitting office offline, for denying that public records request.

Questions are being raised about demolition applications filed with the city of New Orleans as part of the plan to tear down the partially collapsed Hard Rock construction site. The 18-story structure, which still holds two bodies of the three construction workers killed in the collapse, has had an uncertain future since it caved in Oct. 12. The city announced recently that the site cannot be safely imploded and must be demolished piece by piece.

Mayor LaToya Cantrell said engineers want to bring in large cranes to pluck apart the debris and recover the bodies. She said the heavy equipment needs clear lines of sight to safely operate, which is why three buildings near the Hard Rock could be demolished.

The Hard Rock site sits on the corner of Rampart and Canal Streets, with no buildings on the street-facing sides.

We have our people that need to get out of that building, Cantrell said Monday. Public safety has always led us. It will continue to, but as it relates to the adjacent buildings, I would say Im absolutely in favor of the demolition should it come down to a line of sight making it safer to deal with the demolition of the Hard Rock.

1031 Canal Development owns the Hard Rock site and the three buildings that could also be torn down, located at 1019 and 1027 Canal St. and 1022 Iberville St. New Orleans City Council member Kristen Gisleson Palmer said she has not been briefed on the newly filed permits but the interest of the owners is concerning.

We need to do our due diligence, because basically it could become a much larger development and I think you have to be thoughtful about that, Palmer said. We have to make sure that this isnt a potential land grab.

An attorney for 1031 Canal Development, Steven Dwyer, said the owners only objective is public safety. In a statement to WDSU, Dwyer said: The plan for demolition is not being developed by the owner. It is being developed by professional engineers who are working for the owner and who are working for the city. The professionals are developing from a scientific point of view the safest method for demolition. The owners are in no way influencing the work of the engineers. They are following the professional opinion of the engineers to develop the safest possible plan.

WDSU requested copies of the demolition permit applications from the city of New Orleans on Monday. The city cited the recent cyberattack on city government, which has left the permitting office offline, for denying that public records request.

Read more:
Owners of collapsed Hard Rock site want to demolish three of their other buildings nearby - WDSU New Orleans

history, archival-revival, earthquake, newcastle earthquake, newcastle herald, 1989, kirkwood, quake

IT wasn't always an intentional battle, but within hours of the quake a pendulum began swinging between the competing interests of demolition and heritage. The first casualty was the multi-storey Newcastle RSL on the corner of King Street and Perkins Street, its walls knocked in by a pair of crane jibs that afternoon. Its roof had caved in and engineers quickly declared it unsafe, but the speed with which it disappeared helped spark fears that the tremor would become a developers' dream to remodel the ageing city centre. Fashion designer Lindsay Otto - mother of actress Miranda - had shops on the ground floor. She said that even with the problematic upper floors gone, and the ground floor intact, she was refused entry and lost $60,000 in stock, bulldozed into rubble. But it was the George Hotel opposite Newcastle railway station - now the site of the Metro apartment block - that really got temperatures rising. Days after the quake, Newcastle council ordered it and the adjacent Carrington Chambers in Watt Street demolished. Lord mayor John McNaughton was in the Herald saying an aftershock could "happen like that" - clicking his fingers - and "those two buildings will tumble to the street". Conservationists including the National Trust disagreed. Their engineers said the buildings could be saved. Peter Evans, then chairman of the City Centre Committee and an owner of the George and its Scott Street neighbour Royal Court, was adamant they needed to come down. Still active in public life and president of the Newcastle show association, Evans is now fighting his own heritage battle over historic Broadmeadow showgrounds buildings threatened by redevelopment. Today Evans says he "likes old buildings" but that the demolitions were "necessary". He says he had just spent $100,000 on the George, including fire protection, and would go on to repair another quake-damaged building - a Menkens-designed Masonic temple in Beaumont Street that is now the Depot restaurant. Demolition of the George continued despite a Land and Environment Court injunction obtained by Maitland conservationist Dion Ackland and delivered by his solicitor, Richard Anicich - another still playing a leading role in public life, most recently as chairman of the Committee for the Hunter. Work stopped for a while on the Sunday morning, but the wrecking ball had moved from the George to the Carrington, leaving both buildings with major damage to their exteriors. Ackland, realising it was too late, withdrew the injunction and demolition resumed in front of a crowd of onlookers and protesters. In many ways, the earthquake acted as a turning point for heritage in Newcastle. While the city lost some prominent buildings that might have been saved with money and willpower, the debate brought a new focus on the city's remaining 19th century streetscapes. Leading activists included the indomitable Margaret Henry, who formed the Citizens Earthquake Action Group, and Keith Parsons, chair of the National Trust's Hunter committee. Today, Iris Capital's East End project retains its historic Hunter Street mall facades, an example of a once-reluctant city valuing its heritage.

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December 28 2019 - 8:00AM

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IT wasn't always an intentional battle, but within hours of the quake a pendulum began swinging between the competing interests of demolition and heritage.

The first casualty was the multi-storey Newcastle RSL on the corner of King Street and Perkins Street, its walls knocked in by a pair of crane jibs that afternoon.

Its roof had caved in and engineers quickly declared it unsafe, but the speed with which it disappeared helped spark fears that the tremor would become a developers' dream to remodel the ageing city centre.

Fashion designer Lindsay Otto - mother of actress Miranda - had shops on the ground floor. She said that even with the problematic upper floors gone, and the ground floor intact, she was refused entry and lost $60,000 in stock, bulldozed into rubble.

But it was the George Hotel opposite Newcastle railway station - now the site of the Metro apartment block - that really got temperatures rising.

Days after the quake, Newcastle council ordered it and the adjacent Carrington Chambers in Watt Street demolished.

Lord mayor John McNaughton was in the Herald saying an aftershock could "happen like that" - clicking his fingers - and "those two buildings will tumble to the street".

Conservationists including the National Trust disagreed. Their engineers said the buildings could be saved.

Peter Evans, then chairman of the City Centre Committee and an owner of the George and its Scott Street neighbour Royal Court, was adamant they needed to come down.

Still active in public life and president of the Newcastle show association, Evans is now fighting his own heritage battle over historic Broadmeadow showgrounds buildings threatened by redevelopment.

DAMAGED INSIDE BUT INTACT: The George Hotel and Carrington Chambers, after the quake but before their demolition began on the weekend of January 6 and 7.

Today Evans says he "likes old buildings" but that the demolitions were "necessary".

He says he had just spent $100,000 on the George, including fire protection, and would go on to repair another quake-damaged building - a Menkens-designed Masonic temple in Beaumont Street that is now the Depot restaurant.

Demolition of the George continued despite a Land and Environment Court injunction obtained by Maitland conservationist Dion Ackland and delivered by his solicitor, Richard Anicich - another still playing a leading role in public life, most recently as chairman of the Committee for the Hunter.

Work stopped for a while on the Sunday morning, but the wrecking ball had moved from the George to the Carrington, leaving both buildings with major damage to their exteriors.

NOT QUITE RIGHT: This Australian Financial Review article from August 1, 1991, shows how quickly the narrative changed. The George Hotel, as we have reminded people this week, was smashed to pieces by demolition, not the earthquake.

Ackland, realising it was too late, withdrew the injunction and demolition resumed in front of a crowd of onlookers and protesters.

In many ways, the earthquake acted as a turning point for heritage in Newcastle.

While the city lost some prominent buildings that might have been saved with money and willpower, the debate brought a new focus on the city's remaining 19th century streetscapes.

Leading activists included the indomitable Margaret Henry, who formed the Citizens Earthquake Action Group, and Keith Parsons, chair of the National Trust's Hunter committee.

Today, Iris Capital's East End project retains its historic Hunter Street mall facades, an example of a once-reluctant city valuing its heritage.

Protesters in front of the site of the demolished George and Carrington buildings, with Newcastle railway station in the background. Picture: David Wicks

Read more:
Newcastle Earthquake 30 years later, Part VI: Opposing forces of demolition and preservation - Newcastle Herald

WELLSBURG At Tuesdays Brooke County Commission meeting, the curator of the Brooke County Museum voiced the museum boards displeasure in the demolition of the former Millers Tavern.

Ruby Greathouse told the commission the museum board has received numerous calls and complaints about the buildings removal at the corner of Main and Sixth streets and members want to make clear they had opposed the demolition.

Theyre distressed by whats occurred, Greathouse said.

As she spoke, crews were poised to remove its remaining supports, including steel beams added in later years.

Greathouse noted the two-story building was named a National Historic Landmark in 1978 before being named, among hundreds of other structures in the citys downtown business section, part of a National Historic District in 1982.

Built in 1797 at the corner of Main and Sixth streets, its said to have offered food and lodging to visitors sailing to and from Wellsburg on the nearby Ohio River, some traveling as far as New Orleans.

In the 1930s it became the Wellsburg Eagles Lodge and in 1973 it became home to the countys museum until 2012, when the museum was moved to 704 Charles St. because it offered more space.

The commissioners said the building played a role in the citys history but hadnt been preserved in its original state and couldnt be used as part of the judicial annex they plan to build onto the nearby county courthouse.

Tim Ennis, the commissions president, said the buildings removal was needed to support progress, just as many structures were razed to allow the construction of state Route 2 through Wellsburg.

I think John Henderson (who built the tavern) would be amazed it was still there. If he and our countys founding fathers knew its demolition was needed for the county to advance, theyd say, take it.

Plans call for the annex to include all of the countys courts, including the magistrate court, which was moved to the third floor of the Community Bank building when the courthouses ground floor was flooded in 2004.

Since then concerns about that section of the bank building meeting state fire codes and handicap accessibility have spurred a desire to relocate it again.

Last week the commissioners announced plans to return the magistrate court to the courthouse while they seek a loan for the project, which has been estimated at $5 million to $7 million.

Greathouse noted an official with the state Division of Culture and History warned the commission in 2016 that razing the building could prevent them from securing federal money for the addition under the National Historic Preservation Act.

Ennis said he didnt know if that is true. He said the demolition itself was funded with county money.

Ennis said the job went to Stash Trucking of Uniontown, Pa., which submitted a bid of $37,000, significantly lower than the other bids because the contractor knew the value of the sandstone blocks of the buildings foundation and original wood inside.

The contractor gets everything (from the razed building), he said.

Ennis said no artifacts belonging to the museum were taken, and Greathouse confirmed the building was no longer being used for storage when the demolition occurred.

Greathouse expressed disappointment the commissioners didnt retain some of the original material for display or use in the addition, noting such a move was suggested by the state Division of Culture and History.

After talking to Greathouse following the meeting, county Commissioner Stacey Wise said she asked if the museum board will provide information and photos for an area of the annex depicting the buildings use and development.

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Link:
Demolition of historic building in Wellsburg is opposed - The Daily Times

The Boston home where late mobster James Whitey Bulger and his gang buried three of their victims may be torn down to make way for a new residential development.

The Boston Globe reported Tuesday that the Boston Landmarks Commission recently received an application to demolish the 1,975-square-foot (180-square-meter) two-story South Boston home to make way for a new four-unit townhouse style development with eight garaged parking spots.

The previous asking price of $3.5 million was lowered to $3,395,000, and the property is currently under agreement, according to Redfin.com.

The home, which Bulger called "The Haunty, was once owned by the brother of a Bulger associate.

During Bulger's racketeering trial, a witness said he saw Bulger kill three people in the house. Their bodies were buried in the basement, which had a dirt floor at the time. In 1985, when the house was about to be sold, the bodies were exhumed and reburied elsewhere.

Bulger was convicted in 2013 for his role in the deaths of 11 people, including the three buried in the house. He was killed in a federal prison last October at age 89.

The Boston Landmarks Commission has 10 calendar days to review applications to demolish properties to determine whether they have historic significance."

Related:

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South Boston house where Whitey Bulger buried 3 victims faces demolition, 4-unit townhouse going up in its pl - MassLive.com

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (WXYZ) The former home of the Detroit Pistons is in the process of being torn down.

The Palace of Auburn Hills will be torn down to make way for corporate redevelopment.

Residents say it's bittersweet. The palace held a special place in the hearts of people who watched the Pistons play there, along with other special events.

"It is sad," said Dennis Haines from Shelby Township. "I took my son there to see the Globe Trotters once. A lot of memories of firsts for him. It is sad."

The city manager of Auburn Hills says taking down the lettering on the outside of the building is the start of a six-month demolition process.

The first phase, which is already underway, also includes removing items inside of the building, like sets.

In January, the building itself is expected to come down, although developers have not yet applied for a demolition permit.

March is expected to mark phase three, which includes taking down steel framing and concert walls. Once that is completed, phase four, which will occur sometimes in spring 2020, will fill in the excavated hole.

There are plans to turn the space into offices for research and technology. However, there is no timeline yet on when the rebuild will be happening.

Originally posted here:
News The Palace of Auburn Hills: What to know about demolition plans 11:11 AM, Dec - WXYZ

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (localmemphis.com) Local 24 News political analyst and commentator Otis Sanfordshares his point of view on the Union Row development.

If youre driving along Union Avenue these days, allthat noise youre hearing is the sound of progress. Demolition equipment isbusy bringing down one vacant structure after another from Fourth Street toDanny Thomas Boulevard and possibly beyond.

The coming attraction to replace all that blight isUnion Row a $1.1 billion development consisting of plenty of retail andoffice space, hundreds of hotel rooms, and at least one and possibly twogrocery stores.

Public incentives to the tune of some $185 million havebeen approved to make the Union Row development a reality. And it appears to befull speed ahead for all of the government entities to sign off on the project.

Weve been talking about this development for severalmonths, and the key movers and shakers behind the project have been thoroughlyvetted by the Institute for Public Service Reporting at the University ofMemphis. While some of them have been involved in numerous legal disputes,nothing has been uncovered so far that says Union Row is pie in the sky.

It is instead potentially a game changer for economicdevelopment not just downtown, but across Memphis. So is the other massive development plannedfor the Pinch District.

Obviously, none it of means a cure for poverty orother ills plaguing the city. But that sound of demolition on Union is a sweetsound indeed. And thats my point of view.

Continue reading here:
The sound of demolition on Union is a sweet sound, says Otis Sanford - WATN - Local 24

MONETT, Mo. Founded in 1887 the town of Monett, like many communities, was built along the railroad tracks.

But right next to those tracks just happens to be Kelly Creek, a waterway that's played just as big a part in the town's history as the railroad industry.

The Kelly Creek channel runs parallel to downtown's main street, Broadway, and is a block to the south of the business district between the stores and the railroad tracks.

The creek is surrounded by masonry walls but during heavy rains it overflows its banks and over the years has made its way into those businesses, mainly between Third and Sixth streets, causing millions of dollars in damage.

In 2016 for instance the creek rose three feet in just 45 minutes, leaving six feet of water along Broadway.

It's been a problem for as long as folks here can remember.

"When we do have a flood it's a typical flash flood," explained Monett city administrator Dennis Pyle. "It comes very quickly and recedes very quickly."

"It's not a very pleasant experience," adds Bernice Morris, the owner of Fashion Crossroads in downtown Monett for 50 years. For half a century she's seen a lot of floods come and go and get as high as eight inches along her walls.

She wouldn't mind seeing something done about it.

"If you didn't have to worry about sandbagging or receiving a call at night that the water's rising that would be a wonderful thing," she said.

Well now there's hope for at least a partial solution.

After 10 years and four attempts at getting federal funds, Monett will start taking bids on December 17th to demolish four structures in the flood-plain area and turn it into green space. The areas include the city's own public works building, an old VFW and hotel building, an agri-center, and perhaps most importantly, a trailer park.

"What we look at first is trying to save people's lives," said Bonnie Witt-Schulte, the director of the Monett-Lawrence County Emergency Management Office. "Those trailers will no longer be there and we won't have that risk."

There have been fatalities over the years, and while the half-million dollar green space, located next to an already existing pavilion and park, won't solve all the flooding problems there is a consensus that it will help.

"We're still going to see that flooding but we'll see less of an impact to people's lives and property," Witt-Schulte said.

"Without those buildings being there we believe the flooding will not be as severe as it has been in the past," Pyle added.

The city did consider other options such as re-routing Kelly Creek.

"That was very expensive. Well over six million dollars," Pyle said.

Mother nature has already started part of the demolition work as the old Frisco hotel and VFW building has been falling apart due to storm damage. The latest collapse came last week and fencing has been put up around the structure to keep people and cars out of danger.

Monett is known as a resilient town as residents here have endured tornadoes and floods in the past only to rebuild and press on.

But when asked what natural disaster tends to have the biggest emotional toll on the town Witt-Schulte didn't hesitate with her answer.

"Floods tend to have more of a negative effect on people especially when it's repetitive in nature," she said. "And that's what it is for us."

The project is 75 percent funded by FEMA with the city responsible for raising the other 25 percent.

Officials say they hope to have the green space completed by August 2020.

View post:
Monett, Mo. soon will start flood-plain demolition of downtown buildings - KY3