Trust demolition nears in downtown Florence

FLORENCE, S.C. The sound of twisted metal, falling bricks and excavators dumping building debris into waiting trucks is the current soundtrack in part of downtown as demolition on the Trust building site continues.

Crews with Wofford Demolition continue to raze structures near the historic Trust building. Inside the Trust, crews with Emerald, an environmental consulting and engineering firm, are performing asbestos abatement.

Florence City Manager Drew Griffin said abatement should conclude by the end of the month, and then the building will be re-inspected for asbestos before demolition. The West Evans Street and South Irby Street intersection to the edges of the Trust building on each street will be closed for three out of the four weeks of demolition.

Nobody can necessarily control a piece of debris 100 percent, Griffin said. The contractor and the (South Carolina) Department of Transportation said that it seemed to make more sense to close all the lanes even though the contractor is working from the interior of the lot.

Original plans had just one lane of traffic closed. Signs will direct motorists around the area.

In a building at the corner of West Evans and South Irby Streets, August Langley, who repairs demolished iPhones, iPads and Android cell phones, said the street closing will be a bit challenging to his year-old business.

Its kind of unfortunate, but you cant do much about. It its the growing pains of our future, Langley, owner of Smart Phone Repair, said. People find us because they need us, so well obviously have to be a bit more innovative and be on top of the changes.

Wofford won the demolition contract that included abatement costs from the city for $470,655. The city hopes demolition and clearing will be completed by July 1 so it can convey the land to Francis Marion University.

On Monday, FMU put out a request for qualifications for the design and construction of its $15.5 million medical and health sciences complex. In early September, FMU expects to have a shortlist of candidates. The request lists June 30, 2016, as the date the building should have its certificate of occupancy.

Excerpt from:
Trust demolition nears in downtown Florence