Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Posted: Oct 19, 2020 / 05:45 PM EDT / Updated: Oct 19, 2020 / 06:07 PM EDT

The Roosevelt Middle School demolition project is making headway this week.

Most of the schools interior has been cleared out and later this week there will be noticable changes to the exterior.

Executive Director of Operations for the Erie School District, Neal Brockman said as soon as Wednesday the building could be demolished.

Its unclear though how long the demolition process will take.

The interior of the building has been pretty well cleaned out actually as far as getting any leftover debris that was inside the building out. Wednesday or Thursday is when theyre going to start demolishing the outside of the building, said Neal Brockman, Executive Director of Operations for the Erie School District.

We will keep you updated with what the demolition project looks like throughout the week.

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Roosevelt Middle School demolition project is making headway this week - YourErie

Photo: Tommy Loeb

Over a thousand trees will be uprooted later this fall when the city commences its demolition and redevelopment of East River Park.

Faux demolition flyers now dot the park to raise awareness of the impending arborcide for the controversial resiliency project. The bright-red bills announce trees as marked for demolition by the mayor and City Council. No doubt a campaign to further sway public opinion against the citys plans.

As previously reported, the East Side Coastal Resiliency (official name) effort will take a minimum of five years to complete, and is intended tostrengthen the coastline between Montgomery and 25th Streets. Itll beimplemented on a two-phase schedule. So, rather than closing the entire park, area residents will have access to roughly half the park. Initial work commences sometime this fall, and will remain ongoing through 2023. But swaths of space from Delancey to Houston Streets will remain open.

Despite vociferous criticism from Lower East Side locals, city officials maintain that this revised version (as opposed to the Big U) better protects East River Park as sea levels continue to rise due to climate change.

Read more from the original source:
Trees in East River Park Marked for Demolition - Bowery Boogie

HOLYOKE The $46 million Victory Theater renovation project will commence in the coming months with the demolition of a former funeral home next door at 134 Chestnut St.

The theaters owners plan to build an annex on the land to support operations and future productions.

The Massachusetts International Festival of the Arts (MIFA) bought the century-old theater and city-owned property at 81-98 Suffolk St. for $1,500 in 2009. The organization acquired the Chestnut Street property in December 2019 after a three-year process.

MIFA has secured $31 million for construction, including $18 million in New Market Tax Credits and $13 million in state funding approved by the Baker administration.

Donald Sanders, MIFAs artistic director, said the annex will connect to the Victory Theater at the basement and second floor. The new building will contain additional dressing rooms, service spaces and offices.

Its going to be done in an extraordinary style that will echo the Victory itself, he said.

The annex lets the theater maintain its architectural integrity without risking the historic tax credits and other future funding.

We dont want to comprise the Victory itself, Sanders said.

The annex will free up space inside the Victory and allow for large-scale productions. A loading dock will give production trailers room to maneuver and unload sets and other equipment. Plans also include four bar-refreshments centers in the theater.

While COVID-19 has caused some delays, Sanders said MIFA continues to close the gap on the $15 million needed for the second construction phase. We hope it will be within the year, he said.

Sanders added that around $7 million in soft costs include legal fees, operations, design work, and contingency fees or project overruns. The hard construction costs for the actual build hover around $32.5 million. Despite the pandemic and economic downturn, Sander said he expects construction costs to remain stable.

MIFA plans to set aside $3 million in a sustainability fund for the Victorys first five years of operation.

My confidence for this project has always been at full-throttle, Sander said. I said I was going to get this open, and Im going to. Going from zero to $31 million shows that its going to happen.

He views the Victory Theater project as part of the regions recovery from the pandemic.

People will want a place to go to, he said. As it is now, Broadway is not scheduled to reopen until next fall. Theres going to be an absolute human desire to gather and be together.

This former funeral home at 134 Chestnut St. in Holyoke will be demolished as part of renovations at the Victory Theater next door. (Dennis Hohenberger photo)

The Holyoke Planning Board and Historical Commission have signed off on the funeral home demolition, according to Sanders.

MIFA hired DBVW as the architect and Milone & MacBroom as the project engineer, with Barr & Barr of Natick leading the construction effort. DBVW recently won an award for its work on the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.

Built in 1920, the 1,600-seat Victory Theater was the citys premier entertainment venue for generations. Facing competition from multiplex cinemas, it closed in 1979.

Over the decades, the theaters interior deteriorated, mostly caused by water seeping through the roof.

The Planning Board has approved an 80-square-foot static marquee at the theaters entrance, along with fencing to hide mechanicals and a dumpster.

In 2019, the Holyoke Community Preservation Act Commission awarded MIFA $100,000 to restore the light sconces that illuminated the Victorys interior.

MIFA commissioned Vitek Kruta, an artist and owner of Gateway City Arts, to restore the Victorys canvas murals. Kruta painstakingly removed the canvases and placed them in storage. The murals are mostly classical motifs, including a painting of Venus discovered under a silk tapestry.

Artist Vincent Maragliotta painted the murals at the height of the Great Depression. He worked from a studio in Grand Central Station in New York City and painted decorative art for the Waldorf Astoria hotel and the Pennsylvania Statehouse.

This animation shows the current appearance of Holyoke's Victory Theater and a former funeral home next door, and an artist's rendering of how the properties will look after renovation.

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$46M Holyoke Victory Theater project moves forward with planned demolition of neighboring building - MassLive.com

BAY CITY, MI - Neighborhoods around Bay City are about to get a boost as the city is starting a push to demolish 18 blighted properties.

On Monday, Oct. 19, the City Commission unanimously approved three contracts for the demolition of the abandoned and dilapidated properties, which are primarily vacant homes.

The plan is to get rid of the blighted properties to benefit the surrounding neighborhoods by removing structures that are decaying and falling apart, some of which have been damaged by past fires.

It cleans up blight in the neighborhoods, which obviously leads to crime when you have a lot of blight, so this is a benefit for the neighbors and we have a few neighbors that have been asking to get some of these houses done for years, so well have them down sometime this spring, said City Manager Dana Muscott.

The three contracts were grouped in the agenda based on their respective funding method, with two being awarded to Shaw Contracting of Bay City and one to Bolle Contracting of Clare. Muscott attributed the split up due to a push to get them down more quickly.

The first group consists of six properties near the Columbus Avenue area that are being taken down as part of the Neighborhood Revitalization Agreement that was approved by City Commission in January 2020. The agreement was made between the Bay City Housing Commission, City of Bay City and the Bay County Treasurer, with the Housing Commission agreeing to fund up to $120,000 for the demolition of 6 properties in return for the ownership of the properties. The City of Bay City agreed to administer the demolition project with the understanding the Housing Commission would reimburse the City for the asbestos removal and demolition costs.

The demolition and asbestos removal contract for the following six structures was awarded to Bolle Contracting of Clare for with a low bid of $91,520. The properties include:

- 115 N. Grant

- 108 N. Monroe

- 109 S. Madison

- 406 10th

- 234 N. Jefferson

- 206 N. Jefferson

A group of eight structures is set to be demolished through the use of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). Shaw Contracting of Bay City was selected for the contract after submitting the low bid of $122,150.

The eight structures to be removed with the help of the CDBG funding are as follows:

- 916 Sibley

- 1005 Litchfield

- 1509 Birney

- 510 N. Jefferson

- 504 Fitzhugh

- 414 19th

- 712 Polk

- 2810 Garfield

Six of the aforementioned structures are city-owned vacant 2018 and 2019 tax foreclosed properties that were acquired from Bay County at no cost for the purpose of demolition. The remaining two structures at 510 N. Jefferson and 1005 Litchfield are both abandoned fire structures that have gone through the citys dangerous building designation process.

Shaw Contracting has also been granted a contract to remove four additional structures in Bay City. According to the city, Shaw Contracting invoked a local preference status and matched the low bidder Bolle Contracting of Clare for demolition and asbestos removal of 4 properties at $53,940, earning local company Shaw the contract.

The following four buildings are being removed using funding from the City of Bay City Building Departments demolition budget. The properties are also 2018 and 2019 tax foreclosed properties that were acquired from Bay County at no cost.

- 124 Woodside

- 1522 11th Street

- 1221 Garfield

- 309 Webster

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See 18 blighted structures Bay City is tearing down to boost surrounding neighborhoods - mlive.com

St. Joseph is an old, historic city that has the houses and buildings to show for it. But when those spaces are left vacant, the citys architectural jewels can turn into eyesores.

Abandoned buildings are something that have steadily developed over the years that can ultimately lead to neglect of the property. Abandoned buildings can increase when a citys population remains the same over the years while new structures have been built despite the lack of growth in population size.

At this point in time, St. Joseph actually has more structures than they have the demand for housing in our community, said Clint Thompson, director of planning and community development. That lack of demand based on the current population can cause a higher vacancy rate.

Part of the citys mission is to attempt to improve vacant structures either through preservation methods or by salvaging the property. If the building has become beyond repair or becomes too dangerous to be inhabited, demolition may be the result.

However, the goal isnt immediately demolition but rather for preservation of these properties. Demolition is not always the answer to help the community look more presentable as it can create different forms of blight.

Sometimes people can mistakenly think of demolition as a way to cure blight, said Isobel McGowan, president of the Historic St. Joseph Foundation. So, to me, demolition does not cure blight, it creates a new blight, a different blight, a vacancy blight.

The citys hope is to work with owners in maintaining their properties to prevent them from becoming dangerous and needing to be permanently removed.

It becomes about How can we work with property owners to ensure that they are maintaining and working to keep their properties up to the minimum property maintenance code so that the city doesnt have to take action, Thompson said.

To reduce the need for demolition, the city created a new program, the vacant residential plan, that aims to identify properties ahead of the building being listed as dangerous or in need of demolition. This program so far has identified about 250 abandoned buildings around St. Joseph that officials are trying to reestablish.

Kim Schutte, local historian and preservationist, said many of these buildings that have become abandoned have a rich history that make up St. Josephs identity and character. Preserving these buildings not only draws people to visit, but it is important in sustaining the future of the city, she said.

They come because we have these amazing buildings, because we have this amazing history. It is integral to our identity, Schutte said. So preserving that is absolutely key to our future and our future prosperity.

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More to removing abandoned buildings than demolition | Local News | newspressnow.com - News-Press Now

The Sheboygan Armory, built as a Works Progress Administration project in 1941, kept its date with demolition as the south wall comes down Friday Sheboygan Press

SHEBOYGAN - The south wall of Sheboygan Municipal Auditorium and Armory was the first to come down as demolition workers brought it downFriday morning.

The building no longer has a roof, and glimpses of the inside can be seen through the spaces where windows used to be.

Scrap metal and debris from the almost 80-year-old building can be seen on the site.

A bench seat from the Sheboygan Municipal Armory and Auditorium.(Photo: Travis Gross)

Chad Pelishek, director of planning anddevelopment, said in an email Friday demolition is on track to be completed by the end of the year.

The city salvaged several items from the building, includingthe wooden center court circle, phone booth door, bench seats and brackets and about 250 boards frombench seats that theSheboygan County Historical Society and Museum started selling in September.

Sunlight shines through the block windows of the Sheboygan Armory, Thursday, October 15, 2020, in Sheboygan, Wis. The facility, built in 1941 is being torn down.(Photo: Gary C. Klein/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)

Contact Diana Dombrowski at (920) 242-7079 or ddombrowski@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @domdomdiana

More: Sheboygan Armory: Photos of demolition

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More: Your guide to the election in the Sheboygan area

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Armory demolition is in full swing. Here's video of the first wall coming down Friday. - Sheboygan Press

JACKSON, MI A longtime Jackson grocery and party store is headed for demolition nearly a year after it was damaged by fire.

The former Franks Finer Foods, 418 First St., on the corner of W. Franklin street, was condemned after a fire engulfed part of the building on Memorial Day in 2019. Manager Dave Singh said at the time the store planned to reopen.

Related: Franks Finer Foods will reopen after fire, manager says

However, the building was condemned and determined by the city to be a dangerous structure. City Council unanimously approved a $54,950 demolition contract with the lowest bidder, Bolle Contracting in Clare, at its Tuesday, Oct. 13 meeting.

Officials said $10,000 is being covered by the owners insurance carrier and the remainder being paid through the citys demolition fund.

The building has a long history in Jackson, including a connection to the Country Market and Pollys Country Market stores owned by the Kennedy family. It falls in the Under the Oaks historic district but is not considered a contributing building.

Though city records are unclear when it was first built, the store became the flagship Pollys Food Service store in 1934. Owner Frank Kennedys son, F.A. Kennedy, renamed the store Franks Finer Foods in 1958. It remained under the operation of Kennedy family members until 2005.

Related: Peek Through Time: Polly the parrot has helped fill Jackson cupboards for 80 years

In more recent decades the store became a convenience and party store. And more recently, the area around the store was the scene of crime and shootings.

That was an area that was pretty well known for illicit activity, both drugs and otherwise, and it spread through the rest of the neighborhood," Mayor Derek Dobies said.

19-year-old shot multiple times outside Jackson store dies

Dobies noted the city had done environmental design changes to help address the safety of the corner, including adding lighting and tree canopy.

The city intends to reseed the plot and keep it as a green space unless someone wants to buy or develop the land, Dobies said.

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Franks Finer Foods building facing demolition in Jackson - MLive.com

Fine Gael councillor Noel Cribbin has described as "the end of an era" the planned demolition of the old Tesco building in the centre of Edenderry. The fate of the building was confirmed at the October meeting of Offaly County Council on Monday.

"Today is a bittersweet day for the residents of Edenderry as the main shopping centre for over 100 years is to be demolished," Cllr Cribbin said.

"Famous in its day, M.P. OBrien's Merchants was known all over Leinster and was a great employer to many families in the Edenderry area.

The building was sold to Tesco in 1980/81 when the store became known as Quinnsworth before becoming Tesco in the late 1990s.

"Tesco were present until early 2000 when they moved to their present location on the Dublin Road and from that day to this, the building has been vacant and is sadly now a derelict site," Cllr Cribbin added.

"Today [Monday] I was delighted to propose the part 8 Planning Act by Offaly County Council to legally demolish this building and by doing so, open up a massive 33 acres site to be developed."

"This project started life about four years ago when the local library was awarded 1.7 million to upgrade the facility. I saw this as a great opportunity firstly for the council to acquire this derelict site that was a major eyesore in the town and to also spend that money on a new purpose-built library, community hall and arts centre."

Cllr Cribbin added that "having a proposal is one thing, getting it over the line is another" and insisted credit must be given to council officials, Chief Executive Anna Marie Delaney and former Director of Finance Declan Conlon who fully supported the proposal.

Cllr Cribbin also paid tribute to his party colleagues, former Laois-Offaly TD Marcella Corcoran Kennedy and former Minister Michael Ring for advancing the projects.

Last year, architects engaged with the locality and drew up a masterplan after a funding boost of 100,000 from the government. The plan is a mix of an arts centre and library, housing and retail.

"We then got 800,000 granted to carry out the Granary Court inner relief road which will gain access to the site and open it up for development," Cllr Cribbin stated.

"Lastly this project was also included in Ireland 2040 projects for towns of 10,000 and under and this has a funding of 1 billion."

Edenderry and Offaly County Council can apply for funding from this pot to carry out the development.

A tendering process will now begin to appoint a company to carry out the demolition work at the site. It's expected boots will be on the ground on the site for this work in early 2021.

"This will be followed shortly after with the build of a new library and performance area and including part funding from Offaly County Council, this will come in at between 2.6 and 3 million," Cllr Cribbin explained.

"In my 21 years as a public representative, this, in my opinion, is the best news and the best project to come before me. Yes, the Enfield road, inner relief road, streetscape, canal walkway, playground, pitch and putt club are all brilliant and brought great improvements, but this project will bring new businesses back to the centre of town and revitalise the whole area," he continued.

"Coincidentally, the Tesco site that, when vacated in the 80s took the heart out of the town, is going to bring the heart back into our town by being demolished. I was only too glad to make that proposal and pass that motion today," Noel concluded.

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'End of an era' as iconic Edenderry building demolition confirmed - Offaly Express

After 30 years of serving the Redmond community, the senior center building is being demolished. To honor the services and memories at the building, the city has created a collection of Redmond Senior Center (RSC) photos and video slideshow.

The senior center first closed in September 2019 after flooding caused exterior structural issues, then an investigation from the Parks department later that year found the structural integrity of the whole building was compromised.

For months through community input and multiple council discussions, the city worked to decide on demolishing and rebuilding, as opposed to renovating what structurally remained of the old RSC, as previously reported by Redmond Reporter.

Majority of the feedback from 2,500 participants showed the community believed a larger facility was needed to serve the RSC. The existing recreation services underserve the Redmond senior community, according to city staffs summary of the feedback.

The final decision on the RSC was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, though staff were hoping to deliver construction of the new building within three years. In June, the city council voted to decommission and demolish the RSC.

Pending council approval, the city plans for construction on the RCS site, once demolished, of a larger center. The new building would be 42,000 square feet costing at least $46.7 million.

According to city documents, the city has $15 million set aside for the new construction, and the additional $30 million will need to come from outside sources, including possible tax revenues or state appropriated funds.

The senior center opened in June 1990 under Redmond Mayor Doreen Marchione. The center hosted a variety of senior activities, programs, interest groups, meals and volunteer opportunities. Both the memory pamphlet and video feature a variety of photos from recent years at the center, holiday events, and spotlight rooms like the crafters gallery.

A decision on the future RSC building is expected by the city council on Oct. 22.

In consideration of how we voice our opinions in the modern world, weve closed comments on our websites. We value the opinions of our readers and we encourage you to keep the conversation going.

Please feel free to share your story tips by emailing editor@redmond-reporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.redmond-reporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (Well only publish your name and hometown.) We reserve the right to edit letters, but if you keep yours to 300 words or less, we wont ask you to shorten it.

The closed Redmond Senior Center on Oct. 13. Community members leave ribbons in the heart to honor the memories of the to-be-demolished center. Haley Ausbun/staff photo.

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Demolition of Redmond Senior Center underway this... - Redmond Reporter

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - The next step of demolition involving a Decatur Public Schools facility will move forward after a Decatur Public Schools board vote.

DPS officials have been considering demolishing Oak Grove Elementary School and Johns Hill Magnet School. Those schools, along with Stevenson Elementary School, are expected to close at the end of the 2019-20 school year.

In the case of Oak Grove, located in the middle of a neighborhood at 2160 W. Center St., officials have said it doesn't bring much value for future use. In a 6-0 Tuesday night vote, the DPS school board approved architects to design specifications for demolishing Oak Grove.

Architects also recommended demolishing Johns Hill. The district is planning on building a new Johns Hill school near the current location as part of its BOLD plan.

The same plan will look to combine Ben Franklin Elementary School and Oak Grove students as attendees of Ben Franklin. Parsons Elementary School and Stevenson students will be brought together at Parsons.

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DPS board approves next step in Oak Grove demolition - WAND