Compromise seen as good start, falls short of needed reforms

Good, but not good enough.

That was the reaction of neighborhood activists to reforms by a city committee to address some of the complaints about residential demolitions and infill projects.

The Development Review Advisory Committee approved the recommendations developed by a subcommittee on Nov. 20. The committee, which is comprised primarily of developers and neighborhood representatives, advises the Bureau of Development Services, which issues demolition permits.

The recommendations include a new 35-day delay for all residential demolitions, a new category for major alterations that requires a 35-day notification, expanded requirements for neighborhood notifications of pending demolitions, and replacing the 120-day delay available to neighborhood association with a voluntary 30-day extension. They will be drafted into a proposal to be considered by the City Council on Dec. 17.

We think the recommendations are a good compromise. Nobody thinks theyre perfect, but theyre pretty good, considering we were under time constraints, says Jeff Fish, a developer who leads the DRAC.

Commissioner Amanda Fritz, who oversees BDS, wants the council to consider the recommendations before the end of the year.

The activists complain the demolition and infill projects are destroying the character of Portland neighborhoods. The number of demolition permits issued by BDS is expected to increase from 279 in 2013 to more than 400 this year. Thousands of permits are also being issued each year for major remodeling projects where most of the houses are demolished.

Falling short

Some of the activists praised DRACs work.

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Neighborhood groups say city demolition changes need work

Dec. 2, 2014, 8:54 p.m.

COMMUNITY concerns surrounding an empty old hospital building on Mornington Island should be removed by the end of the year.

COMMUNITY concerns surrounding an empty old hospital building on Mornington Island should be removed by the end of the year.

North West Hospital and Health Service chief executive Sue Belsham said the health service would engage a specialist contractor to remove the building on behalf of the Mornington Shire Council and in consultation with the council.

Mrs Belsham said the Department of Health and the North West HHS together would meet the estimated $250,000 cost of the buildings demolition and removal.

While responsibility for the land and building now sits with the shire council, the Department of Health and North West HHS acknowledge that they continue to bear some responsibility for its status, which was not fully appreciated at the time of transfer of the property to the council in 2000, she said.

The community is concerned over the deteriorating condition of the building, which is sometimes used as a playground by local children.

Mornington Shire Council held an asbestos awareness campaign to share health information for the children within the community, who may have been exposed to asbestos from playing in the old Lardil Street hospital.

Council chief executive Frank Mills said measures to ensure the core objective for the day remains focused towards health education.

Council decided to hold the event, a first for the shire, to educate the community [children] about health and asbestos, he said.

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Demolition to allay health fears

RESIDENTS fighting the planned demolition of a community centre have a glimmer of hope.

People in Peterlee banded together and staged a demonstration when proposals were discovered to knock down the White House, which has been empty for a few years.

In the wake of the protest Durham County Council has put the demolition on hold and will review its decision.

This could give time for a community group to establish itself and draw up proposals to take over the running of the building.

The White House has stood in Eden Lane, since 1890. The property, which was owned by wealthy merchant banker Rowland Burdon, has been used by various community groups over the years.

As part of Durham County Councils ongoing review of buildings that are no longer in use, it was decided that the White House would be demolished.

This decision was taken due to the building being empty for a number of years and its condition having seriously deteriorated following vandalism and thefts of interior fittings such as pipework.

With little prospect of the building being used, and the council having to pay for its ongoing maintenance, it was decided that demolition was the only realistic option.

However, following a meeting with local councillors, the decision will be reviewed in response to concerns expressed by some the community and local groups expressing an interest in taking over the building.

Stuart Timmiss, the councils head of planning and assets, said: Following a series of meetings with elected members in the area we have agreed to explore the opportunity of a local community group, which has expressed an interest, taking over the building.

Continued here:
Pause for thought on demolition of Peterlee old community centre

A 210m mixed-use scheme near Bolton town centre is ready for the off after Manchester contractor J Freeley demolished a former foundry.

The demolition of the 32,000 sq ft building marks the first stage in the development of the 14-acre Church Wharf scheme, a joint venture between Ask Developments and investment firm Bluemantle.

Church Wharf, near St Peters Church and the River Croal, will feature more than 340,000 sq ft of offices, over 230 family town houses and apartments, a cinema, cafs, bars and restaurants, a hotel, shops, pedestrian routes and public spaces.

There will also be a footbridge over the River Croal leading to Churchgate and into the town centre.

The former foundry, on Church Bank, was constructed in 1873 and was known as Booth Industries, later becoming The Wharf Foundry.

It was used for engineering and metal works and in its heyday was a major employer, supplying factories and mills around Manchester.

The building had lain derelict since the early 1980s and became a target for break-ins and theft.

It deteriorated into a dangerous state after parts of the roof collapsed.

Manchester-based Freeley, founded in 1983, liaised closely with the Environment Agency to agree a safe working strategy for dismantling the building, which ran alongside the river.

As well as demolishing the former foundry, Freeley removed asbestos from the site, made good retained party walls to adjacent buildings and boundary walls, installed new fencing, and carried out drainage and tree clearance works.

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Foundry demolition paves way for 210m scheme

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Nuketown demolition Black Ops II Game Clip (bo2) - Video

Aap Accuses Bjp Of Targeted Demolition

By: NNIS - News

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Aap Accuses Bjp Of Targeted Demolition - Video

The companys demolition division operates as a stand-alone service or as part of a wider, total in-house operation involving removal, disposal and recycling of waste materials and overall site regeneration.

Based in Manchester, the company is well placed to service the vast amount of urban regeneration presently being undertaken in the North-West region and beyond, and is proud to have been associated with numerous prestigious projects. Frank O'Gara & Sons Ltd has specific expertise in the following sectors:

Such projects will often involve one or more of the following:

Modern demolition involves not only the use of skilled and trained operatives with the latest technology and equipment, but also a great deal of planning, co-ordination of services and attention to detail, no matter what the size of project.Of paramount importance is the strict adherence to Health and Safety standards and environmental issues, not only for the companys own employees, but also for site owners and operators, adjacent residents and businesses, the general public, and natural ecology. Relevant factors include operating in confined or challenging spaces, noise and dust monitoring and suppression, and avoidance of disruption to third parties, traffic, etc.

We are a Corporate Member of the National Federation of Demolition Contractors (NFDC) and actively participate in the National Demolition Training Group (NDTG). All projects are fully assessed by senior management to ensure the health and safety of our own staff and everyone else affected by our works. We are able to fulfil the role of planning supervisor / principal contractor under the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 1994.

Commercial considerations often mean that demolition works are required to be carried out in a speedy and efficient manner. Frank O'Gara & Sons Ltd are highly committed to the successful completion of all projects within budget, within the agreed timescale and above all without compromise to health and safety.

Our experienced crews have at their disposal, an extensive range of modern demolition equipment to ensure the structure is safely demolished to programme. The company is committed to the investment in latest technology equipment, and its strong financial base enables outright ownership, thereby resulting in very competitive project costing. Our Specialist demolition equipment includes:

All plant is in radio contact with our Irlam office and are fully supported by modern garage facilities which are fully equipped and manned by skilled fitters and engineers, who can be on site in the shortest possible time should problems arise.

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Demolition Division / Frank O'Gara & Sons Limited ...

The Hindu A portion of the Mairie demolished on Sunday in Puducherry. Photo: S. S. Kumar

The Puducherry Government on Sunday began the demolition of remnants of the Mairie (Town Hall) building on the beach promenade which caved in under the impact of rains. Officials brought an earthmover and crane and pulled down the remnants of the building.

Official sources said the remnants of the dilapidated structure was unsafe and might cave in at any moment. Chief Minister N. Rangasamy had inspected the site and ordered the demolition in the interests of safety of people passing by on the Beach Road. The demolition would be completed in three days.

The government plans to construct a replica of the original building in its place. A meeting will be convened with INTACH and other agencies to decide on the next course of action, a source in government said. Many other heritage buildings are already in various stages of ageing and have become unsafe. We will be inspecting all these buildings and ascertaining their structural stability, he said.

Meanwhile, Communist Party of India (CPI) has blamed the government for not properly maintaining the building. CPI secretary R. Viswanathan said that though the government had started the renovation last month no steps were taken for strengthening the building and enhancing its lifespan. The government should assess the cause of collapse and initiate stringent action against those who were responsible, he said.

Congress MLA K. Lakshminarayanan said that the government should demolish the structure and build a replica as soon as possible. The government had already spent funds for renovation of the structure in 2000 and 2007. Several other heritage structures including the VOC School, Calve College and the Pensionnat De Jeunes Filles (Government Girls French High School) had become unsafe for human dwellings and should be demolished, he said.

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Demolition on, replica planned

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) A Tuscaloosa bridge is coming down after nearly seven decades as part of the original "Gateway to the University of Alabama."

The Tuscaloosa News reports (http://bit.ly/1y5bQuu ) the historic viaduct bridge on University Boulevard leading into Tuscaloosa's Alberta City neighborhood was built in the 1940s after World War II. Demolition on the old bridge is scheduled to begin Monday to make room for a new one.

Tuscaloosa City Councilman Kip Tyner says the entire project is expected to take about eight months, with construction of the new bridge scheduled to wrap up in August.

During the demolition and construction periods, Tuscaloosa residents can use two alternate routes to reach the Alberta City neighborhood.

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Information from: The Tuscaloosa News, http://www.tuscaloosanews.com

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Demolition to start on historic Tuscaloosa bridge

Photo by: Rick Danzl/The News-Gazette

Kelly Dillard, co-owner of Dig It of Champaign, talks on the phone in the front lobby of the Hanford Inn in Urbana. Dillard is preparing to demolish the building.

Image

URBANA Demolition of the old Hanford Inn & Suites in north Urbana is expected to begin this spring, said Kelly Dillard, whose company will take it down.

The project will be a bit of deja vu for Dillard, who last winter and spring tore down another abandoned hotel a one-time Holiday Inn in north Champaign that later became the Gateway Studios apartments.

In both cases, Dillard plans to market the properties for redevelopment. Both are located along the Interstate 74 corridor, with the Hanford just north of the Cunningham Avenue interchange and the Gateway on the south side of the Neil Street interchange.

At the Hanford site, Dillard's company, Dig It of Champaign, has already cut down weeds and trees. He plans to start demolition of the 140-room hotel in March or April.

"It's more costly to demolish things in wintertime," he explained. "It's harder on men and machines. Machines break down more, it takes longer for them to warm up, and metal is weaker in cold weather. It's generally 25 percent more expensive to do anything in winter than in the summer."

Plus, the Hanford will need asbestos abatement. Asbestos was used to strengthen paint sprayed on room ceilings, he said, and the paint will have to be scraped off and put into special dumpsters.

Total cost of demolition is expected to be about $400,000, with the city of Urbana slated to reimburse Dillard for $300,000 of that once the building is demolished and the lot is clean.

Excerpt from:
Abate. Demolish. Market. Repeat.