EDGEWATER Upcoming renovations to Edgewaters Steep Theatre will create a full bar and hangout space, and there will be stage production upgrades and other improvements.

Neighbors can support Steep Theatres efforts at its Demolition Party 6:30 p.m. Jan. 27 at the theater, 1044 W. Berwyn Ave. Tickets are $60 and are available online.

Attendees will learn more about the construction while enjoying snacks and refreshments. They can also get involved by helping to dismantle one of the walls in the building.

Were not asking anyone to do serious work, but youll get to physically put your mark on the building, said Marisa Macella, executive director of Steep Theatre. We found the hammer that struck the first blow on our previous building, so the hammer itself is also symbolic of where Steep has come from and where were going next.

Construction is expected to be complete by the end of the year, and the theater will likely reopen in early 2025, Macella said.

The majority of the renovations are funded by a $2.98 million grant from the city, Macella said. The grant was part of a $40 million community development initiative designed to spur economic activity after the pandemic.

Steep Theatre is still raising money to fund the project and to help maintain the space once renovations are complete. There are also opportunities for people to make donations to name parts of the new building, Marcella said.

Most noticeably, the renovations will expand the theaters lobby to create a warm and welcoming space for post-show hangouts, Macella said.

Part of the culture of Steep Theatre is the moments before and after the show where people have conversations about the performance and get to spend time chatting with the performers, Macella said. It was really important to use to create an area where people can gather.

There also will be a full bar, and the construction will connect to new public bathrooms in the lobby and a small outdoor garden space.

This gathering area will be shaped like a black box theater so it can also be used for smaller, more intimate performances, Macella said.

Fans of the previous Steep location will remember that our old gathering space and black box theater, The Box Car, had large pillars that blocked peoples view, Macella said. Those wont be there anymore, but we were joking that we should put some up just for fun for the first show.

The theater also will have more flexible seating, including moveable risers to ensure everyone has a good view of the stage no matter how the chairs are configured, Macella said.

Performers will see upgrades, with a new dressing room and green room near private bathrooms, Macella said. There will also be a new production office and a stage manager station with a direct view into the theater.

Steep Theatre was forced to leave its previous home at 1115 W. Berwyn Ave. after a developer bought the building to turn it into a 77-unit apartment complex. Steep had been based there since 2008.

After two years off stage, Steep reopened at 1044 W. Berwyn Ave. in July 2022, within a building that used to operate as a Christian Science Reading Room.

The building already has a large open space that performers have used as a makeshift theater, but its missing lighting equipment and other materials that are needed to put on a full production, Macella said.

The upcoming renovations will also improve the overall space, so its more conducive for a full production, with all the bells and whistles, Macella said.

Its great to have parts of the renovations that benefit our audience and parts that benefit our artists, Macella said. The building itself is going to be improved for every single person thats going to be in it.

Listen to the Block Club Chicago podcast:

See the rest here:
Steep Theatre Hosting Demolition Party, Where Neighbors Can Knock Down A Wall Ahead Of Renovations - Block Club Chicago

PENROSE, Colo. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Thursday a tentative demolition schedule of the Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose, Colorado.

The agency says it expects to begin the demolition process during the last week of February. Once the work begins it should take a total of 10 days to complete.

The cleanup process involves demolition crews spraying the interior of the buildings with disinfectant, and odor suppressant. The building will carefully be torn down to prevent the spread of contaminants, and finally, crews will do a shallow surface scraping of the soil under the building footprint before being taken away to a landfill.

This comes after the demolition was supposed to take place on January 17 but was postponed following scheduling issues.

The Return to Nature Funeral home was the site where 190 bodies were found improperly stored along the side of Highway 115 in Penrose.

Owners Jon and Carie Hallford are currently being held in the El Paso County Jail. Carie Hallford appeared before a judge on January 17 where the court ruled there was enough probable cause to send the case against Carie to trial. Co-owner and Carie's husband Jon Hallford has his preliminary hearing set for February 8.

The Hallfords have had their bonds reduced by the courts to $100,000 cash bond, from the initial $2 million set at the time of their arrests. The Hallfords are facing hundreds of criminal charges for abuse of a corpse, fraud, and money laundering.

BACKGROUND

Return to Nature Funeral Home came under a multi-agency investigation in October following reports of a complaint about a foul odor in the area. Investigators said they found more than 150 bodies in various states of decomposition inside the building that were not properly stored. The two were arrested in Oklahoma in November of 2023.

In what was a multi-agency clean-up effort, coroner offices and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation worked tirelessly for a couple of weeks to remove the bodies from the building before the identification process could begin.

It was not until early November that the owners of the Return to Nature Funeral Home were arrested in Oklahoma. Jon and Carie Hallford were moved to El Paso County by late November where both appeared in court and had cash bonds set at $2 million.

Following their arrests, News5's Eleanor Sheahan spoke with families who were victims of the funeral home.

WATCH: VICTIMS OF RETURN TO NATURE SHARE WHAT OWNER'S ARRESTS MEAN TO THEM

Victims of Return to Nature share what owner's arrests mean to them

____

Watch KOAA News5 on your time, anytime with our free streaming app available for your Roku, FireTV, AppleTV and Android TV. Just search KOAA News5, download and start watching.

Follow this link:
New demolition timeline announced of Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose - KOAA News 5

SHENANDOAH The fences are up, dumpsters are placed, and heavy equipment is in place. The collapsing M&T Quart Store is finally coming down.

A longtime eyesore downtown at Main and Cherry Street, the building has been showing signs of collapse for well over a year, which prompted a change in the Heritage Day parade route.

Equipment from Kass Contracting was set up at the site at 200-202 South Main Street this week, with fences securing the site from passersby.

Borough Manager Tony Sajone told the Sentinel that Kass was awarded the emergency demolition contract at a cost of $30,000. He said demolition will start within the next few days.

Borough council approved the emergency demolition at their December meeting at the suggestion of Mark Pronio, Code Enforcement Officer. At that time, he said hed seen bystanders sitting on the porch of the property who, if the building were to collapse, would be seriously injured, if not killed.

He said Solicitor Shane Hobbs advised the borough that, following code enforcement actions, an emergency demolition permit should be issued and the building be taken down.

It is posted properly. Weve done all the protocols as far as a dangerous property, blighted property, were good to go with whatever we wish to do with that property, Pronio said at the January meeting. We dont need to own it at this point.

The borough will be on the hook for demolition costs as they were unable to acquire the property before demolition after a tax sale bid fell through.

The building housed the M&T Quart Store for several years and has been abandoned since that store closed.

It is owned by Edward Spielberger and Glen Paterson, both deceased, and Heather Dehanis, of 9019 Thomas York Boulevard, San Antonio, Texas.

Pronio told the Sentinel Friday evening that the borough and its solicitor is processing a lien against Dehanis.

He said the property had been posted as a dangerous property and she had been sent several letters. Pursuant to borough ordinances, Pronio said they can recoup the cost of demolition, plus 10%.

She will ultimately be required to reimburse the Borough or the Lien/Judgement will follow her indefinitely and will negatively affect her future financial transactions, Pronio said. Code Enforcement can, and when possible will, follow this same process on similar dangerous property issues to protect the public and fight the overwhelming blight in Shenandoah.

Editors Note: This article has been edited to include additional information provided by code enforcement regarding additional ongoing enforcement actions.

Kaylee Lindenmuth is a Shenandoah native with a passion for journalism and the community she calls home.

Read the original here:
Abandoned M&T Quart Store demolition imminent The Shenandoah Sentinel - Shenandoah Sentinel

Posted By: Dan R January 26, 2024

The Environmental Protection Agency announced yesterday a new demolition scheduled for the Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose.

The agency says it expected to begin the demolition process during the last week of February. Once the work begins it should take a total of 10 days to complete.

This comes after the demolition was supposed to take place on January 17thbut was postponed following scheduling issues and bad weather.

The Return to Nature Funeral Home was the site where 190 decomposing bodies were found improperly stored. Owners Jon and Carie Hallford are being held in the El Paso County Jail facing over 200 felony charges each.

Danny Dan R Ridenour has been in radio and television broadcasting for over 40 years, starting as a senior in high school in Rogers, Arkansas. His radio career has had stops in Nashville, Memphis, Oklahoma, and eventually, Colorado. Dan enjoys being involved in the community, having been a member of the Upper Arkansas Service Club and is currently on the board of directors for the Salida Community Center and is a member of the Chaffee County Fair Committee. He and his wife Carrie spend their days doing everything the mountains have to offer: hiking, camping, fishing and skiing. They've raised 3 children and have 2 grandchildren.

See the original post:
Demolition of Penrose Funeral Home Rescheduled - Heart of the Rockies Radio

The Inter-Mountain photos by Edgar Kelley The City of Elkins is currently accepting bids for the demolition and reclamation of two commercial structures in Elkins. One of the structures used to house Printcrafters on South Davis Avenue.

ELKINS The City of Elkins is moving forward with the demolition of two commercial structures.

As part of a grant-funded project to remove dilapidated properties, the city is accepting sealed bids for the demolition and reclamation of the two structures within the city limits.

The two properties scheduled to be taken down are located at 924 South Davis Avenue, and at 326 South Randolph Avenue. The city has set a strict completion date of March 15 for the properties to be removed.

The South Davis Avenue structure sits just across the bridge from Ginos, heading south. It is located across from Reckart Logistics and Hair Graphics.

The other structure is at the end of Center Street, on the Kroger end of the street.

The City of Elkins is currently accepting bids for the demolition and reclamation of two commercial structures in Elkins, including one located on South Randolph Avenue and at the end of Center Street, The city hopes to have the structures removed by March 15.

The property on South Randolph is close to Kroger and it has been on our list for quite some time, Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco told The Inter-Mountain. It has recently been painted blue and has some serious issues that make it dangerous for the community.

The one of South Davis used to be the old Printcrafters location. That structure has been pretty bad for years and its in close proximityto the homeless shelter, so some people who dont qualify to get into the shelter, because they have their rules and guidelines, could use that location to go into and reside. And we dont want that because we dont want another incident like what happened on River Street where people perished (in a structure fire). That was a terrible, terrible situation.

Marco said the demolition of the structures is being sent out as a package for bidders so that it costs less to have them both removed. Bids are being accepted until Feb. 2 at 2 p.m.

We feel like by combining these two structures, we are getting them removed at a reasonable price, said Marco. By packaging them you tend to get more bang for our buck.

Marco added that the city doesnt own either of the two structures that are scheduled to be demolished.

We were able to work with the property owners to help get these dilapidatedproperties down, he said. Its nice when that happens and we dont have to go through court and everything like that.

Back in 2021, the West Virginia Legislature passed Senate Bill 368 to allow the state Department of Environmental Protection to develop the Dilapidated Properties Program, to approve and administer funding to assist local jurisdictions in demolishing dilapidated buildings.

Elkins was awarded $300,000 through the program in 2022, and has been removing structures across the city eversince.

With the grant money we have been able to address some of the properties that we havent been able to get to becauseof the price, Marco said. Prior to getting theDEP money, we only had $50,000 a year to take some of these properties down.

The purpose of the demolitions is to remove unsafe structures, protect property values for neighboring homes and buildings, and encourage economic development in the city.

The majority of people I talk to are very thrilled that we are taking some of these properties down, Marco said. I have had a few people concernedabout historical properties and I have to remind them that just because a property is old, that doesnt necessarilymean its historical. Theres a difference between historic and old.

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

View post:
City of Elkins set to demolish two commercial properties - The Inter-Mountain

(photo: Joe Carlson / KRWC)

Demolition work in Buffalo this week marks the start of the development of a new restaurant and coffee location in the city.

Preparations are underway for redevelopment of an area adjacent to north Highway 25 and 14th Street Northeast in Buffalo which will be the home of a new Chipotle Mexican Grill and Starbucks Coffee location.

Buffalo Mayor Teri Lachermeier says plans for the development had been in the works for over a year, but began to move quickly in recent days.

The mayor says despite a number of premium coffee locations in the city, the new Starbucks came as part of a package deal with Chipotle.

Once the lot is completely cleared, construction on the new food and beverage retail location is expected to begin, with operations expected to begin later in 2024.

Go here to read the rest:
Demolition Marks Start of Development of New Chipotle and Starbucks Location in Buffalo - KRWC

It was very exciting to see it finally coming down, Cinquanti said. It's a milestone weve accomplished.

Contractors hired by the city for up to $304,500 to perform the grant-funded demolition reduced the westernmost corner to rubble within about 20 minutes of starting the operation. Officials estimate site work could be complete within as little as two weeks depending on the weather.

The building and stone slab it stands on will be knocked down before all debris is hauled from the property for proper disposal. The site will subsequently be covered with six inches of sand.

Christopher Carpenter, a neighborhood resident and 4th Ward alderman-elect, said removing the blighted building at one of the main entryways to the city marks a turning point for the area.

Thousands of people drive in and out of our city along Church Street daily and that dilapidated plaza is one of the eyesores they see. I want their impression of our city to be more than what's there now, Carpenter said.

City officials agree removing the crumbling building that was abandoned over a decade ago will immediately improve the appearance of the highly visible property.

It's a huge step just getting it down, cleaning up the site and leveling it out, Cinquanti said. It's going to be a positive thing for our city and for the neighborhood.

Demolition was originally expected to be completed last month, but the project faced a brief bureaucratic delay.

To proceed, the city was awaiting final review by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of environmental testing conducted at the site. The unexpected death of the assigned federal staffer prevented the review from being completed by the statutory 30 day deadline on Oct. 26.

Conducting the demolition without authorization from the EPA could have jeopardized the $2 million Restore New York Communities Initiative grant awarded to the city for the project roughly one year ago.

The city worked with the state to proceed with the work as an emergency demolition of an unsafe structure without risking the grant funds. Cinquanti added final steps with the EPA will be completed in the coming days, enabling Amsterdam to take full title to the property.

Getting it down is one thing, now weve got to develop it, Cinquanti said.

Following the demolition, the city is expected to launch full marketing efforts seeking developers interested in the site. Previously conducted environmental testing will inform developers of any contaminants identified at the site requiring remediation as part of redevelopment plans.

It's going to be an ongoing process, Cinquanti said. We do have interest from a number of different developers.

The former strip mall was built on top of Kellogg Pond after it was used as an open pit landfill from the 1930s to the 1960s. Lumber ash, brick, household waste and sheens and odors from petroleum were among the materials previously discovered during site testing.

Asbestos and lead paint were also confirmed to be present in the building. All demolition debris will be disposed of in compliance with state and federal standards based on the known presence of the hazardous materials.

It's an amazing start to a new beginning for the 4th Ward. It shows progress and an opportunity for neighborhood revitalization, Carpenter said. The memories will always be there, but so looking forward to what's next.

Since the demolition contract cost much less than anticipated, Cinquanti said the city is seeking authorization from Empire State Development to use the nearly $1.7 million that will be leftover from the grant toward additional studies or remediation projects at the site. He said preliminary discussions have been positive.

Were looking forward to what the future brings to that site. It's been an eyesore for too long and I'm thrilled we were able to get it down, Cinquanti said. Were hoping there is a really positive ending to this story.

Watch the demolition video below:

Read the original post:
Demolition of former Five Corners strip mall underway | therecorder - The Daily Gazette

United Kingdom-based contractor Forshaw Demolition has added two HD Hyundai crawler excavators to its growing fleet of equipment.

The family-owned business, which specialises in all forms of demolition and deconstruction, including industrial decommissioning, asbestos removal and land remediation, is based in Lancashire and operates across the North-West of the country.

The company recently expanded its equipment fleet, which already included an HX520, an HX300A, an HX140A and two HX380A models, with two HD Hyundai HX330A crawlers.

Part of HD Hyundais A-Series product line, the HX330A model has an operating weight of 33 tonnes and is fitted with a 242 kW Stage V-compliant engine from Cummins. It offers a digging depth of 8.2 m, 70% gradeability and has maximum travel speed of 6.4 km per hour.

Chris Forshaw, Director at Forshaw Demolition, said: The 33-tonne machines are just the right size to tackle most demolition projects. From 30-40 tonnes is the main machine for most of our contracts.

Forshaws excavators were provided by Hyundai equipment dealer HES with protective side skirts and additional safety handrails to the upper structure. A full cab protection frame was also included, while rebar cutters were added to the track frames to protect the undercarriage and the upperstructure of the machine.

The company also invested in OilQuick and Steelwrist quick couplers for the excavators, as they enable operators to switch between attachment tools without leaving the cab.

With a busy order book stretching well into next year and a number of major projects starting over the coming months, Forshaws new HD Hyundai will be in use along with a wide range of attachments, including breakers, shears, selector grabs, pulverisers and a magnet.

Excerpt from:
Forshaw Demolition grows crawler fleet - Demolition & Recycling International

Coming up on December 27th, demolition will begin on nine old buildings in Hoopeston. Mayor Jeff Wise says this is mostly concentrated in the 200 block of East Main Street; with six of the buildings pretty much altogether, and three others that are separate. As Wise recently told Laura Williams on 1490 WDANs Community Connection program, the idea is to give incoming businesses a chance to start fresh and create their own structures, rather than needing to put something like $200,000 into rehabbing old structures.

AUDIO: The number of hours it took us to gain possession of these buildings, and to get out the bids, work with the engineers and architects, and get everything together; but this is, honestly, probably one of the biggest projects that Hoopeston has done in decades.

Mayor Wise stated that, no, the railroad world is not what it used to be, and Hoopeston is not located right along an interstate. But at the same time, he sees Hoopeston as a place for unique businesses, and hes got some ideas for the downtown space where these buildings are coming down.

AUDIO: Were going to create one small area of greenspace. Wed love to see, like a stage or something; so if somebody wanted to have like a small, outdoor concert or revival or something downtown, theyd be able to do that. But were going to put the rest of them up for development. We really want to see downtown grow again.

This all comes after the news in early November that Vermilion County plans to provide $600,000 in ARPA COVID relief money for road improvements that will help bring a hotel to Hoopeston.

To hear all of Laura Williams interview with Hoopestons Mayor Jeff Wise, which aired on December 13th, please go to https://vermilioncountyfirst.com/the-community-connection/

PREVIOUS STORY:

Hoopeston Development Plans Clear Big Hurdle

The rest is here:
Hoopeston's Mayor Wise Eyeing the Future; Demolition of Nine Old Buildings Begins Dec 27th - Vermilion County First

By Mike Lednovich

The Fernandina Beach Building Department slapped a stop work order on the demolition of three downtown neighborhood homes because asbestos was being removed without the required permits. Work on the homes has been idled for more than a month.

The stop work orders were posted on Nov. 11 and the homes have not been touched since then.

The homes at 123, 124, and 119 S. Fourth St. are part of the Tringali property development and are future sites for new townhouses.

There are strict state and local requirements for asbestos removal to minimize the release of asbestos fibers during demolition activities involving the removal, handling and disposal of asbestos-containing material.

According to Angie Lester, CRS administrator for the building department, asbestos affidavits have been submitted but not paid for. Jensafe Environmental was doing the work.

Officials at Jensafe Environmental did not respond for comment on the situation.

Its important to note that the contractor has hired Jensafe Environmental who is very aware of the methods to remove and report on asbestos. It appears they are using the wet method for removal, Lester wrote in a Nov. 21 email to City Manager Ty Ross.

She said the buildings were draped and they have removed siding from two structures.

According to local resident Taina Christner, workers were seen in hazmat suits last month removing what appeared to be house siding containing asbestos.

Approximately two weeks ago, my neighbors and I noticed the removal of what appeared to be asbestos shingles from three of the homes on the property. Despite the workers donning hazmat suits and facemasks, none of us observed asbestos safety measures such as wetting down the shingles with water or the use of plastic sheets to contain airborne particles, Christner said. At that time, I assumed the contractors were carrying out the task under city supervision, adhering to all necessary rules and regulations.

Original post:
Tringali Demolition Halted Owing to Missing Asbestos Permits - Fernandina Observer