Emergency demolition work is underway on the portion of the Bronx building that partially collapsed earlier this week.

Crews are working to remove pieces of the buildings floors and ceilings that were left dangling as high as seven stories in the air.

Work on the building, located at 915 Billingsley Terrace, started around 10 a.m. Thursday morning and is expected to take multiple days to complete.

The Department of Buildings said Thursday afternoon that demolition work will be paused at some point later Thursday to allow for residents who live in the south wing of the building to retrieve some of their belongings.

Some tenants will not be able to retrieve their belongings. That includes the Zavaleta family, who lived at apartment 53 inside of 1915 Billingsley Terrace.

For the last four decades, the apartment was a safe haven for the Zavaletas.

Over the years, several family members have called it home. But after Mondays partial building collapse, it is now a danger zone, and therefore being demolished.

So when tenants are allowed to return to their apartments Thursday to get some of their belongings, Diana Vargas and her family will not.

My mother is no longer with us, and I have, we all have specific items to remember by her, and I'm just not getting that back, Diana Vargas said.

Vargas was at work during the time of the partial collapse. The clothes she wore and her work bag are all she has from her apartment.

She said the material items are replaceable, but the thought of never wearing her late mothers jewelry or flipping through old photos of her makes her emotional.

They told us no, like, we can't go back in. And I wish I could get my photos album with her, her perfume, her rings that I had of her. We had a blanket that she left behind. And I am not getting none of that back, she said.

Vargas sister and nephew were home at the time of the collapse. Her nephew was on his way into his bedroom as the floor began falling through.

Though they feel lucky they were able to get out safely, Vargas said they lost everything, and that the landlord and city are to blame.

If that building has so many violations, why do we get bypassed? Like, why was nothing being done? And all the complaints that we made to 311, like what happened there? she said.

Vargas, her family and some of her neighbors have been put up in a Brooklyn hotel by the Red Cross, but they have to check out by 11 a.m. Friday.

She said they have submitted all their paperwork to the city to get placement in a shelter.

We dont got no details. We dont know where were being placed, how far out, Vargos said.

Vargas has reached out to her local elected officials, asking if she can direct emergency personnel to find some of those sentimental items before everything is demolished.

She said she is holding out hope, but doesnt know if that is going to be possible.

Read more:
Demolition work on partially collapsed Bronx building underway - Spectrum News NY1

By Jimmy Settle

City of Clarksville

The City of Clarksville Building & Codes Department is aware that some apartment owners whose buildings were damaged by the Dec. 9, 2023, Clarksville tornado may intend to have those structures demolished without proper City permitting.

The City understands that the owners may not fully understand the correct procedure for demolition.

Interim Building & Codes Director Justin Crosby says his department wants to work with those apartment owners, to ensure the process is handled correctly, and safely.

We have been notified of some apartment owners that have started evacuating buildings with the intention to demolish the structures without permits, Crosby said. We want the community to know about our demolition process.

Crosby said the demolition permitting process, which also includes single-family homes as well as multi-family, is primarily a safety measure that is in place, in large part, to formally ensure that all Clarksville Gas & Water and CDE Lightband utilities have been shut off and disconnected. Representatives of the utilities, themselves, are also engaged in the demolition authorization process.

Realizing that private owners are eager to move forward with tornado recovery on their properties, Crosby said his department will put all demolition permits on an accelerated timetable.

Please contact Clarksville Building & Codes at (931) 645-7426 for further assistance.

Read more:
For safety, City requires proper demolition permits in tornado recovery | ClarksvilleNow.com - Clarksville Now

The local district attorneys office said Thursday that it had opened an investigation into the stunning Bronx building collapsethat displaced more than 100 people, though it remained unclear what caused the structural failure.

Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clarks spokesman, Eric Steltzer, said the prosecutors office was probing any possible criminality that may have led to the partial collapse of the seven-story structure in Morris Heights.

The brick building had been flagged for more than 100 violations, according to city records. But the Buildings Department said it had no record of any open violations related to structural issues at the time of the collapse.

On Monday, the corner of the 96-year-old building crumbled to the street, opening six levels to the frosty December elements. Ceilings on four levels sagged against the walls. At the bottom of the building, a mountain of debris poured onto the pavement.

Nobody died or was seriously injured.

The 47-unit building, located on Billingsley Terrace, is owned by 1915 Realty LLC. David Kleiner, the manager of the building, said by phone Thursday that he had no clue what caused the collapse.

The corner came down after extensive work on the building over the past few months that had nearly reached completion, Kleiner said. He said he has worked with the Red Cross to relocate residents, and has hired security to protect the tenants belongings.

Responding to the Bronx district attorneys investigation, Kleiner said, I dont think theres any criminality, but added, Theyre welcome to check.

It was in perfect condition it was just upgraded, he said of the building. Im very confident.

He declined to say how many buildings he manages in the city, abruptly hanging up when asked.

Richard Koenigsberg, an engineer previously hired by the buildings owner to inspect the property, deemed the building unsafe in reports he filed with the city in 2020 and 2021 after finding cracked brick, loose and damaged mortar, and other deficiencies.

Koenigsberg suggested Thursday that the collapse might have resulted from the failure of a first-floor column, but he deferred to the city officials probing the incident to determine the exact cause.

This could not have been anticipated, Koenigsberg said. This is not a common failure.

Engineers were beginning to demolish the collapsed section of the structure on Thursday. Fencing surrounded the block. At the base of the building, a yellow crane hummed.

Felix Vargas, the buildings superintendent, watched as officials carried out the demolition.

Thats my granddaughters jacket, he said of a pink baby jacket hanging from the door to a unit that was cleaved by the collapse. She is 2 years old.

I am not in a condition to talk right now, Vargas, 57, said as the crane neared the ripped corner of the building, and as his eyes teared up.

Twenty-six families including 79 adults and 22 children accepted temporary housing, according to New York Citys emergency management agency.

By Wednesday night, electricity was restored in some parts of the vacated building, according to the Buildings Department. Residents in the buildings south wing would be offered the opportunity to join an engineer to recover personal belongings on Thursday afternoon, the city said.

Demolition paused Thursday while residents headed into the building to recover belongings. Some shell-shocked residents had said earlier this week that they were worried about missing pets who had not made it out.

About 5 p.m., around 40 residents were waiting to get their belongings from the collapsed building.

I just want to get my passport and important documents, said Pedro Rodriguez, 66, as he held huge black plastic bags, adding that he was living with relatives nearby.

The biggest task is to now look for a new apartment, said Rodriguez, a 30-year resident of the building.

Theodore Parisienne for New York Daily News

David Maggiotto, a spokesman for the Buildings Department, said in a statement that the city would continue to provide the displaced tenants with housing assistance and would work with the landlords as they work to make the building safe for occupancy once again.

The building sits a block from a fire stationhouse, and the city said it responded to the collapse within two minutes on Monday.

The Buildings Department said it has informed the buildings owner that, after the demolition of the corner of the building, further actions must be taken to ensure the safety of the building. Ultimately, the department said, it would reassess whether residents can reoccupy sections of the building.

Follow this link:
Criminal investigation underway in Bronx building collapse as demolition begins - New York Daily News

Dec 14, 2023, 6:31pmUpdated 5d ago

By: News 12 Staff

Construction began Thursday at the partially collapsed Morris Heights building on 1915 Billingsley Terrace.

Residents of the building were spotted being escorted into the building to receive their belongings from their homes, and cleanup and construction efforts are underway at the partially collapsed building.

The DOB anticipates construction will take several days. Before allowing tenants back into their homes, the owner will have to ensure safety measures are put in place including heat and hot water, fixing broken locks and sealing off the damaged section of the building.

Until then, tenants have been in placed in hotels throughout the boroughs. Council Member Pierina Sanchez says elected officials are waiting to hear back from NYC Housing Preservation and Development to negotiate short-term and long-term solutions while demolition continues.

If you are one of these individuals who cannot retrieve their belongings, you can visit Bronx Community College or call 877-RED-CROSS for support.

Original post:
Demolition, construction begins at Morris Heights building days after partial collapse - News 12 Bronx

News listings

15 July 2022

Balfour Beatty Communities in partnership with the United States Army at Fort Carson, CO, recently celebrated the start of a multi-phased development project planned for its privatised military housing community, Fort Carson Family Homes.

The July 13, 2022 groundbreaking event was held at the Cherokee Village West neighborhood where existing 60-year-old military housing units will be demolished to make way for the planned construction of new homes for active duty service members and families assigned to Fort Carson.

The event included remarks from Col. Nate Springer, Fort Carson Garrison Commander, and Balfour Beatty Communities representatives. Major General Omar Jones, Deputy Commander, US Army Installation Management Command, and Major General David Hodne, Fort Carson Commanding General, were also in attendance.

Rick Taylor, President, Facilities Operations, Renovations and Construction for Balfour Beatty Communities, said: The goal of the Military Housing Privatisation Initiative is to support our service members by providing a quality housing experience.

We are pleased to be working with the Army toward our common goal of bringing new, modern homes to Fort Carson and to continue delivering on our commitment to support active duty families.

The demolition is the first stage of a multi-phased project paving the way for new three- and four-bedroom townhomes that will feature open floor plans, generous storage, updated finishes and flooring, outdoor living spaces and energy efficient systems and appliances. A new playground and covered picnic area is also planned as part of the project.

To make this development project possible, Balfour Beatty Communities continues to work with the Army to secure private financing for Fort Carson and other Army properties in its housing portfolio.

Working with the Department of Defense, as part of the Military Housing Privatisation Initiative (MHPI), Balfour Beatty Communities has delivered more than 14,000 new homes and significantly renovated an additional 15,000 housing units. MHPI was enacted in 1996 to leverage private-sector capital and expertise to address the militarys backlog of deferred maintenance by expanding and upgrading housing, with predictable, stable long-term operating costs and performance. Balfour Beatty Communities will finance, develop, build, renovate and operate these projects for at least 50 years.

ENDS

Media enquiries to:Maureen OmrodBalfour Beatty Communities+1 610-355-8136momrod@bbcgrp.com

All non-media related enquiries should be directed to +44 (0)20 7216 6800 orinfo@balfourbeatty.com

Notes to editors:

About Balfour Beatty Communities

Read the original here:
Balfour Beatty Communities and Fort Carson begin demolition for new Military Housing - Balfour Beatty

NARRAGANSETT The state has put on hold demolition of the former Lighthouse Inn, the shuttered building in the Port of Galilee at the center of a dispute with Narragansett town officials and residents.

The Department of Environmental Management announced on Friday that it needs to conduct a hazardous building materials assessment before the structure can be razed.

This assessment will determine the presence and extent of hazardous materials, including potentially asbestos, which would need to be addressed for either demolition or redevelopment of the building and/or site, Terrence Gray, director of the state agency, said in a statement.Consideration of any changes to the leases at the site will be suspended until this assessment is completed and an accurate estimate of the cost of remediation is available.

The assessment is expected to take 90 days once a contractor is hired, Gray said. The results will be shared with Narragansett officials and posted on the DEM website for the public.

More: Critics say plans for Galilee's Lighthouse Inn look like a parking lot with token shops

The decision to put the project on hold is just the latest development in a long-running debate over the future of the former inn, which occupies a prominent spot off Great Island Road. The 5-acre parcel is owned by the DEM and leased to PRI X, thearm of theCranston-basedProcaccianti Companies thatonce operated the now-decrepit motel and stilluses the landfor parking.

Town Council members and other residents believe that the developerfell into breach of its lease when it stopped operating the Lighthouse Inn as a motel in 2017or, in their opinion, maintaining it properly. The criticsmet with the attorney generals officeto air their complaints, but there has been no actionso farby the office.

The DEM kicked off a process last year to solicit proposals for reusing the land, but the agency rejected all three proposals submitted. They included proposals from PRI X, for a strip of storefronts and the future construction of a hotel, and the Town of Narragansett, for a hotel with a restaurant, event space and gallery.

Instead of going forward with those plans, or another from iCellAqua for a wastewaterprocessing facility, the agency said it would maintain two of the three lots on the property for parking and take down the decrepit motel to make the site more attractive for future development.

Because of the propertys proximity to the Port of Galilee, the states largest commercial fishing port, the request for proposals highlighted the importance of supporting the fishing industry in any redevelopment proposal.

The DEM concluded that the Narragansett and PRI X proposals would not adequately benefit the fishing industry. The iCellAqua proposal was rejected because of uncertainty about what the company was planning.

Our focus and mission has not changed, said DEM spokesman Michael Healey. We still want to attract to this site a company that supports commercial fishing. At the same time, we respect the towns frustration about how long this process has taken. We want to work with the town as best we can.

Go here to read the rest:
State holds off on demolition of Lighthouse Inn to test for hazardous building materials - The Providence Journal

Doors to the former Parkland Memorial Hospital have officially closed, signifying the start of a 24-month process that will end with the building's complete removal from the site.

The facility welcomed its first patient on September 25, 1954, and kept its doors open for 61 years.

The former hospital also happens to be where President John F. Kennedy died, even though it was never designated a historical site. On August 16, 2015, the last patient was wheeled out of the old into the new and improved Parkland hospital.

Beck - EJ Smith, the joint venture handling the demolition, estimates that it will be completed by November 2023, accounting for removing hazardous materials on site and the piece-by-piece removal.

Grady Portis, Sr., 60, has a special connection to the building. Not only was Portis born in Parkland, but it was also his place of employment for a little over 20 years.

"It's a little sad that the building is coming down," Portis said. "There's so much history. I can remember my grandmother bringing me to the Emergency Department when I was just a kid and had gotten hurt. On my last birthday [in March], I went up to the Labor & Delivery area and thought 'this is where my life began!'"

Still Portis understands that no building can last forever.

Over the years, the building has become unsuitable for safe healthcare treatment.

Parkland's Senior Vice President of Support Services John Raish says it's time to "make room for a building that is projected to save the Dallas County taxpayers about $3.4 million in annual lease costs."

Visit link:
Former Parkland Hospital Piece-by-Piece Demolition to Begin - NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

With excavators and a bulldozer standing by, the developer planning apartments at the long-abandoned Ames headquarters in Rocky Hill has begun environmental remediation after buying the property for $2.3 million.

Were all eager for this. Theyre telling us they can do demolition in four months after remediation is done, and then start construction in the spring of 23, Mayor Lisa Marotta said Friday.

Rocky Hill struggled for years to find a major retailer or office management company interested in reusing the 250,000-square-foot building after Ames went out of business in 2002.

But the building and its 12 acres just deteriorated over the years; the massive parking lot is buckled and riddled with weeds, the office complex itself is marred by graffiti. Several years ago, anonymous YouTubers filmed inside and showed moldy walls, exposed wires, collapsing drop ceilings and decades-old work manuals scattered across floors.

The former Ames headquarters. Photograph by Mark Mirko | mmirko@courant.com (Mark Mirko/The Hartford Courant)

A lot of people in Rocky Hill have memories from here so many people worked at Ames, said Marotta, who spent a summer after high school as a data entry clerk in a third-floor office.

There were hundreds of people here, and they frequented the businesses and restaurants. They enjoy the stories of the past, but theyre really happy to see something new coming, Marotta said Friday in a tour of the site.

At its height, Ames had more than 55,000 employees. Its Rocky Hill headquarters housed as many as 1,000 merchandisers, accountants, logistics managers and others.

Despite a devastating 1991 bankruptcy, Ames still had 327 stores and more than 21,000 employees in 2002 when it announced it was going out of business. It was the last of the once-powerful New England discount department store chains; Caldor and Bradlees had already shut down.

The headquarters it left behind had once been a source of civic pride, but became a high-profile center of blight in the following years.

Daily

We're providing the latest coronavirus coverage in Connecticut each weekday morning.

Hamden-based Belfonti Companies LLC this month paid $2.3 million for the property, and plans to build 213 apartments one of the largest new residential projects in central Connecticut.

Rocky Hill wants the new residential complex to be the springboard for a larger-scale redevelopment that will stretch to the Connecticut River. The town has a history of being car-centric, and the vision for this section is heavy on wide sidewalks and bike paths to generate more of a community center feel.

The Main Street frontage will have a restaurant and commercial development, and Marotta sees it as part of a new village green and town center for Rocky Hill. The town expects to close the very end of Dividend Road so it can expand the small, triangular green there.

Gov. Ned Lamonts administration last year put $500,000 toward the environmental cleanup of the 1965 building and surrounding property. Marotta said the public-private partnership nature of the new development was key to starting progress.

Belfonti plans 93 one-bedroom apartments and 120 two-bedroom units, all at market rate except for 10% that will be reserved as affordable housing.

The companys plans will include about 11,000 square feet of commercial office space and 10,000 square feet of retail or restaurant space. There will also be a pocket park on the property.

Marotta said the town is looking to extend a new streetscape with sidewalks down Glastonbury Avenue, creating pedestrian access to the waterfront. The Ames property is about a 2-minute drive from the dock for the Glastonbury ferry, and the new pedestrian amenities will go a long way toward creating a town center thats linked to the waterfront, she said.

Here is the original post:
Demolition grows near for hulking, abandoned Ames headquarters in Rocky Hill - Hartford Courant

ESPN Club at Disneys Boardwalk is now being demolished, after permanently closing earlier this year.

There are construction vehicles parked behind rolling planters on the boardwalk.

There is a crane and cherry picker.

The ESPN Club sign remains (for now), but crew members were removing other decorations.

They have placed tarp on the ground to keep the planks of the boardwalk protected.

As we watched, crews removed a light-up arch from the roof.

The crew members in the cherry picker removed the arch and secured it to the crane straps.

They lowered it to the ground.

It is set to become The Cake Bake Shopby Gwendolyn Rogers sometime next year. The BoardWalk Bakery will also close and become a sandwich shop.

How do you feel about the closure of ESPN Club at Disneys Boardwalk? Let us know in the comments.

For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today onTwitter,Facebook, andInstagram.

Related

Originally posted here:
Demolition Begins on the ESPN Club at Disney's Boardwalk - WDW News Today

Stop & Shop contractors began the demolition of Vineyard Havens former Golden Dragon Restaurant on Wednesday. The Water Street building, which is immediately adjacent to Stop & Shop, and had been used for storage by the supermarket, was previously deemed unsafe following town inspections, and an order was given to either make the place safe or to raze it.

Stop & Shop opted to take the building down. Midday Wednesday, Lawrence Lynch workers in hardhats and Day-Glo greenish yellow jerseys started carefully removing large glass windows on the second floor. The town previously cordoned off the sidewalk by the building, first with traffic sawhorses and plastic barriers, and later with concrete blocks. A traffic officer stood on the scene Wednesday, guiding pedestrians away from the demolition site.

After its time as a restaurant, the building was acquired by Stop & Shop, and used as a warehouse.

Wednesday afternoon, the Tisbury Police Department released an advisory that Water Streets right lane in the direction of Five Corners will be closed from Wednesday through Friday.

Traffic will still be able to travel in both directions but please expect delays, the advisory stated.

View post:
Demolition at Vineyard Haven Stop & Shop begins - Martha's Vineyard Times