Early last week, if youd been cruising through the Mid-Wilshire area, you might have caught sight of a wrecking crew beginning to pry apart the Bing Theater at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. But chances are you didnt catch sight of it because Los Angeles has been under quarantine for almost a month.

In late March, the museum told Times reporter Deborah Vankin that it would proceed with its planned $750-million building project designed by Peter Zumthor and that demolition was scheduled to begin sometime in April. But surely it would have been nice er, transparent? to give Angelenos a heads-up that workers had actually begun tearing apart a county building that had been part of the citys landscape for more than half a century.

The museum didnt address the demolition in a fully public way until April 9, via a blog post on its website published three days after it had begun and two days after The Times had published a story on the subject. The post described the controversial building project as an important source of job creation.

A demolition crew works on removing the William Pereira-designed Bing Theater.

(Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)

All of this raises the question of where exactly things stand with the buildings design specifically plans for the interior, which have yet to be shown to the public. The museum has circulated conceptual renderings of what the gallery spaces may look like, but no final floor plan has been released.

In February, in a story I reported about concerns over the museums debt load, LACMAs director, Michael Govan, said the plans would be made public sometime in March. Now, he says, the release of those plans has been pushed back by the pandemic.

We have spent the last month 24/7 navigating the COVID-19 crisis, Govan stated in an email. Delayed for good reason, we are still working to finish our better presentation about the gallery designs that is more complete, including the curatorial perspectives that shaped the program.

He expects to be able to share more descriptive materials about how the galleries work within the next 4-6 weeks.

LACMA, like so many institutions around the world, has had day-to-day life overturned by the COVID-19 pandemic, shutting galleries and forcing staff to work remotely. Unlike many other institutions, the museum has not laid off any staff in the wake of the quarantine.

But the floor plans should never have been affected by coronavirus to begin with. The museum should have released them some semblance of them months ago.

Or how about a year ago, when a revised design was presented to the County Board of Supervisors for a crucial vote as part of the environmental impact approval process? The supes didnt seem all that preoccupied by the incomplete nature of the designs and rubber-stamped the plan, unanimously releasing $117.5 million in county funds for the project. They may have been distracted by Brad Pitt, whom LACMA took to the meeting as a celebrity booster.

When New Yorks Museum of Modern Art announced its renovation and expansion plan in 2014, it issued a set of simple schematics that showed how the new spaces would attach to the existing museum and which of these would be devoted to showing art. Three years later, as the renovation wrapped and construction of the new wing got rolling, the museum issued a more detailed plan that provided the particulars of circulation and the location of amenities.

LACMA a museum that draws anywhere from a fifth to a quarter of its annual budget from the taxpayers of the County of Los Angeles has provided no such information to the public. And in LACMAs case, the information is even more critical given the buildings unusual form and the fact that part of the intent of the design is to rethink the ways in which permanent collections are shown.

Govan stated via email that the Zumthor building will include 110,000 square feet of gallery space, a bigger and better version of Rays and Stark Bar, a gift shop, two loading docks, an education facility, a theater and two cafes. But how any of these might be configured within a building that is shaped like a moose antler is still a mystery.

What is certain is that neither the demolition nor the pandemic has put a damper on the activities of the two groups that have been actively protesting the construction plan: the nonprofit Save LACMA and the more ad hoc Citizens Brigade to Save LACMA.

Late last month, Save LACMA, led by nonprofit consultant Rob Hollman, filed the initial paperwork for a county ballot measure that could implement changes to the ways in which LACMA operates and the ways in which it might undertake construction projects in the future.

The initiative would:

If the county approves the submission, Hollman says his organization will get to work gathering signatures they will need 225,000 to get it on the November ballot. Though how signature collecting will be achieved in the age of social distancing remains to be seen.

Regardless, Hollman says his organization is charging ahead. I got a snarky email from a former [LACMA] board member saying that maybe I have too much time on my hands, he says. I actually dont. I have two kids at home and we have to teach them. My question is, why are they approving this?

An excavator demolishes the western facade of the Bing Theater.

(Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)

The more loosely organized Citizens Brigade, an informal organization spearheaded by architecture writers Greg Goldin and Joseph Giovannini, is moving forward with its own plans.

On the heels of the demolition reports, the Brigade launched a letter-writing campaign to the museums board with a variety of email templates that, like a restaurant menu, can be chosen by levels of hotness.

The mild template, which features a one chile pepper rating, urges board members: Stop the demolition now. Halt construction. Hold an international architectural competition to get a bigger and stronger not a smaller and weaker LACMA.

The on fire choice five chiles reads: Look in the mirror and live with the disgrace of knowing you cheated Angelenos out of the museum they loved.

They also launched a pop-up architectural competition to redesign LACMAs east campus. Proposals are due by midnight Wednesday.

We got 73 inquiries followed by intent to submit, Goldin stated by email.

In the meantime, LACMA is busy demolishing three structures designed by the firm of William Pereira in the 1960s, along with an addition by Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates from the 1980s.

A banner outside the LACMA demolition zone advertises the new Peter Zumthor-designed building.

(Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)

The Bing Theater was part of the suite of buildings designed by Pereira for the museums original campus in 1965. It was inaugurated by French composer Pierre Boulez, who premiered a new work for the occasion: "clat, a piece for 15 instruments that is inspired by ideas of resonance.

Over the course of its life, the Bing was the site of countless other classical music concerts, as well as artist talks and film screenings. In 2013, I saw a stirring presentation of Luis Buuels Los Olvidados in connection with an exhibition about Mexican cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa.

When word of the theaters demolition got out, filmmakers and aficionados rushed to pay tribute on social media. A great place to view the classics, wrote Joe Dante, who directed popular 80s pictures like Gremlins and The Burbs. Film critic Kenneth Turan, who retired from his post as Times film critic earlier this month, described it as one of the best of L.A. movie showcases.

On Monday morning, nothing appeared to remain of the Modernist, wood-paneled interior. All that was left was a shell being demolished by an excavator.

Part of what has been so frustrating about the LACMA design process are the questions that remain unanswered at this very late stage: Namely, what this container for art will actually contain.

Designs frequently evolve up to and even during construction bending to the reality of cost or building codes or the availability of materials. I am not unaware of this. But when it comes to LACMA, there has been nothing more on offer than faith in Zumthors vision.

We are now at the stage where theres a giant hole in the ground where the Bing Theater once stood. And the only thing filling it is a very large shrug: _()_/.

Read more here:
LACMA has begun demolition. Where are the gallery plans? - Los Angeles Times

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John Brodersen plans to demolish the "Herman Reel house" at 4640 N. Lake Drive. The house is one of four homes designated as historic by the Whitefish Bay Historic Preservation Commission.(Photo: Jeff Rumage/Now News Group)

One of four buildings on Whitefish Bay's historic registry will likely be demolished.

The village'sArchitectural Review Commission unanimously voted April 9 to issue a demolition permit to John Brodersen, who for the past 18 monthshas sought permission to tear down his house at 4640 N. Lake Drive.

The English Tudor Revival-style house, built in 1928, was added to the village's historic registry in 2007. The home was designedby architectRichard Philipp, who also designed the Holy Hill Monastery andThe American Club in Kohler.

The home needs $1.2 million in renovations, including the remediation of lead, asbestos and mold, as well as the installation of new wiring, plumbing and sewer laterals, according to consultant Rob Ruvin.

Brodersen has said he wantsto demolish the property and build a new house, similar to what he did with a house next door at 4646 N. Lake Drive. He paid $1.75 million for that house.

Whitefish Bay's zoning code states a demolition permit cannot be issuedfor a historic property unless the applicant has made good faith effortsfor at least 60 days to find a buyer who agrees to preserve, relocate or otherwise rehabilitate the historic building.

Brodersen first applied for the demolition permitin October 2018. The commission denied the permit in March 2019, ruling that he had notmade good faith effortsto sell the house to someone willing to restore or relocate the structure.

Brodersen appealed that ruling, but it was upheld by the Whitefish Bay Village Board.

In his first application for a demolition permit, Brodersen did not list the house for sale online, because he only wanted to sell the building and not the land. He also said he would sell the house for $1 to anyone who would pay for it to be relocated.

In preparing for a second permit application in August 2019, Brodersen listed his property for sale online. The property was marketed byFalk Ruvin Real Estate and listed on real estate websites.

The property was originally listed for $1.65 million, which is the price Brodersen paid in 2016. Brodersen reduced the price to $1.55 million July 3.

The house netted one offer for $800,000 from broker Bob Herzog. Herzog said he made the offer on behalf of Darin Early, who plans to move to the Milwaukee areafrom Providence, Rhode Island.

The commission denied Brodersen's second permit application in August 2019, saying the property was not professionally staged or photographed. Commissionersalso wanted comparable properties' sale data, to determine if a $1.55 million asking price was reasonable.

The following month, Brodersen hiredreal estate agent Suzanne Powers, who listed the property for $1.49 million. She later lowered the price to $1.39 million.

Powers said the house was professionally cleaned, and all the furniture was donated to Habitat for Humanity ReStores. Brodersen also paid to have the electrical and plumbing systems fixed.

Powers said she showed the house to 100 people during 12 open houses and 219 days on the market.

Powers said she didn't receive any new offers just Herzog's$800,000 offer from August. Powers said she requested a writtenoffer from Herzog three times, but she said she never received one.

Herzog sentan email to PowersFeb. 6 that explained why he thought the property was worth $800,000. In thatemail, he said hisclient would increase his offer to $1 million.

Two days before the commission was set to consider Brodersen's third demolition permit request, Herzog sent Powers a term sheet referencing a $1 million offer transmitted Feb. 6.

Herzog was not allowed to speak during the commission's video conference meeting April 9. In a later interview, Herzog said he would have prepared a written offer earlier if Powers had agreed to theinformal $1 million offer mentioned in his Feb. 6 email.

Herzog also said the more formal $1 million offer he sent two days before the meeting should have still been considered, as there was no offer deadline stipulated by the commission or the historic preservation ordinance.

Josh Levy, an attorney representing Brodersen, said Herzog's offer included a clause similar to a "solar easement" that would limit what Brodersen could do with his property next door at 4646 N. Lake Drive.

Its not a real, bonafide good faith offer," Levy said.

The commissionunanimously voted to award the demolition permit, but allowed a 15-day window for Brodersen to entertain any potential offers that might arise. The ruling did not require Brodersen to accept any of those offers.

Brodersen did not return an email asking when he planned to demolish the property.

ContactJeff Rumage at (262) 446-6616or jeff.rumage@jrn.com. Followhim on Twitter at @JeffRumage orFacebook atwww.facebook.com/northshorenow.

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Link:
This historic Whitefish Bay mansion will likely be demolished - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The Texas Observer has published a lengthy article on the planned demolition of the Alazn-Apache Courts, San Antonios oldest public housing project, as part of its "Gentrification of Texas" issue.

The piece by writer Gus Bova chronicles the development's significance in Mexican American culture and cautions that its destruction to make way for mixed-income housing will indelibly alter the historic near-downtown neighborhood where it's located.

Bova pulls no punches in his description of the West Side project but gives humanity to the people for whom it's a source of housing stability, including 36-year-old Kayla Miranda, who's called it home since 2017:

"Bouncing from friends couches to motels, Miranda began missing work as her sons school peppered her with calls about his increasingly frequent meltdowns. Disaster loomed. Then, after a year and a half on a waitlist, a space opened for her at one of San Antonios public housing projects in mid-2017.

'Its a safety net, thank God,' Miranda tells me when I visit her 80-year-old cinder block apartment complex in January. Its not an ideal place: The bedrooms scarcely fit a queen mattress, theres no central air, and the roaches are resilient. But Miranda, a mother of three who also cares for her 3-year-old nephew, pays only $168 a month in rent. And after two and a half years here, she feels connected to her neighbors. For her, its a home worth fighting for."

Some of the most affecting prose comes as Bova chronicles the history of the housing project, which was established in 1939:

"In her exuberant Spanglish, Blanquita Rodriguez, an 86-year-old ranchera singer with Las Tesoros de San Antonio tells me of her childhood at the courts. 'I grew up muy contenta; era muy bonito, mijo. It was like a big family,' she says, recalling the complexs large hedges and her days performing at the nearby Guadalupe Theater. 'I have a lot of beautiful memories, chatting on the porch. Nadie te molestaba. You needed a couple tortillas, you went and knocked on your neighbors door.'"

Last year, the Current and the San Antonio Heron collaborated on a lengthy analysis of gentrification's sweep across the West Side, including the scheduled demolition of the Alazn-Apache Courts.

Stay on top of San Antonio news and views. Sign up for our Weekly Headlines Newsletter.

Originally posted here:
Lengthy Texas Observer Story Digs Into the Pending Demolition of San Antonio's Alazn-Apache Courts - San Antonio Current

How can the demolition of a building be deemed essential?

WE live in times of increasing contradiction.

On the one hand sunbathing for people without gardens is frowned upon, even with social distancing, walking routes are closed to much of the population, spiritual wellbeing counts for nought.

On the other people are flying in to Heathrow without any health checks, those with mild symptoms are quarantined for seven days rather than the World Health Organisation-prescribed 14, and construction workers are exempt from the rules about non-essential work.

How can the demolition of a building in Clerkenwell, with no planning permission for its replacement, or work on the HS2 project, neither of which can be done without breaching social distancing rules, be deemed essential?

Delaying Crossrail will affect next years finances, but it has happened in the interests of public health.

HS2 is years away. Moreover, the government has just told HS2 Ltd that they can no longer be trusted with the Euston approach, having abandoned the scheme that was approved by parliament and failed to come up with a convincing replacement.

Why, then, are they even contemplating further work in the Euston area, regardless of Covid-19 restrictions?

The government cannot afford to drift until the prime ministers convalescence is complete. There must be a stop to all unnecessary construction and destruction work now.

ANDREW BOSI Wall Street, N1

See the original post:
Put an end to all unnecessary demolition and construction work now - Camden New Journal newspapers website

NEW ORLEANS The developer of the partially-collapsed Hard Rock Hotel on Canal Street says it is ready to start demolition as soon as this month and accused the city of holding up any progress on that plan.

1031 Canals comments come after the city attorney accused the company of not submitting a detailed demolition plan for approval by a Thursday evening deadline.

The developer did, however, submit to the Safety & Permits Departments answers to 37 questions about the plan. That document was provided to WWL-TV.

The hotel collapsed Oct. 12, 2019, killing three people and injuring dozens more. Two of the bodies of the men killed in the collapse are still inside the wreckage.

1031 Canal has pushed the city to approve another change in the plans to take down the partially-collapsed building after months of back-and-forth over whether explosives would be used to bring down the building or if a traditional piece-by-piece demolition would be safer.

The developer has now contracted with Kolb Grading for that demolition.

Kolb is prepared to mobilize at the site immediately after Easter, even before the permit is issued, a statement from 1031 Canal on Friday evening reads. The project is fully funded.

Sunni LeBeouf, an attorney for the city on the matter, said they still can't move forward without a chance to look at the demolition plan, which is says 1031 has not submitted more than six months after the collapse.

"They certainly are NOT waiting on the City's response, as they do no have, and have not submitted, a demolition plan... Apparently all deadlines are artificial, as 1031 Canal has had six months to finalize a contract and move a demolition plan forward, and unfortunately, we are all still waiting.

The city has argued a traditional demolition would endanger more lives, but D.H. Griffin, which was expected to dynamite the building, has said it can only get a $22 million insurance policy when that work would require a $50 million policy.

Griffin is now suing 1031 Canal in federal court to get out of its agreement.

But the latest change back in plans back to a traditional demolition isnt sitting well with City Hall.

In a new court filing in the case that pits Griffin against 1031 Canal, the city blasts the Hard Rocks developer, writing that the companys unwillingness to pay for a safe demolition at the Collapse Site is evidenced by the fact that it now purports to seek the City's approval for a fifth demolition plan.

If you are abandoning moving on from the most recent plan because of money and money alone, lets solve that money problem before we move on to a new plan, Ramsey Green, the citys deputy chief administrative officer for infrastructure, said during a recent interview.

In an email to nearby businesses posted online Friday, the developers attacked the city over what it called lies about the status of the hotel's demolition.

They denied that the hold-up was because of insurance costs, but also asked the city rhetorically further in the document whether they would be willing to pay the tens of thousands of dollars to make up for the insurance exposure the implosion would put them under.

Instead, they outlined their newest plan, which they said would be submitted by April 22.

In that plan, Kolb would demolish the building over the course of half a year.

In that timeline, the demolition would finish around the 1-year anniversary of the tragedy.

1031 Canal said the traditional demolition has already been approved by the insurer.

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Hard Rock developer says they want to start demolition this month - WWLTV.com

Highlights from the Sebring Council meeting on March 9:

INSURANCE: Dave Anderson explained the Public Entities of Ohio, Joint Self-Insurance Pool to Council. Henoted that the Village would save $2,300 a month with this pool insurance and the Village would retain its current insurance agent. Mr. Haney also noted that on top of saving money thecoverage has increased.

FIRE: Fire Chief Mike Springer updated Council on steps taken in reference to dilapidated buildings in the Village. Thestandard process once all required steps have been taken is for the Village to demolish thestructures and then access the taxes for the money. The entire process takesapproximately 60 days.He is interviewing for new firemen.Springer also asked permission to hold Chief Don Fryfogles spot open until he retires. With no objection from Council this would be probably for a year.He will be sending personnel to train on the fire mobile cad system. Chief Harris statedthey currently have the cad system but would be sending dispatchers to school in June.

MANAGER:Manager Jack Haney reported the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA) approved the loan for the generatorand West Texas Tank Rehabilitation Project in the amount of $1,290,090.50. This meanswe can go forward with approving the contract.The Village offices have a new cleaning company and have started some deep cleaningsince the last meeting.He has spoken with several residents about the alleys. We have received the stone toaddress their concerns.Has an article ready to send to the paper explaining the water rates. In addition tosending this to the newspaper it will be posted on the Village website.He is watching the information on the coronavirus and has been making sure the buildinghas been getting extra attention to the door knobs, counters, phones. Cuyahoga Countyis reporting three cases at this time. A call center has been set up by the HealthDepartment.Attended the Ohio City Managers conference last week. One of the sessions was withthe State Fire Marshall. Information will be shared with our Fire Chief. He also madesome contacts with managers who might be interested in working for the Village.Looking into CDBG funds for stormwater and sidewalk projects.Crine asked about the Village wide clean up. Mr. Haney had no further updates at this time, butwould have some for the next meeting.

Report of other Village Officials:

Service Director Bill Sanor reported they are waiting on the weather to work on the alleys and get the gravel in. They are continuing to read meters. The street sweeper is down and in the shop. The quote received was over $15,000 to repair.

Police Chief Ray Harris reported after Officer Scott resigned, the department is down twoofficers, one full-time and one part-time. He is doing interviews. The Civil Service listhas one qualified candidate and that officer will take the position. Another test will be conducted.He has interviewed three people for the part-time position and will be offering theposition to one of them. There werethree no knock search warrants served after months of preparation. There are more tocome.The CAD system has been almost two years coming. This was free from the countyhowever there are other options available to the Village for a fee.

Attorney Gary Van Brocklin reported he helped Village Clerk Cindy draft legislation for tonights agenda; met with attorneys representing both parties in the settlement with Smith Township andwould update Council in executive session tonight; and he would also address the contract with Beloit in reference to water in executive session.

Finance Director Chris Zion reported the note to Farmers National Bank has beenpaid off. This was discussed at the last meeting.Mayor Harp asked if he was still creating the hours worked report. Mr. Zion said no, itwas too time consuming. Aberegg noted that if there was any discrepancy, he had faith inthe City Manager or Department Head to address it.

Ordinances and Resolutions approved:

An ordinance authorizing the Village of Sebring to join the Public Entities Pool of Ohio, a joint self-insurance pool and declaring an emergency.

An ordinance accepting the premiums for various automobile, liability and property insurance coverages proposed by the Public Entities Pool of Ohio, through USI Insurance services, for the Village of Sebring, Ohio and declaring an emergency.

An ordinance to adopt an employee dishonesty and faithful performance of duty policy and declaring an emergency.Mr. Haney explained that this needed passed for the new insurance. Instead of individual bondswe would now have a blanket bond for coverage. The coverage would not be by person but byposition.Attorney Van Brocklin stated that we need to adopt this policy in order to do away with theindividual bonds.

An ordinance accepting the bid of Zenith Systems LLC for the water treatment plant generator replacement, and declaring an emergency.Haney explained that these projects were held up until the loan was approved by OWDA.Engineering was done by Quicksall. In addition, these projects should not create any disruptionof City services.

An ordinance accepting the bid of Utility Services Company Inc. for the West Texas Avenue and rehabilitation, and declaring an emergency.

An ordinance amending the current year appropriations for the Waterworks System Fund as established in Ordinance 24-2019, the appropriations ordinance of the Village of Sebring for the year 2020, and declaring an emergency.Finance Director Zion explained that in December when the budget was done it was unknown ifwe would get the loan therefore, we could not put this appropriation in the budget. This willincrease the fund for the two contracts.

An ordinance creating Section 147.10 of the Codified Ordinances of the Village of Sebring to establish legal holidays.

Council went into executive session to consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, orcompensation of a public employee or official specifically to discuss the Smith Townshipsettlement and Beloit water contract.

Other Action:

Bills were paid from Feb. 1 -29 totaling $321,000.11.

Read the original:
Sebring moving forward on demolition program - News - The Review - The-review

If there was any piece of entertainment that no one expected to be a foreteller of the future, it was Demolition Man. However, the 1993 sci-fi action comedy predicted everything from corporate conglomerates to smoking bans and now, social distancing. In a new interview, writer Daniel Waters said hes just as surprised as we are that what happened in his film is coming to pass.

During a chat with Vulture, Waters talked about the latest global phenomenon to get the Demolition Man predicted it round of applause: social distancing. In the movie, physical contact has been largely banned. Sex is now done virtually, meetings can be called into remotely, and characters give each other air high fives instead of handshakes. What makes it feel even more eerie is the reason behind it: As explained by Lenina (Sandra Bullock), it was because people kept spreading diseases to one another. At the time, it was a commentary on the AIDS crisis, but now it takes on a different tone because of coronavirus.

The mini-monologue she gives, about the different pandemics that led to this point that speech, it seems so reasonable now. Slowly but surely, were getting them all, he said. I loved seeing the quote-unquote handshake Rob Schneider and Benjamin Bratt give each other in this. I can totally see it. Once you get into, We dont want anything icky in the future, then its funny how it just happens. You wouldnt touch. You wouldnt have sex, oh, god, no.

That said, Waters isnt one to toot his own horn about being a prognosticator of the future. He joined Demolition Man late in the game to rework the existing script (which had started out as a traditional action flick), adding humour and futuristic takes on modern popular culture. During his interview, he seemed kind of uncomfortable with all the praise about the films prescience.

Theres a scene early on, where Wesley Snipes looks at who is in the prison with him, and the second name on the list is Scott Peterson before he killed his wife, he said. So, this guy was saying, Look at this! This movie predicted Scott Peterson was going to prison! Like, Jesus, lets keep it down.

This goes double for the hot takes coming from folks who are, shall we say, less inclined to support political correctness. One of Demolition Mans main tenets is how the future is overly politically correct, something that Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes characters actively work to overcome over the course of the movie. The ending moral seems to be that there should always be a middle ground, but some folks have taken a more extreme interpretation. One that Waters does not appear to agree with.

Somebody linked me to this die-hard Ill put it charitably libertarian guy who wrote Actually, Demolition Man is the great thesis statement of the 90s. Its like, whoa, whoa. What, am I going to be Mr. Anti-Politically-Correct now? No, just having a little fun.

Excerpt from:
Demolition Man's Writer Wasn't Trying to Be Prescient, He Just Wanted to Make a Funny Movie - Gizmodo UK

General News of Friday, 17 April 2020

Source: http://www.ghanaweb.com

play videoFile photo

The military men spotted during the demolition exercise at Old Fadama were deployed for lockdown purposes, the Chief Executive Officer of Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has said.

According to Mohammed Adjei Sowah, the presence of the military in the area was to make sure people, especially traders within the enclave adhere to the partial lockdown directive given by the president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and not because of the demolition exercise.

Also, the military were there to decongest the place as most traders and slum dwellers do not adhere to the social distancing rule.

The military had been positioned there for some time now as part of the lockdown arrangement, we decided to place the military along that stretch, Mr Sowah said.

On Wednesday, April 15, there was a demolition exercise at Old Fadama aka Sodom and Gomorrah, a slum on the banks of the Korle Lagoon, to allow contractors dredge the lagoon.

The exercise which left over 200 people homeless has got many talking about it, including human rights advocate from Amnesty International.

Amnesty International noted that though it is illegal for the squatters to live there, the timing for the dredging exercise was inappropriate especially when the country is in a partial lockdown and everyone has to stay at home.

Send your news stories to and via WhatsApp on +233 55 2699 625.

See more here:
Old Fadama demolition: The military were there to enforce lockdown directive Mayor - GhanaWeb

Published: 4/16/2020 1:36:22 PM

Modified: 4/16/2020 1:36:12 PM

MONTAGUE Though a long-term plan for the property isnt set in stone, the former Strathmore mill complex is scheduled for removal of asbestos and other hazardous materials this spring.

The Selectboard approved the hazardous material removal on Monday. The work is scheduled to be finished by the end of May, per the contract with the engineering firm, Tighe & Bond, of Westfield.

According to Town Planner Walter Ramsey, the town took ownership of the former mill complex located on the island between the power canal and the Connecticut River in 2010 for back taxes, and is working toward eventually getting it back into use by partnering with a developer.

Any repurposing will likely involve at least partial demolition, Ramsey said. Montague has a plan on file for demolishing about half of the building, including the chimney stack that is visibly decaying.

But without extensive grant funding, and without market interest in redeveloping the property, hazardous material removal is the most the town can do for now to keep the site viable, said Town Administrator Steve Ellis.

When it comes to old mill buildings, doing nothing over an extended period of time pushes you away from the likelihood of redevelopment, and toward demolition, Ellis said. We dont want anyone to think that weve been sitting on our hands relative to making a decision.

The hazardous material removal is worth about $450,000. It is funded by a $250,000 Brownfields Redevelopment grant from MassDevelopment, and the remainder is being covered by the town of Montague, Ramsey said.

The eventual redevelopment of the property will likely involve partial demolition and selective reuse, Ramsey said.

Theres a preference to retain the historic buildings there, but we acknowledge that might not be feasible, Ramsey said, noting that the complex has deteriorated in its condition. All options are on the table.

Reach Max Marcus at mmarcus@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.

Continued here:
Removal of hazardous material planned at former Strathmore mill complex in Montague - The Recorder

Hadley Barndollar @hbarndollar

ThursdayMar26,2020at2:04PM

PORTSMOUTH Demolition of the former St. Patrick School has begun, making way for a future 30-car parking lot for the nearby Immaculate Conception Church.

Asbestos work started earlier this month, and demolition this week, by Air Quality Experts and Rangeley Enterprises, the contractors selected by the Diocesan Building Committee for the 115-year-old 125 Austin St. school. City building records list the property at 98 Summer St.

A pre-construction meeting was held March 11 with the purpose of mitigating adverse impacts arising from the demolition activities.

Demolition of the rear of the building was taking place Thursday. On an upper floor, old writing on a chalkboard still read, "Let's create a great year together."

Abutters received a notice from the city March 23 warning of potential rodent spread as a result of the ground vibrations caused by the demolition.

City Health Inspector Toni McLellan wrote that while the property has been evaluated and cleared of rodents, the demolition "may drive rodents living on neighboring properties into surrounding areas."

McLellan said other property owners can protect their homes by looking around for holes in siding, foundation or other openings that may allow rodents to enter. She asked people to take photographs if they do see rodents and to call her at (603) 610-4187.

"If rodents are found on your property, the Health Department does not recommend treating for them yourself, particularly if it is not confirmed that where you are treating is actually where rodents are located," McLellan wrote. "Poisons for pests are very dangerous in the environment. Often neighborhood cats or dogs and large birds will come into contact with poisoned rodents and will also be poisoned, or may consume the poison themselves."

McLellan said a certified pest control operator should be consulted if a property owner wishes to have their property further evaluated or treated.

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St. Patrick demolition begins, neighbors warned of potential rodent spread - Seacoastonline.com