June 24, 2015
As of last week, there was still a lot to be done at 117-125 North Avenue, the site of a botched demolition on March 21. Yanuzzi Group was approved on June 16 to complete the demolition and work began at the end of the month. Here are my most recent photos.
From July 3
From July 7
The demolition debris has been removed to and somewhat below sidewalk elevation. The excavation has continued along the north and east exposing the masonry brick foundation walls. Since these walls separate what was the cellar of the demolished building from the cellars of the two existing bordering buildings there is no lateral soil pressure against them
ReplyDeleteOn the south, the sidewalk side, and west , if the excavation continues these walls will be subject to the pressure of the exterior soil. Whether these walls are sufficient to retain this pressure without shoring is an engineering question and an OOSHA question. Work has temporarily ceased. Perhaps a decision is being made as to whether it is prudent, or necessary to remove the debris from the cellar, or to leave it as is and merely grade out the surface with some clean fill material? There remains a partially demolished portion of the original building at the rear of the site. Will this be removed or left as is? The contract documents did not contain a site drawing. The limits of the demolition were not clearly established. The written specifications required that the foundation walls be excavated to 3 feet below sidewalk grade.They also required that the cellar slab be broken into 1 foot by 1 foot squares. The excavation has been carried down to the cellar slab along the east side of the building. Will the excavation continue? The mystery to me is what did the $75,000 contract include; exclude? Why has work been suspended? Bill Kruse