Owner of demolition firm that handled city contracts faces federal charges

The owner of a Rochester demolitions firm tied to bribery of a city official and illegal dumping of asbestos-laden material faces federal charges of tax evasion and failing to file notice of asbestos work.

An information outlining the charges was filed this week in U.S. District Court. Such a filing can precede a plea, but none is scheduled. Lawyers in the case declined to comment.

Sinisgalli Inc. has been at the center of a city, state and federal probe begun in mid-2008, focused initially on the handling of city demolition contracts and alleged illegal dumping of the debris.

As that investigation turned to Louis Sinisgalli, personally, records showed authorities were probing possible mail and wire fraud, and his alleged failure to file federal income tax and corporate tax returns the five years while his company took in more than $8 million, including $5 million from the city.

Read more here.

The Get Carter car park is no more; and the “Blues Brothers” mall is set to follow.

The site of the Dixie Square Mall in Harvey may soon get a second chance. Best known for the infamous car chase scene in the 1980s Blues Brothers movie, the mall is now an eyesore.

On a mission from God, the state announced a $4 million federal grant that’ll be used for demolition and development. It could be a first step in revitalizing the area.

Officials are hoping for new shops and other businesses, but nothing’s firm, and the area has seen other big plans come and go.

Read more here.

Would you upload a video of a partially successful chimney blast?

An official video of last week’s chimney blast in Rochester – which left a large portion of the base pointing defiantly skyward – have been uploaded just as Demolition News has become aware of some concern among the UK blasting community over the way in which this contract was tackled.

We are hoping to have an official statement from a company that believes this stand-up was entirely predictable in the next 24 hours or so. But in the meantime, watch the official video and make up you own mind:

Exclusive video of IDE vice president John Woodward discussing response to a major fire.

One of the most interesting presentations that the recent European Demolition Association Autumn conference in Stockholm was given by IDE vice-president, John Woodward who looked at a demolition company’s response to a major fire that was started deliberately at a UK school.

Demolition of a school after a major fire from Mark Anthony on Vimeo.

Time called on one of Luton’s largest multi-storey car parks.

After standing empty for two years, one of Luton’s biggest multi-storey car parks is to be demolished. The Library car park closed in December 2008 after concerns were raised about it’s safety during a routine inspection by structural engineers.

The closure of the car park and it’s 700 spaces, has had a significant impact on parking in Luton. Initially, an extra 180 spaces were made available at the Bute Street Bus Station car park. However this has now been pulled down as part of the Luton Gateway regeneration project.

The car park owners, who also own The Mall shopping centre in Luton, say that after the multi-storey building has been demolished, a temporary car park will be made available on the site.

Read more here.

We’re calling upon demolition contractors, drillers and sawers to set enter discussions.

Demolition contractors and drillers and sawers work in largely similar fields; often operate side-by-side and for the same clients; and share the same hopes, fears and challenges. And yet, despite their many synergies, there appears to be a divide between the two sides of this particular coin.

To help facilitate some meaningful dialogue between the two closely-associated sectors, we’re calling upon both sides to enter into some meaningful discussion on how the two sectors might work more effectively together in the future.

The IDE’s John Woodward has extended an open invitation to D-Drill’s Julie White for a meeting to exorcise the demons of the past and to put the two sectors on a friendly and co-operative footing for the future.

So, regardless of which side of the fence you sit upon, please join this discussion and let us (and, more importantly, them) know where each sector could do better to accommodate the needs of the other and to address any misunderstandings and mis-communications of the past.

We look forward to receiving your comments, input and suggestions here on a specially-created Forum area.

Companies cited for lack of safety in supermarket collapse that killed seven.

Two construction companies were charged in the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court for failing to ensure the safety of others in connection with the collapse of the Jaya Supermarket last year.

The iconic supermarket collapsed during demolition work and killed seven construction workers on May 28 last year.

Directors Yap Choon Wai, of CW Yap Sdn Bhd and Jason Hee Kok Hing, of Lian Hup Earth Work and Construction Sdn Bhd, appeared on behalf of their companies and pleaded not guilty to the offences.

Both were charged at separate Sessions Courts in Petaling Jaya yesterday.

CW Yap Sdn Bhd was charged as an employer for failing to ensure that non-employees, namely four workers and three civilians, who could be affected by the company’s works, were not exposed to safety and health risks.

The company was charged with failing to comply with the work safety system provided in demolition works for buildings.

Lian Hup Earth Work and Construction Sdn Bhd was charged as an employer for failing to ensure the safety, health and welfare of all its employees on duty by failing to comply with the work safety system provided in demolition works for buildings.

Lighthouse demolition underway after last ditch attempt to save it fails.

Demolition began Tuesday on a Sea Isle City landmark is after a failed bid to save it. The former 1885 Ludlam Beach Lighthouse, situated about a block from the beach, is being torn down to make way for new homes.

A non-profit group, the Friends of the Ludlam Beach Lighthouse, was unsuccessful in its efforts to raise enough money to save the building by moving it to a new location and restoring it.

The building has not resembled a lighthouse for decades and was moved twice from the beacon’s original location. What’s left of it has served as the upper portion of a six-unit summer rental since the 1940’s.

To view a time-lapse video of the works in progress, please click here.

Reports predict stack implosion for later today.

According to the Junction Triangle website, the Tower Automotive chimney stack will be coming down later today. The exact time hasn’t been determined yet, but it is expected to be at around 10:00 am local time.

Besides the actual tower, this is the last major piece of the Tower Automotive site still standing. The demolition of the chimney stack tops off the other major changes in the area including the demolition of the Toronto Hydro building, and the demolition of Tower Automotive’s low-rise buildings.

We’ll be scouring the news feeds to bring you more news (and, hopefully, some video footage) later today.

This video may give me nightmares for months to come.