Could sewage spill lead to more demolition extras?

Just weeks after presenting city officials with a bill for almost $250,000 for demolition extras at its Colborne Street site, AIM Environmental could be reaching for the invoice paper again after a sewage spill at the site caused them further delays.

AIM Environmental dropped a manhole cover into a sanitary manhole on Water Street and caused a sewer main stoppage around 2 p.m. Thursday.

The contractor reported the accident to the city when the manhole filled with sewage, began overflowing onto the street, and entered a nearby storm catchbasin.

In an email to councillors and senior staff , Terry Spiers, director of environmental services, said pollution control inspectors went to the site and immediately reported the incident to the Ministry of the Environment’s Spills Action Centre.

AIM Environmental brought in equipment to remove the manhole cover from the flooded chamber to relieve the stoppage while public works staff went in to assist, Spiers said.

Read the full story here.

Contractor interviewed over demolition of “listed” mine rescue building.

North Wales Police have been called after more demolition work at the former Mines Rescue Station in Wrexham. On Wednesday demolition on the 1913 building was stopped by the local council, which said a safety certificate was needed.

Heritage body Cadw then listed the building, giving it protection.

But police were contacted on Friday after a demolition vehicle was seen entering the premises again, and the area has now been taped off. Local councillor Phil Wynn said the most historically important part of the building had been destroyed.

Police have also interviewed the contractors, and Wrexham council officials are also present.

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AED and Delta Demolition’s public spat over Bellaire Bridge ownership turns nasty.

In the latest round of media posturing, Delta Demolition’s Lee Chaklos has laid the blame for delays in demolishing the Bellaire Bridge squarely at the feet of Advanced Explosive Demolition’s (AED) Eric Kelly. “The biggest reason for the delay (in starting demolition of the bridge) is that AED is up to no good,” Chaklos said. “He (AED Vice President Eric Kelly) has been calling the local police station, informing them that he owns the bridge.”

Kelly initially purchased the bridge from Bellaire businessman Roger Barack earlier this year for $1. The firm then reportedly sold the bridge to Krystle Chaklos, also of Delta Demolition, under the name KDC Investments for $25,000. Indications then were that KDC and Delta Demolition would use AED’s expertise to blow the span.

Chaklos claims that he has an e-mail from Kelly dated June 3 stating the financial transaction between the companies was complete and congratulating KDC on being the new owner of the bridge. But Chaklos said AED’s claims of owning the bridge started after July 7, when he informed Kelly “his services wouldn’t be needed.”

“He was unable to comply with our insurance requirements,” Chaklos said of Kelly. “He was trying to fly under the radar. He thought he could go in under our contractor’s license. He couldn’t. He had to get his own.”

Chaklos noted that while he does not yet have his own license for West Virginia, he plans to travel to Charleston soon to take the test to obtain it.

But AED is not taking the matter lying down. In a press statement, the Eric Kelly says: “AED disputes any reference to ownership, monetary cost and future involvement in the Bellaire Bridge demolition.” Kelly further states that his company will present its own plans for demolishing the bridge to Benwood officials and the U.S. Coast Guard.

He termed previous comments from Chaklos – saying AED would not cooperate with Delta Demolition – “inaccurate, unfounded and libelous in reference.”

“AED has been working with the previous owner of the bridge and the city of Benwood since 2008 and has extended every professional effort to bring the demolition to fruition,” Kelly states. “The delays by Delta Demolition and KDC Investments have been well documented by the city of Benwood, and have no reflection on AED.

“Future statements will be forthcoming from counsel once the contracts for ownership and demolition are processed through the judicial system,” he added. “Once again AED would like to thank the citizens of Benwood and the Benwood city officials for their support and professional response.”

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City officials call time on iconic St Petersburg pier.

For nearly four decades, the Pier’s inverted pyramid has served as the city’s instantly recognizable landmark.

In a Wednesday workshop that lasted less than two hours, the City Council endorsed Mayor Bill Foster’s recommendation to demolish the icon and start from scratch. “Now we get to rebrand our trademark for the next 100 years,” Foster said. “Or 50 years. We won’t be around. That’s a pretty awesome responsibility.”

Foster coaxed the decision from a council that has been hesitant to make a call on what to do with $50 million that will be made available to overhaul the Pier, which is entering its latest chapter in redevelopment.

The city opened the Mediterranean-style Million Dollar Pier in 1926 but demolished it in 1967 when it slid into disrepair. The exotic and some say funky upside down pyramid pier opened in 1973, but its condition has declined. For more than a year, a task force has discussed options but didn’t narrow down what to do next.

On Wednesday, Foster described the indecision as “analysis-paralysis.” He pushed council members to support his recommendation not just for scrapping the existing building, but its base, too. He said the Pier needs to come closer to shore.

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Bellaire Bridge cat fight reaches ignominious “he said, she said” stage.

As demolition of the Bellaire Bridge supposedly draws closer, the question of who owns the structure has become a raging controversy.

The answer seems to be clear, depending on who you talk to. Eric Kelly, of Advanced Explosives Demolition, of Idaho, says he owns the bridge. “Advanced Explosives Demolition / Eric Kelly owns the bridge,” states Kelly.

He says it’s a legal tangle, but he said his lawyer’s interpretation is this: “We are advised that we own the bridge because we have, uh, other individuals have breached the contract,” Kelly said.

But Lee Chaklos, of Delta Demolition, whose wife Krystal owns KDC Investments, said KDC owns the bridge.
“KDC Investments owns the bridge,” Chaklos said. “On June 3, payment was conveyed by wire transfer.”

Chaklos was asked about Kelly’s claim that he owns the bridge. “Eric Kelly does not own the bridge,” Chaklos answered. “He sold the bridge. He doesn’t own the bridge.”

And KDC’s attorney, Jeremy Domozick, said KDC is absolutely the bridge owner. “It has come to our attention that there may be rumors circulating which call into question the ownership of the Bellaire Bridge,” Domozick said. “In order to put those rumors to rest, I want to emphatically and unconditionally state that KDC Investments owns the bridge. KDC negotiated the purchase of the bridge with Eric Kelly and Advanced Explosives Demolition, paid the purchase price in full, and now owns it outright. Any claims to the contrary are patently untrue and unsupported by the facts. KDC Investments and Delta Demolition Group are currently finalizing their preparations for demolishing the Bellaire Bridge and work will begin as scheduled in September.”

All we can hope is that the demolition – when it finally happens – runs more smoothly than the pre-contract negotiations.

Read more here.

Threat of demolition hanging over Liverpool birthplace of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr.

The BBC is reporting that the Victorian terrace at Madryn Street, Toxteth, is one of hundreds in the “Welsh Streets” area to be bulldozed to make way for modern family homes.

Discussions to move number nine – where Richard Starkey was born on 7 July 1940 – brick-by-brick to the new Museum of Liverpool are currently on hold.

But official demolition notices have now re-appeared in the street. There is no word as yet if crews are planning to use Maxwell’s Silver Hammer in the demolition process.

Read the full story here.

Midlands-based demolition company starts work on major framework project.

Armoury Group has commenced work on a multi-million pound framework agreement which will see run-down areas of North Solihull receive a much needed face-lift. The Regenerating North Solihull project is set to help over 40,000 people living in Chelmsley Wood, Smith’s Wood, and Kingshurst & Fordbridge by providing new housing and improved community facilities.

The 15-year re-vamp plan for the city was devised through a partnership between Whitefriars Housing Group and Solihull Council, which awarded Armoury the three year agreement for mass housing clearance based on a competitive tender and an impressive portfolio of past residential demolitions.

Up to 40 tower blocks from across the area, ranging from three to 16 storeys, have been earmarked for demolition, with Armoury having already having cleared in excess of 300 residences to make way for new social housing.

Tony McLean, managing director of Armoury Group commented: “The schedule for work across the area of regeneration is extremely tight and has been planned with the utmost precision,” says Armoury MD Tony McLean. “Armoury commenced demolition almost immediately after the properties are vacated, with the developer then beginning building works on that site as soon as it is clear.

“Because of the bison panel construction and lack of as-built drawings it was important that we employed structural engineers to conduct a full HSE approved structural survey, and agree a stringent process of demolition,” he continues. “Aside from this, we have also had to conduct specialist asbestos removal and a soft-strip before each demolition has taken place, and have been very conscious not to disrupt the surrounding community by protecting buildings with fencing and scaffolding, closing footpaths when and where required, and putting an extensive traffic management system put into place.”

New time-lapse video shows high reach excavator in action.

Just over a week ago, we exclusively brought you video footage from the initial stages of demolition of Gateshead’s famous “Get Carter” car park. A week on and contractor Thompsons of Prudhoe is making superb progress with the work, as are the company’s video crew who have just supplied us with their footage from Week 2 of the contract.

Get Carter Car Park Demolition – Week 2 from Thompsons of Prudhoe on Vimeo.

Australian company has been demolishing for 118 years.

Can anyone beat this?

Threat of legal action throws pier demolition bidding process wide open again.

The City of Gulf Breeze is relaunching its search for a company to demolish the defunct Gulf Breeze fishing pier to head off a threatened lawsuit over a bidding dispute.

This comes after the City Council on Monday took the advice of its attorney, Matt Dannheisser, and voted unanimously to rescind a previous decision to accept a bid from Alabama contractor Virginia Wrecking. The firm was the second-lowest bidder.

Gulf Breeze officials said they bypassed the lowest bidder, National Salvage & Service, because they believed National did not plan to dispose of the pier rubble as an offshore reef as outlined in the project documents. But National threatened legal action, saying its bid proposal did outline disposing of the rubble in the manner the city outlined.

Virginia Wrecking’s attorney, Davisson Dunlap III, was at the council meeting and argued that it would be unfair to rescind his client’s bid. He indicated, in doing so, it could lead to a lawsuit for breach of contract.
“Virginia Wrecking was compliant and played by the rules,” Dunlap said.

After the council’s decision, Dunlap declined to comment on whether or not he would take legal action against the city. He said he and his client needed to discuss the issue first.

Virginia Wrecking Vice President Daniel Schambeau said he was “disappointed” about the city’s action.

Read more here.