Human remains uncovered on Canadian demolition site.

Canadian police are investigating after a home demolition in Metro Vancouver turned up suspected human remains on Friday. The home, located in South Burnaby, was being torn down to make way for re-development when the startling discovery was made.

Forensic Identification Services and the BC Coroners Service attended the scene to inspect the remains. “Based on their initial assessment, it is believed the remains are human,” Staff Sgt. Robert Marks said in a release.

The cause of death has not been determined.

Read more here.

Cape Town came to watch as the Athlone Towers tumbled yesterday.

It is a story that we have followed for about a year now and which began with news that, following the failure of one of the rings, the Athlone Towers in Cape Town, South Africa would have to be demolished. And yesterday, that story came to a dramatic end with both towers coming down in a simultaneous implosion.

Needless to say, YouTube today is crammed with footage from this momentous blast but we have gathered together what we believe to be the pick of the bunch (so far):

Athlone Cooling Towers Demolition from Phillip Gibb on Vimeo.

Excellent video captures a pair of Hitachi high reach machines in action.

OK, so the interview section of the video is in German but the subtitles are English and, frankly, the pictures speak for themselves.

Cape Talk website set to broadcast Athlone Towers as it happens.

It’s been a long time coming but at noon on Sunday local time (11 am GMT), Cape Town’s Athlone Towers will finally fall in a controlled implosion.

Obviously, we would love to be there but budget constraints and a lack of invitation has prevented this so instead we will be taking front-row seats to watch the event live on DemolitionNews.com’s brand-new iPad.

The implosion is being broadcast live here and will subsequently be broadcast on 567 CapeTalk here.

Of course, we will endeavour to bring you all the footage here on DemolitionNews.com just as soon as we can find a suitable source of embeddable video.

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.

Read more here.

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.”

Read more here.

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.

Read more here.

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.