The Word from Daniel Kent on 900 Columbia Street
The move of the 200-year-old house from 900 Columbia Street to 215 Union Street seems to have begun. Yesterday Gossips noticed a pile of bricks, which hadn't been there before, at the back of the lot where the house is to be "rebuilt as it was."
Meanwhile, in today's Register-Star, John Mason reports what Galvan Foundation executive director Daniel Kent told him about the plans for the bricks that were once a historic house: "Galvan defends 900 Columbia Street plans."
Informing the public in a straight forward and honest manner would have helped this situation tremendously.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read in the Register Star the comment:
ReplyDelete'"I can only hope it turns out something like the Gen. Worth House,” said Alderman Carmine A. “Cappy” Pierro, D-Fifth Ward, referring to the historic house two doors down from 215 Union that Galvan renovated in 2011."'
My first thought was, "Geez, let's hope NOT" The "restoration" of the Gen Worth House is terrible and could easily have been better with little additional effort or additional cost. (meaning...appropriate windows, mortar lines, etc.)
If Pierro is quoted correctly, I found it telling that he used the word "renovation" rather than "restoration"
Yet again, Galvan does whatever it wants.
ReplyDeleteIncluding an oven dropped into the empty lot.
How attractive....
I have way too much to say about this current GalVan SNAFU,and of none it is good.
ReplyDeleteThe only positive thing I can say is, Thank Goodness, that HPC denied GalVan "Moving" the Robert Taylor House when GalVan applied to get a for a certificate of appropriateness to "Move"the Robert Taylor House from its location at the head of Tanners Lane to the side yard of 25 Union Street and 900 Columbia St. to be "Moved" to three contiguous vacant lots in the 200 block of Union Street, at the same time.
Had HPC approved "Moving" the Robert Taylor House..we could very well be looking at another pile of bricks in the proposed side yard of 25 Union St.,with Daniel Kent explaining,as well...
" Mountainview Masonry and Landscape Supply, the company that dismantled the building, will also do the renovation, Kent said.
“We’re using the plans that were in place for the building as our basis for reconstruction,” he said. The plans are not as old as the building, but of recent vintage; an historical architect will not be employed, Kent said: “A project manager with a background in engineering is working on the project.”
"Mountainview Masonry and Landscape Supply,
[that lists on their web site, that besides landscaping, they have a demolition service, but nothing about being a construction co.,historic or otherwise] the company that dismantled the building, will also do the renovation, Kent said."[How do you renovate a pile of bricks?]
“We’re using the plans that were in place for the building as our basis for reconstruction,” he said. The plans are not as old as the building, but of recent vintage; an historical architect will not be employed, Kent said: “A project manager with a background in engineering is working on the project.”
[What does a backround in engineering mean?..
and I would appreciate if anyone could decipher what the following means?]
"“We’re using the plans that were in place for the building as our basis for reconstruction,” he said. The plans are not as old as the building, but of recent vintage; an historical architect will not[NOT] be employed, Kent said:"
............
quotes from Reg.Star 9-12-2013" GalVan defends 900 Columbia Plans"
a town without enforceable laws allows carpetbaggers easy access
ReplyDeleteA Preservation Commission struggles but has no teeth. Gutted by the Common Council before it even started.
ReplyDelete