And she's buying a stairway......

I'm on the 3rd floor with my back to Main Street. The stairs lead up to the roof deck (notice the light on the wall at the top of photo).

I like the stairs more everyday. And I've always liked them so that's saying a bunch. The risers are a steel beam and the treads are wood. These treads are temporary; the permanent treads are made of reclaimed wood from floor and ceiling joist.

Notice a couple of details that I hope the Historic folks let me keep. The bricked in door behind the stairs used to lead to the building next door. I love it. It was bricked in with less than perfect masonry work, giving it a very authentic look. I hope I can leave it as it is. The other detail is the writing on the wall that you can just see at the top right hand corner of the photo (black and white block lettering). This is advertisement of W. R. Murray and Sons music store that was in the building next door that I wrote of the "murder mystery". I definitely don't want to cover that up.

Two floors become one

I really like this shot because it shows the relationship between both floors. On this floor is the closet on the left, bathroom/shower behind that and then utility closet on the right with the stairwell coming up to it.

In front of me is the loft opening to the second floor. I love the way you can see the entire space.

The windows are set to come in this week, as are the stairs up to the roof. Following that will be the roof-structure which will finally dry the place in. Southern thunderstorms drive me crazy knowing the rain is soaking my new (old) floors.

Flooring material and 3rd Floor Design

(click photos to enlarge)

The framing is complete and the flooring has been laid. The stairs are nearly complete.

This is an excellent shot of the 3rd floor. The opening nearest me will be the stairwell up and down. The framing on the left is for the closet (big). Just behind that where you see framing on the floor is the shower (big). The framing on the right will be a utility closet.

Can't wait to see the stairs.

Framing: The Design Takes Shape

David's framing work is moving along. It's excellent. It's exciting.

I'm standing here on the second floor near where the bathroom will be looking toward the front of the building. Above you see the suspended hallway; the stairwell up will be to the left of this photo, and the open loft cutout to the right.

The framing header that is going across the photo is a steel I beam with wood in the middle to frame against. The beam is attached to the walls with anchors that are bolted in.

The woodpile to the right is material to be reused.

Below is another view but now from the 3rd floor (same back wall but now opposite corner). Here David is walking across the hallway; stairs will be to his left. Stairs up to this floor is the opening below his feet. Notice above, a framing structure where he is beginning to frame the opening to the rooftop. I think it's gonna be real cool having stairs stacked. The view from the top clear to the bottom will be very excellent.

Note, the new floor joist you see were required because the old stairwell used to come up here. So, the need to frame that opening, and non-code framing from before required completely new framing to go in. Every other joist will have another attached to it making the floors more rigid.

Framing: 3rd Floor Loft has begun

Framing is underway on all floors. Here is a view from the second floor rear, looking toward the front.

The large opening is the span width for

1. 1) my open loft which will be from approximately the metal "bridge" you see across the middle over to the right wall and
2. 2) stairs from this floor up to the 3rd. These will be on the left hand side (as you are viewing here).

1. More photos of this to come. Here I'm standing on a ladder 16' up from the ground floor. I feel fortunate to have snapped this photo successfully......
   

Let There Be Light......There was Light

My new favorite day was today........

Demolition officially happened about a year ago. But, back then we didn't remove the stairs from the first floor because, well, there'd have been no way to get up to the second floor. Two major events happened today:

1. The stairs were removed and
2. Windows that had been bricked up were reopened

So there's a temporary problem created now. You can't get to the upper floors unless you use a REALLY TALL ladder (there's 16' between floors so the ladder needs to be at least 20'; and even then I wouldn't want to climb it). This problem will be remedied when the new stairs are framed in.

The stairs were removed to make room for the brick masons. In the picture you can see them working, repairing the brick in the openings they created. It's amazing how much light gets in. And it's amazing looking at the wide open spaces. And the hyrogliphics/sayings that were written on the walls in places just now being seen again......some of that isn't printable on my family blog.

Oh, click on the photo to enlarge it and then look at the ceiling joists near the back of the building. Notice how many of them have been cut away over the years? That's not supposed to have been done. Floor/Ceiling joists should span the entire structure to support weight and prevent sagging. Wonder even more how there wasn't a major disaster in the building???!!!

Much progress today. It is my new favorite day.

And even more Storefront

OK. You must be tired of posts about the storefront. "When are you going to talk about some other bit of work, Barry?" I get it. I've heard you and here's your answer......"soon".

But for now it's more storefront. 7 weeks ago I wrote of work underway that would complete the storefront, produce new window openings and material and frame stairwells and access to the residential space. A project scheduled for 8 weeks has us still largely on storefront construction. But a cool storefront it will be. Here you see the steel framing that the actual storefront will be built to. I love the scale and view and get excited everyday at the changes.

Renovations began this week

Here Kimberly and David stand in front of the "art wall" where Kimberly has painted the announcement that "Renovation begins APR20". (and she appears to be holding up a pineapple....not sure what that means). The sign at the top was made so that when the wall comes down there is still some advertisement.

The water line has been moved and inspected. Concrete has been broken to allow footers (front store posts and stair) to be poured. The gas line marked to accommodate moving the meter from the front of the store to the side of the building. The dangerous stairs to the rooftop were removed. And, termite junk was poured around the foundation.

Changes are happening fast.

A Good Week for Travel

I was gone all week for my real job. It was a great week on that front; many positive decisions and a renewed interest for me to focus on "entitlement".

Not much happened at 308westmain though I did receive this positive note from David on Friday:

The dumpster and the out house will be set on site this coming Monday. We will start the demolition full force on Tuesday.

Spot stopped by today. We lucked out and got to tour the Penny Furniture space with Cynthia, the owner. Her place is awesome. Seeing the metal staircase with cable rails helped me to envision how excellent my space will look if I can afford the rooftop opening. The open treads allow light (and dust) to fall through. I hadn't thought of the bonus of metal treads not requiring dusting. I hate to dust.

Spot and I finished up with lunch at Toast-Five Points. Yum!