The Festival for the Eno

The Festival for the Eno happens again on July 4th weekend. Kimberly and I went to the Eno park over the weekend and noticed a new trail and bridge to nowhere.

Well, it probably goes somewhere we just don't know where. Loving the idea that there's a new pedestrian/bike trail. I can feel an exploratory ride in the near future.

A Great Place to Live: US News and Durham Palooza

Durham's growth as a viable, sustainable city is upon us. Evidence is all around:

The week, US News and World Report ranked the 10 Best Places to Live in America. Durham made the list. Now, they appear on the list 5th but that's because the list was alphabetical. Maybe Durham is REALLY their choice for the best place to live???

Also, last weekend a group of musicians organized "Durham Palooza" where they assembled in the concrete park across the street from where I live and just played music. Banjos, mandolins, juice harps and accordions played past sunset making it clear that Durham has arrived.

OK, tongue-in-cheek doesn't write so well. This isn't evidence at all. But I don't need evidence.......Durham is becoming a GREAT place to live and I know it.

More Storefront

The storefront remained the theme of work this week.

More concrete was poured as a footer because the original footer was about 4 feet too short. Now the wall for my entrance stairs can be framed out and structural members anchored.

In the photo, David and Brian "Merg" are attaching the storefront cross-beam that will be used to affix the storefront material. This created some minor challenges. One, brick was removed to anchor the beam into the supporting walls. How do you match 100 year old brick during replacement? Two, now walls that were interior will be exterior in the entrance ways. How do I finish the surface to make it appropriate for exterior exposure while astetically tying into the interior wall surfaces?

More on these later.

Storefront Entrances

The concrete slab was poured and fixed that makes the storefront entrance ways. Here in the photo you can see the "floor" of the building on the left, and the brick sidewalk on the right. Closest to you on the left will be the commercial space entrance. The 2" raised portion in the middle of the photo will be the actual floor level for the commercial space. Farthest in the photo and not very visible is the entrance to my space.

We met with window and storefront fabricators yesterday. Progress on those fronts should happen soon.

Support Columns

Two steel columns were put in place to support the support the steel header beam that frames the storefront.

The bit of work is interesting from an engineering perspective. One, the header beam was sagging a bit but not so much that it required repair. This is fortunate because that would have been a big, unplanned job. Also, we got to see how the header beam was being torqued by the "old storefront" that was hanging from this beam. The front of the beam was being twisted down from the weight of that overhang. Reinforcing this beam was necessary. I like our solution.

I also like this work because light is getting in again. I like light. The construction barrier made me forget how the space looked when it was open to Main Street. An open street view is what this building needs, don't you think?

Springsteen vs. The Kentucky Derby

You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes, you mind find
You get what you need - Rolling Stones

So, Spot and I are online about 2 months ago trying to get Bruce Springsteen tickets when they go on sale. Spot can get one at a time; I can't get any. Spot gets 3 and we quit. Perhaps my not getting tickets is an omen: the Springsteen show is on the same day as the Kentucky Derby. I can't miss my favorite event of the year with the Freeman's and the opportunity to catch up with friends. Seeing folks happens WAY too seldom now-a-days.

I rationalize; I can go to the Derby Party during the day, leave early, and catch the Springsteen show in Greensboro that night. But then Mark, Spot and I decide to try the "lottery" for the Springsteen show. We need to be in Greensboro before 5:00pm. No Derby party.

So we arrive in Greensboro about 4:15, drive around the Coliseum and find a sweet parking space on a side street. There is a guy sitting in the front seat of the SUV parked behind us talking on the phone. He gets off the phone and tells us his kids are trying for the lottery as well. They've been here camping out for a while, he's here to pick them up in case they don't get in. We get excited and head to the Coliseum.

We go right up and get a numbered armband. It is 5:00.....the drawing is taking place in 15 minutes. We find our place in line. Our armbands are numbered 1263, 1264 and 1265. 1200+ have gotten here before us and been waiting. Should we have stayed in the Triangle and gone to the party?

A guy on a bullhorn announces how this will work: a number will be drawn from a hat, that person will be first in line, we'll take the next 450 persons behind that persons number. Very efficient and fair. Still, we've got less than a 33% chance of being within the proper "grouping".

And then the announcement....the number is 11xx. I can't even think! We're going to get to the front of a Springsteen show. "I'm Courtney Cox in the Dancing in the Dark video!!!!" (note: wow......this video is from 1984! Have I changed this much in 25 years?)

The show was AWESOME. Springsteen still performs with the passion that makes his shows epic events. I hope I have half his energy and good looks when I'm 61. The E-Street Band is showing signs of age but not sounding any older. Clarence is something like 71 and showing it. Bruce would help him to his place on stage and during encores Clarence did not leave (he sat in a chair). Max Weinberg's son played drums during most of the show. He was excellent and it was fun to watch the relationship between the young Weinberg and Springsteen. It must be weird to have known this boy when he was born and now have him keep time for your band.

3 hours later my ears are ringing. I've been on cloud-nine for this entire week. I hate that the show happened on Derby Day but..........you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes......

(the Steensboro May 2nd setlist)

Cheers.

Storefront, Concrete & Redesign

Storefront: note that the plywood mural that has been the storefront for 6 months has changed. Construction is underway and the "storefront" has been moved out onto the sidewalk to accommodate the changes. Footings have been poured to allow for 2 columns to be added to support the sagging steel structural beam that you see at the top of the photo. The beam has sagged a bit over the last 100 years and columns are necessary to prevent further damage. Fortunately, the deflection has not been so much as to require replacement of the beam.

Concrete: inside, concrete is being poured to make the new storefront floor. Pouring is happening in 3 phases: footings, general floor material and then the pour that will be feathered out to create my new entrance ways. It's fun to watch the storefront take shape from the ground up. Hmph, sounds cliche'.

Redesign: unfortunately, the requirements of the Federal folks are creating churn in our overall plan. My third floor layout looks to be my biggest risk as the National Parks people think the "catwalk" is not acceptable. Scott and Tom are investigating ways to redesign that allows me to have a loft type floorplan but still meet government requirements.

I was warned that working toward Historic Tax Credits would be challenging. Leave money on the table or build the residence the way I want. Have a coin? I call heads.