55 West

[UPSDAN]

As of this Monday morning, crews have barricaded half of Pine street the way they did for the Plaza.

I think they are starting to move forward now with demolition.

I saw this today as well...They have the entire 55 West area fenced off now...Including beside the RR tracks. There is a demolition company sign up as well. Signifcant PCL trucks there too.

[GregoryMCSE]

^^^ Well just tell us this: Do you think the majority of the board will be happy with what's going on/up? I can't see HOW that would break any non-disclosure agreements? <smirk>

Feed us SOMETHING -- anything!

I am happy... this is all good news!

[orlandonative]

Any action today?

[JRS1]

yes.

now, they erected a 6 foot fence with green...stuff.. on it; just like Plaza. 1st the orange and white barricades, now the green fence.

at this rate... the possibilities are endless!?

[orlandonative]

Believe it or not the construction fence is actually a really good sign for progress. They rent that fence for the life of the construction so typically you wait til your about to start for cost purposes.

[JRS1]

just like we heard a few months back-- demo to start in November-- technically, its still november.

[eq74]

Is there any renderings of 55 West displayed from the North? I have been following this project for years (and years and years and so on...) and do not recall seeing any. I know it won't look like a blank piece of concrete like a 1970's condo building on Cocoa Beach seen from A1A, but I am still curious.

[GregoryMCSE]

yeah I drove by today... and I am sorry to say the site looks about the same as it did 3 mnths ago. I just hope that my children's children will be alive to see 55W completed....

[corpkid]

Again -- I am SO VERY glad I bailed when they had the massive price increase before contract.

Eola South was supposed to be "temporary" but now that I live here, I am THRILLED I didin't commit to 55w... EVERYTHING just seems wrong with it, right?

[UPSDAN]

Looks like the city is fed up with 55 West too:

Article

[tm68]

Is there any renderings of 55 West displayed from the North?

Not the greatest but here are a few:

[Dale]

Well, didn't the construction fence just go up ?

[facilities man]

I see why they haven't shown many renderings of the North side. That is a massive parking structure. I hope it looks decent from the street level. I hope the city is paying close attention to how the parking structures of all the current projects tie into the streetscape. That can make or break a cities street activity level. Nothing makes a street seem more uninviting than a long stretch of parking garage, especially at night.

[sunshine]

I think there are retails at the bottom of the garage and your probably wont see the garage when the old bus station are developed into something huge. But for a small downtown we have, there seems to have a lot of parking garages.

[facilities man]

If parking garages are built right you should only see the entrance and exit. It should be ringed by retail, restaurants, or office space on the first few levels.

[prahaboheme]

or in the case of denser, more established cities, below-grade.

[eq74]

Not the greatest but here are a few:

Thanks for the views tm68. Interesting...

I agree and hope that developers are careful with the future garages connected to their projects. Look (or try to look) at City Hall from I4. If it wasn't for that darn water table under us we could put these undergroud, being careful not to intrude on the subway.

[Tim3167]

Walked by the site this morning and interior demolition on the north side of the market has begun in full force. There is a Bobcat tearing up what was once Brookstone.

[orlandonative]

Thats what I am confused about. My understanding is that the agreement with the city was for demolition to commence in November for only the South side. I don't think eligibility for city money hinged on the north side demo. Anyone have any insight? It would stand to reason that unless an implosion is iminent for both sides, you would start on the north garage and move to the south.

Edited December 1, 2005 by orlandonative

[chgochris]

Walked by the site this morning and interior demolition on the north side of the market has begun in full force. There is a Bobcat tearing up what was once Brookstone.

I thought brookstone was on the south side.

[orlandonative]

Tim I read your post incorrectly. Is demo. really taking place on the North side?

Edited December 1, 2005 by orlandonative

[Tim3167]

Yep, The northwest section of the market looks to be having the interior demolished. All the windows have been broken out and there is a bobcat ripping it all up and dragging the debris out to the courtyard.

I think this is it.

In this old pic, the demo I witnessed was in the area in the left of the pic. Only interior at this point though.

Edited December 1, 2005 by Tim3167

[Dale]

It's actually happening ? The Apocalypse draws nigh ?

[Camillo Sitte]

It's actually happening ? The Apocalypse draws nigh ?

Hmm...

Remember that the city just gave the developers an ultimatum; that they had to start demolition [not construction] within x-number of days.

Is it being overly cynical to suggest that the developers decided that the cost of [otherwise pointless] demolition was much less than losing the city money, that they wanted to keep their options open and that they [the developers] are still in reality no closer to starting actual construction, if they ever will?

[Dale]

Camillo -

You're a cheery sort.