Here is the first draft of a video I am working on as part of our promotional material.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
The Misconception of What Demolition Wrought
All too often, opposition surrounds impending demolition projects. Resistance will manifest itself in many forms. There are those who argue against demolition projects citing environmental factors. Others contend the historical significance of a building outweighs the “wanton destruction”. The spectrum of contention is rather exhaustive.
A polemical position against demolition practices has only three avenues of appeal: logical, ethical, and emotional. The emotional outlet (by far, the most employed) makes for great newsworthy headlines, spirited municipal meetings, and can help marshal quick support – often, a thoughtless process with regard to the totality of the project at hand.
When logic is applied to such scenarios, people begin to realize that demolition marks a new horizon of opportunity and economic growth. Such is the case at the Shoppes at Fox River in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
In partnership with Opus North, Champion Environmental Services, Inc. was retained to abatement and demolish a 561,000 square foot distribution center at 1200 W. Sunset Drive. This morning on GlobeSt.com, an article was published highlighting the new development of the 58 acre suburban infill location.
The Shoppes at Fox River is the embodiment of what demolition creates, progress.
The article from GlobeSt.com appears below with link: http://www.globest.com/news/1505_1505/chicago/181278-1.html
___________________________________________________
Opus North Opens $62M Shoppes at Fox River
By Cari Brokamp
WAUKESHA, WI-Opus North Corp., of Chicago, has opened the first phase of its $62 million The Shoppes at Fox River retail development at 1200 W. Sunset Dr. The first phase of 250,000 square feet opened at about 90% leased, with a second phase of construction planned to begin in spring and deliver another 250,000 square feet of space by summer 2011. Two of the development's anchor tenants, a 132,000-square-foot Target and a 60,000-square-foot Pick 'n Save grocery store, have already opened, and another eight stores are scheduled to open later this fall.
"It's a great first-tier suburban infill location," John Meyers, VP of retail development for Opus, tells GlobeSt.com. "Waukesha is a great suburban community, and this is a portion of town that didn't have a retail shopping area and we're able to take advantage of that. For retailers, from a strategic standpoint with where their other stores were located, this was a great infill location for them without a lot of retail immediately around it, so there was a market void and they were available to take advantage of it."
Other retailers scheduled to open within phase one this fall include a 14,000-square-foot CVS Pharamacy on a 1.9-acre outlot, a 5,000-square-foot Chili's restaurant on a 1.3-acre outlot, Buffalo Wild Wings, Subway, GNC, Verizon, GameStop and Noodles & Company. Openings scheduled for spring include a 13,500-square-foot PETCO, as well as a Maurice's and Famous Footwear. Asking lease rates at the development range from $13 to $35 per square foot net, depending on location.
There's very few uncommitted spaces at this point and in today's marketplace, that's phenomenal," Meyers says. "The site itself was well-positioned and had some momentum going in, so we focused on the first phase of the development, which was still feasible to do. Even in a difficult time, we continued to get national tenants and hang onto that momentum as long as we held onto the boundaries of what the market could support."
Work on the 54-acre property began in summer 2008, after Opus acquired it for more than $11 million, demolished the 561,000-square-foot distribution center once located there and changed the land's zoning. About 18 acres remain available remain available for development and Meyers said Opus is considered build-to-suit opportunities or selling pad sites for retailers interested in locating within the development. Michael Fitzgerald and Dan Rosenfeld of Mid-America Real Estate-Wisconsin are marketing space within the development.
When completed, Opus says the retail development will be the largest in Waukesha and the sixth largest in the Milwaukee area. Designed by Minneapolis-based KKE Architects, the project is located in the southwest suburban Milwaukee submarket. "The Waukesha marketplace has remained very viable and held up very well there," Meyers says.
A polemical position against demolition practices has only three avenues of appeal: logical, ethical, and emotional. The emotional outlet (by far, the most employed) makes for great newsworthy headlines, spirited municipal meetings, and can help marshal quick support – often, a thoughtless process with regard to the totality of the project at hand.
When logic is applied to such scenarios, people begin to realize that demolition marks a new horizon of opportunity and economic growth. Such is the case at the Shoppes at Fox River in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
In partnership with Opus North, Champion Environmental Services, Inc. was retained to abatement and demolish a 561,000 square foot distribution center at 1200 W. Sunset Drive. This morning on GlobeSt.com, an article was published highlighting the new development of the 58 acre suburban infill location.
The Shoppes at Fox River is the embodiment of what demolition creates, progress.
The article from GlobeSt.com appears below with link: http://www.globest.com/news/1505_1505/chicago/181278-1.html
___________________________________________________
Opus North Opens $62M Shoppes at Fox River
By Cari Brokamp
WAUKESHA, WI-Opus North Corp., of Chicago, has opened the first phase of its $62 million The Shoppes at Fox River retail development at 1200 W. Sunset Dr. The first phase of 250,000 square feet opened at about 90% leased, with a second phase of construction planned to begin in spring and deliver another 250,000 square feet of space by summer 2011. Two of the development's anchor tenants, a 132,000-square-foot Target and a 60,000-square-foot Pick 'n Save grocery store, have already opened, and another eight stores are scheduled to open later this fall.
"It's a great first-tier suburban infill location," John Meyers, VP of retail development for Opus, tells GlobeSt.com. "Waukesha is a great suburban community, and this is a portion of town that didn't have a retail shopping area and we're able to take advantage of that. For retailers, from a strategic standpoint with where their other stores were located, this was a great infill location for them without a lot of retail immediately around it, so there was a market void and they were available to take advantage of it."
Other retailers scheduled to open within phase one this fall include a 14,000-square-foot CVS Pharamacy on a 1.9-acre outlot, a 5,000-square-foot Chili's restaurant on a 1.3-acre outlot, Buffalo Wild Wings, Subway, GNC, Verizon, GameStop and Noodles & Company. Openings scheduled for spring include a 13,500-square-foot PETCO, as well as a Maurice's and Famous Footwear. Asking lease rates at the development range from $13 to $35 per square foot net, depending on location.
There's very few uncommitted spaces at this point and in today's marketplace, that's phenomenal," Meyers says. "The site itself was well-positioned and had some momentum going in, so we focused on the first phase of the development, which was still feasible to do. Even in a difficult time, we continued to get national tenants and hang onto that momentum as long as we held onto the boundaries of what the market could support."
Work on the 54-acre property began in summer 2008, after Opus acquired it for more than $11 million, demolished the 561,000-square-foot distribution center once located there and changed the land's zoning. About 18 acres remain available remain available for development and Meyers said Opus is considered build-to-suit opportunities or selling pad sites for retailers interested in locating within the development. Michael Fitzgerald and Dan Rosenfeld of Mid-America Real Estate-Wisconsin are marketing space within the development.
When completed, Opus says the retail development will be the largest in Waukesha and the sixth largest in the Milwaukee area. Designed by Minneapolis-based KKE Architects, the project is located in the southwest suburban Milwaukee submarket. "The Waukesha marketplace has remained very viable and held up very well there," Meyers says.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Tragedy Averted – Local Demolition Contractor “Lucky”
Yesterday, a local contractor dropped the roof of a building on a demolition worker. Thankfully, the 45 year old survived the ordeal. The article below was published in the “Sun Times”. Video provided by ABC 7 News Chicago.
"Demolition Worker Rescued After Northwest Suburban Building Collapse"
September 22, 2009
STNGWire
A Chicago demolition worker escaped with only minor injuries after being trapped for nearly an hour when a roof collapsed during a scheduled demolition Tuesday afternoon of a Menard's store in northwest suburban Hoffman Estates.
Police and fire personnel responded to a partial building collapse in the 2300 block of West Higgins Road at 3:55 p.m., according to Arlington Heights police Sgt. Greg Poulos, who said the incident happened during a scheduled demolition of a Menard’s store.
A demolition worker became trapped under a roof, which collapsed during the demolition. Crews were immediately able to make contact with the man, who was trapped in a three-foot high pocket under the collapsed roof, Poulos said.
Crews provided the 45-year-old Chicago man with a radio to communicate with emergency personnel and also cut a hole in the roof to check his air quality. Crews then stabilized a portion of the roof and cut out an area to allow for the man to climb out of the space, Poulos said.
The man was rescued about 4:50 p.m. and was taken to St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates, where he was treated and released within an hour, Poulos said. He suffered only minor injuries.
Poulos described the worker as "the luckiest man alive," due to the three-foot high pocket, which prevented major injuries.
Members of the Hoffman Estates Code Enforcement and investigators from OSHA arrived at the scene and the remaining portion of the partially collapsed wall was safely demolished.
Link to video - http://abclocal.go.com/wls/video?id=7027441 [Due to embedded code, I could only copy the link]
"Demolition Worker Rescued After Northwest Suburban Building Collapse"
September 22, 2009
STNGWire
A Chicago demolition worker escaped with only minor injuries after being trapped for nearly an hour when a roof collapsed during a scheduled demolition Tuesday afternoon of a Menard's store in northwest suburban Hoffman Estates.
Police and fire personnel responded to a partial building collapse in the 2300 block of West Higgins Road at 3:55 p.m., according to Arlington Heights police Sgt. Greg Poulos, who said the incident happened during a scheduled demolition of a Menard’s store.
A demolition worker became trapped under a roof, which collapsed during the demolition. Crews were immediately able to make contact with the man, who was trapped in a three-foot high pocket under the collapsed roof, Poulos said.
Crews provided the 45-year-old Chicago man with a radio to communicate with emergency personnel and also cut a hole in the roof to check his air quality. Crews then stabilized a portion of the roof and cut out an area to allow for the man to climb out of the space, Poulos said.
The man was rescued about 4:50 p.m. and was taken to St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates, where he was treated and released within an hour, Poulos said. He suffered only minor injuries.
Poulos described the worker as "the luckiest man alive," due to the three-foot high pocket, which prevented major injuries.
Members of the Hoffman Estates Code Enforcement and investigators from OSHA arrived at the scene and the remaining portion of the partially collapsed wall was safely demolished.
Link to video - http://abclocal.go.com/wls/video?id=7027441 [Due to embedded code, I could only copy the link]
Friday, September 18, 2009
Follow Champion Environmental Services, Inc. Demolition Live
Champion Environmental Services, Inc. is in the process of implementing live video feed coverage from our demolition projects utilizing construction webcams. The system has several invaluable advantages to both clients and Champion management:
1. Clients can view the progress of demolition work from their office thereby decreasing onsite visits.
2. Archival documentation of projects can be facilitated for both clients and CESI.
3. Live video stream into the CESI office on all staff, management, and project manager computers.
4. Unbiased accountability for what is actually taking place.
Given the expansive geographic foot-print of our job sites we often work will developers who maintain offices hundreds of miles away from the project, this system will leverage greater control, accountability, and client access in these cases.
The cable for the system was installed in our Gilberts, Illinois office yesterday. The installation of software and office server upgrades will take place over the next few weeks. It is our intention to have public and client access up by mid-Fall.
As soon as the system is running, I will post a link and instructions for access here on the Blog.
1. Clients can view the progress of demolition work from their office thereby decreasing onsite visits.
2. Archival documentation of projects can be facilitated for both clients and CESI.
3. Live video stream into the CESI office on all staff, management, and project manager computers.
4. Unbiased accountability for what is actually taking place.
Given the expansive geographic foot-print of our job sites we often work will developers who maintain offices hundreds of miles away from the project, this system will leverage greater control, accountability, and client access in these cases.
The cable for the system was installed in our Gilberts, Illinois office yesterday. The installation of software and office server upgrades will take place over the next few weeks. It is our intention to have public and client access up by mid-Fall.
As soon as the system is running, I will post a link and instructions for access here on the Blog.
Work At Hide House Ready To Begin
Champion Environmental Services, Inc. is finalizing paper work and utility cuts in preparation for the asbestos abatement and demolition of the Hide House in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The Hide House is a 200,000-square-foot complex that started out as a metal stove and bed factory in 1898; over the years, several additions were added to adapt to the needs of various industrial tenants. The last major construction occurred in the mid-1940s when J. Greenebaum Tanning Co. built the Hide House addition on the north end of the complex.
Champion Environmental Services, Inc. will be responsible for the ACM removal of wrapped pipe insulation and floor tile/mastic. Only a portion of the sprawling complex, some 60,000 square feet of building will be demolished in what will be the first phase in a redevelopment effort of the property.
Our commitment to environmental initiatives will be readily apparent on this project as we are looking to achieve minimum recycling rate of 80%.
Work will begin in two weeks. Check back in for pictures and update on this project.
[Photo credits to Google Earth]
Monday, September 14, 2009
Underground Storage Tank Removal
Last week, Champion Environmental Services, Inc. facilitated the removal of four petroleum filled underground storage tanks. Essential precautions must be taken so as not to compromise the containers and create further environmental hazards.
Following appropriate local and state notifications, the remaining fuel is safely drawn from each tank and properly disposed. An environmental study concluded that significant soil impacts surrounded the buried tanks. Careful excavation around the UST must ensure that contaminated soil and clean aggregate do not mix. Nitrogen is pumped into the tank to mitigate potential hazardous situations; the nitrogen helps purge the tank of potentially explosive vapors.
After the tanks are removed, Champion Environmental Services, Inc. will begin soil remediation efforts which will be overseen by an environmental consultant; the consultant will be responsible for testing any remaining dirt to ensure significant plumes of contamination no longer exists.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)