We can only imagine the amount of work needed to bring the interior of the Riv building to a workable state. Workers can be seen hauling debris from the interior on a regular basis. More exterior work has begun, namely on the windows, on the Lawrence side. We spotted new bricks added to the sidewalk level and it looks like windows should be arriving any day now.
I was passing by there this week and the workers still had the door open. I peeked inside and the foreman came out to talk with me about the project.
ReplyDeleteHe said that the basement was basically sand. I think he said that they hauled three yards (a lot, in other words) of sand out and poured concrete. The bank also wanted a clear space, which meant removing a load-bearing wall and replacing it with I-beams. (no small task, he assured me) The floor was only 3/4 inch plywood, so they had to add more plywood to that and are going to put marble tile down later. He said that they are hoping to have the bank open by June.
The bank is much bigger than I thought. It is going to take up the entire first floor, all the way back to the stairwell next to the Riviera. The teller counter will be along that side wall, just in front of the wall where the stairwell is. The bank will have a vault and safety deposit boxes. The only entrance will be at the corner, where it was before for the furniture store. The rest of the storefront will all be windows. He said that the stairwell door will also be replaced, which will match the windows.
Thanks for the update MMNBC!
ReplyDeleteForgive me if I'm not excited about BofA coming anywhere near me
ReplyDeleteTechnically a bank is not allowed to go up across the street from another bank (zoning can be so inconvenient) and of course Helen didn't get community input to lift the rule for this location, but I don't see how the building could have gone through its fine remodeling otherwise.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what the local powers at Bridgeview bank have to say about that? In my eyes, they like to play nice in the sandbox with Helen.
ReplyDeleteThose buildings are not in Shiller's ward. They are in Smith's ward, which stretches down to Leland on Broadway. That is why there is economic activity in that area. Shiller's stretch of Broadway has a Popeye's that was closed by health inspectors and lots of empty store fronts...
ReplyDeleteSorry cebolinha, the Riviera and the Riviera building ARE in Shiller's (46th) ward. Look at the ward map very closely.
ReplyDeleteI am sure the only reason it got developed is because it is privately owned and across the street from Smith's ward.