Sam Savarino of Savarino Construction, LLP faced a most appreciative crowd of neighbors in front of the Jersey Street Livery to state his purpose and answer questions concerning his takeover of the White Brothers building that avoided the wrecking ball just two weeks ago.
Saying Savarino's acqusition is the, "First and most positive step in saving this beautiful historic site," Katherine Herrick of savethelivery.com introduced Savarino and Mike Young of Empire Building Diagnostics.
Young said that there is no magic pill for the work that needs to be performed on the structure, but told the crowd he was confident that between the city engineers, Empire's engineers and Savarino, they are ready to go forward. "First and foremost is public safety, and the safety of our workers," Young said. "Unfortunately, some more of this building will have to come down, but we'll go forward from there. We understand the concern of residents who want to get back into their homes, and we're aware of the challenge. Please be patient," he asked.
Joe, a resident who lives at 64 Richmond had one thing to say to Young and Savarino, "Thank you." His is the yard where the bricks first fell, and he's happy that Empire is willing to work with him.
Young answered back by saying, "We may need to access the property through your yards, and I want to apologize in advance. We are guests in your neighborhood." He went on to say that the timeline was tentative and that the plan is evolving and based on an engineering study inside the building, varifying loads and assessing any shifting that may have occurred in the partial collapse. "We're thinking about two months to stabilize--hoping it won't be that long," Young explained.
An elderly woman from the Summer Street side of the stables named Bunny, asked if there would be notice soon about the viability of the back wall. Her husband, Harold is a structural engineer, and they have opted to stay in their home. Young answered. "We don't have any way of knowing how the building will react to a truck going by, or even one brick being pulled. It's like a Jenga game."
Preservationist Tim Tielman then asked Young if the removal of the trusses and the cables solved the roof pressure problems, to which Young answered, "We don't know if it's been solved or made worse. It's too early to tell."
Savarino said that the third floor is not as stable as they would wish and that it may not be saved. "Up to the top of the second floor, it looks good," Savarino said. "As a person who wants reuse for this building, I would love to save the third floor." He went on to say that the rear walls could most likely be saved up to twelve feet, that the "roof floors" may have to be demolished, that the basement would be filled, and that all walls would be stabilized.
"It's valuable to me to be able to redevelop this building," Savarino stated. "I'd like to keep it as a three story structure with residential on the top two floors, and parking on the first. But if all we're left with is a front and rear wall, we'll make it work."
When asked about the finances and the liens on the building, Savarino said, "We will be taking the title for one dollar in agreement with the property owners, along with the inherent liens, but I don't know how that will pan out with the city." He added, "Empire is faced with cleaning up the mess from the fall and the subsequent therapeutic demolition."
As far as concrete plans go, Savarino said, "The mayor called and said 'giddy-up'. We'll present the lowest common denominator at this point. The more we can use of the building, the more valuable it is to us, but we're not going to linger. We'll submit a plan to elicit approval." Turning his attention to the crowd of neighbors, Savarino said, " We'll be able to do so through more informal meetings like this. I don't want you to be reading in the paper about any plans we may have."
He went on to say, "If we come up with something above and beyond the scope of our work, we'll announce it. Demolition, restoration and salvage." When he was asked about past work his firm had done that might help people understand the scope of his restoration abilities, Savarino said, "You can see that on my web site. We did a lot in the Cobblestone District. We're completing another building on Mississippi and Perry, and we did the Elmwood Village Charter School."
Bunny pressed further saying that her neighbor has been displaced and that she promised her an answer from today's meeting. Savarino responded, "Everybody wants this done as soon as possible, and that's job number one."
To which a woman in the crowd, quiet up until that moment, asked, "Can we get out the champagne now?"