DTD: Gulf States Bldg. + 1414 Elm + Third Rail Lofts (1407 Main)(16 ST.)

[carousel]

Can someone take a picture?

[moopinator]

I live in the Kirby across the street from the renovations. The contractor has done nothing about the grafitti on the building. Also, they have no consideration for the people already residing in the area. We are constantly have to call Code Enforcement and the police because the contractor fails to obey city ordinances. I finally emailed the contractor directly to address the problem.

The CG's rep did not respond to my last email, nor have they been on site in the middle of the night again. The noise during the day sounds like I am living in the middle of a war zone. I moved in the Kirby two and half months ago and had no idea I would be subjected to anything like this.

Sent: Saturday, April 09, 2005 3:29 PM
To: 'XXXX@keyconstruction.com'
Subject: Project in Downtown Dallas
Importance: High

I would like some to contact me as soon as possible to explain why your company flagrantly disobeys the law and Dallas City Ordinances. I live across the street from your project in downtown Dallas. I was kept awake last night by your crews on your projects jack hammering until 2:35 AM. This is extremely inconsiderate and illegal. I have reported this violation to Code Compliance and I will call 911 every time there is ONE worker on site during prohibited working hours.



Does your company make a habit of breaking the law?


Sent: Monday, April 11, 2005 4:06 PM
To:
Cc:
Subject: Gulf States Building & noise issue


First, please accept my apology for your disturbed evening.

Key Construction is replacing the windows on the building next to your home, known as Gulf States. Key is also cleaning the brick on the building. The project overall is staffed by several contracting firms, of which Key is a small part of that collaborative. We do not have, nor had a use for a jack hammer in the work we are performing. Certainly we are cognizant of the Dallas restrictions and would not work past 6PM, let alone 2:35AM.

In an effort to get to the bottom of this unfortunate incident, I have asked my superintendent, Frank Van Herpe, to investigate with the other contractors, the owners, and the City of Dallas to resolve your concern. Again, I apologize for the noise levels assure you that Key Construction was not responsible. I will follow-up with you as soon as I can discern more information.


If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned at your convenience.




Key Rocks!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From:
Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2005 4:59 PM
To:
Subject: RE: Gulf States Building & noise issue



Thank you for your response.



There was definitely work going on until 2:30AM Friday night/Saturday morning, because I could see the workers inside the building. I couldn’t see the tools they were using but it sounded like a jackhammer. The sound stared again at 6:30 Saturday morning. During the day on Saturday I went to investigate the exact location of the noise so I could verify the “jackhammer” sound was not echoing from some other location Downtown. I found the noise was definitely coming from within the Gulf States Building.

Also, on Thursday night, someone left a radio on all night playing salsa music at full volume. It was also definitely coming from the Gulf States Building. I know for a fact because I have the perfect location to witness the activity and noise, as I am directly across Akard on the 10th floor of the Kirby Building.

This is not the only time I have witnessed workers on site at non-designated times. I have called the police (911) three times for workers being at the Gulf States Building on Sunday. I was instructed to do this by the Dallas Building Code and Compliance Office.

Further, having worked as the Executive Assistant for the Senior Vice President and Vice President of Construction for a commercial real estate developer (Hines Interests) I am familiar with the responsibilities of the General Contractor. The GC is responsible for supervising the activity of its subcontractors.

Also, the windows on the building came out more than a month ago. There is been no activity as far as replacing them. Heavy weight plastic has been put up in place of the windows. This plastic does not stay in place during 25 mile an hour wind. So imagine the sound of two hundred large plastic flags blowing in the wind. The residents of the Kirby would greatly appreciate the windows or boards being put up as soon as possible.

I do feel I can speak for the residents of the Kirby as I have spoken to several other people in the building and we are all appalled at the disregard for our peace and quiet.

I have attached several photos so you can see how close the building is to our homes and the plastic in the windows.

[moopinator]

I forgot to put these up with my post about the noise.

[gc]

Thanks for the pics moop and welcome to the forum.

[Wineguy2000]

I hear the noise all night too. I just turn up my sound machine and get through it. If you thnik it is loud now wait til all the surrounding development sites get started. Being in the Kirby building You will have 3-5 construction sights surrounding your building going all at once. Now that is going to be loud. Noise is part of downtown.

[gc]

Ahhh, these are urban problems...

[Tnekster]

Yes, the sound of downtown coming to life.

[US75Guy]

It also shows the lack of experience these contractors have working in a downtown in close proximity to residents, rather than just 9-5 office workers.

[Wineguy2000]

We had a guy calling on our construction site at 7:01pm on a friday night comlaining he couldn't sleep and we were upsetting his poodle. Poor Fellow

[St-T]

^Wow. I'm sure the poodle is terribly traumatized.

[gc]

Here you go.

[carousel]

The new building looks great! Are a few floors being added to the Gulf States Building?

[Tnekster]

We could really use a new picture.

[barrycb]

Here you go.

This is exactly the kind of infill projects downtown needs, and there are so many more opportunities just like this. This project is going to look great!

I assume access to the parking garage will be from that alley, or Elm St?

[rantanamo]

The forgotten hi-rise. Many are referring to the 7-11 HQ as the first high-rise in a long time, but isn't this(1407 Main) already u/c?

[Tnekster]

For some reason I thought that alley was going to be another Stone Street type development. Am I making that up?

[dizzy]

The new building looks great! Are a few floors being added to the Gulf States Building?
I believe the top two levels on that rendering are recessed from the front facade. They do currently exist.

[Tnekster]

The forgotten hi-rise. Many are referring to the 7-11 HQ as the first high-rise in a long time, but isn't this(1407 Main) already u/c?

I think they are referring to the first construction of office space in 20 years.

[frankchitown]

For some reason I thought that alley was going to be another Stone Street type development. Am I making that up?

I hope your not making that up. There is a placard on the Davis saying that it was once "Money Alley", I've never stopped to read all of it, but I'm sure there's a history behind it. I think it would be a great idea to bring Money Alley back, It would definately be a great lunch spot, bringing more people out of the tunnels, plus it would have the potential to bring more nightlife deeper into downtown.

[carousel]

It looks like the digging is nearly complete.

[Tnekster]

We will see another crane soon. It will be interesting to see how they place this one since they don't have that much room to move around with it. It will be cool to see a crane right in the middle of downtown.

[Columbus Civil]

It will be cool to see a crane right in the middle of downtown.

Hopefully one you downtown dwellers can get a picture of it!

[moopinator]

I'll go out and get a new pic of the hole this evening. Its a little quieter since they have broken thru all of the asphalt from the parking lot.

[Tnekster]

Thanks, much appreciated.

[moopinator]

They are about 30 minutes old.

here's a list of what you are looking at:

1. Views of the lower levels from across Akard Street.
2. Views of the lower levels from across Akard Street.
3. View of 1407 Main from ground level by the Davis Building.
4. Side view and rear from Elm Street.
5. The former parking lot or what I call the "hole" from the ground.
6. The "hole" from the Kirby roof.
7. The roof of 1407 Main.
8. Another view of the Gulf States roof.

I noticed today when poking around the site, the contractor has cleaned up debris that was flowing over onto Main and Akard Streets. Also the signage required by Dallas Code has finally been posted on the site. *Some three months after the project started*

My complaint regarding the noise where directed at work begin done at times which have been deemed illegal by the city code.

Construction near residential areas is only permitted between 7 am and 8 pm Monday thru Saturday. No work is allowed on Sunday. Also per the Building Code office you should call 911 regarding construction being done during prohibited hours. This applies to all projects downtown as most are now adjacent to residential/multi-family. Key Construction's signs state to call 311. 311 is not answered 24 hours a day. Per Larry (Building Inspector) call 911, as the police will write them a ticket causing them to incur a rather hefty fines as the contractors know the laws and chose to ignore them.

Also I mentioned the bizarre "plastic" covering on some of the windows. Everyone in the Kirby I have spoken with is upset about the sound of 150 or so "flags" flapping during 25 mile an hour winds. Its VERY loud. It will wake you up at 2 AM and keep you up. I purchased a turbo Vornado fan and the plastic sound is louder than it.

AND! The large "dump trucks" which are the size of a semi which start appearing on Akard street at about 4 AM and idle for the next three hours. The trucks are coming to pick of the debris being removed from the "hole." Per code, trucks are not allowed to sit idling from 10 PM to 7 AM. So this is a double violation.

I work from home and have watched some of the rather odd methods regarding the windows. From the 4th thru 9th floors the plastic has been rehung 3 times. The 10 and 11th floors have no plastic. From the 12th up the plastic remaining is from the first attempt at covering where the windows once where.

I believe they are removing asbestos from the 10th and 11th floor window frames. Also there is now scaffolding inside the 10th floor. Also, they have not removed ALL of the windows from the building just those on the Akard Street side and some of the windows facing Main Street.

Also, Monday the workers were standing in the window frames scraping and doing what ever to the building. It made me very nervous to watch as the winds where high and if someone slipped, they would be "road pizza" on Akard.

Tuesday, the workers where wearing harnesses and "safety gear." This is also about the time the signs regarding who to contact about complaints went up. Ya think an inspector got after 'em??? :D

Enjoy the pictures. :p

[Tnekster]

Thanks for the update....that is Great!

[moopinator]

I forgot to mention there is no crane yet. I'll get a picture if and when they get one.

I was amazed at their work today... as they were removing asbestos on the 11th floor in the window frames (the workers had suits and masks on). On the 10th floor they are still working on the window frames, but no prtective masks, etc. Now wouldn't the asbestos dust from the 11th floor fall on the workers on the 10th floor and on the ground below???

Makes me wonder about air quality when I am out walking the dog, not to mention opening my windows when they are doing this type of work. You can see large dust clouds flying.

[Tnekster]

Moop, is the 11th floor sealed when they are removing the asbestos?

[moopinator]

No, its not seeled.

[moopinator]

Here are a few more photos from my window on the 10th floor of the Kirby looking down and across. The photo looking straight across you are viewing part of the 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th floors. As you can see nothing has been done to seel of the floor during the asbestos removal. :eek:

[drumguy8800]

As you can see nothing has been done to seel of the floor during the asbestos removal. What do you mean? They put up wooden slats..

[Columbus Civil]

Cancer schmancer

[effulgent]

They seemed to have moved a whole bunch of dump trucks down into the hole, maybe for excavation purposes or something. It was quite a site to see a handful of big old trucks in a 15'-20' deep hole. Plus there was lots of activity at the Gulf building, too.

And no, they still haven't gotten rid of the graffiti, but it looks like one of the grafitti'ed windows is broken now.

[Tnekster]

This is great, effulgent, can you tell if they are leaving the alley on the west side of the hole?

[effulgent]

This is great, effulgent, can you tell if they are leaving the alley on the west side of the hole?

Not yet. I'll go down and take pics tonight or this weekend, though, because it really is kinda cool.

[Tnekster]

I can't wait to see the crane go out on Main. How cool will that be?

[Wineguy2000]

We have our crane on Field today

[Tnekster]

We have our crane on Field today

Do yo happen to have a pic?

[Wineguy2000]

wednesday pics
<script src="chrome://greasemonkey/content/scripts/1102161148673"></script><script src="chrome://greasemonkey/content/scripts/1102237157909"></script>

[Wineguy2000]

I put the crane pics on the 1217 thread

[BigD5349]

As many of you know, 1407 Main is the new building that is under construction between the Davis and Gulf States Buildings. The renderings are attached. Does anyone know if there is a website with floorplans yet? I couldn't find one. Thanks in advance.

[Tnekster]

^Already a thread for this one. It is the Gulf States building.

http://forum.dallasmetropolis.com/showthread.php?t=169

[rantanamo]

Don't know if we have one for this building though. Is there a crane on the site yet?

[barrycb]

Not yet. It's taking them a long time to dig...probably because of the tight quarters and old infrastructure from the previous building.

[barrycb]

This building looks 100X better since they cleaned the brick surfaces.

[Tnekster]

^We need some new pics.

[Tnekster]

^I thought these buildings were attached and being developed together.

[rantanamo]

I'm not sure. Just know that 1407 Main is a brand new residential highrise between the Dacis and Gulf States

http://forum.dallasmetropolis.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=5857

[Tnekster]

Yes, check out the other thread. It's the Gulf states remodel and expansion. The new part is the expansion. Since we have already been discussing this expansion for months I didn't think we needed another thread since they are the same project.

[freewaytincan]

Someone (read: Drummy) merge them.