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

[Columbus Civil]

a suicidal french midget

[Tnekster]

Wasn't it Harve.......something. He died some time back, right?

[Columbus Civil]

http://www.tradedforwheat.com/meshugenah/images/hvdance2.gif

[Boredkid]

humm, never heard of him. Looks like I did not miss much though.

[WTx]

You only missed the plane.

[Tnekster]

Herve Villachaize as Tattoo. Mr Roarke's (Ricardo Montalban) sidekick. TV show was Fantasy Island and was always on Friday nigh after The Hulk.

[Boredkid]

how long ago did that come on?

[WTx]

Ricardo Monteblan) sidekick

Thats your opinion :D

[Tnekster]

It was in the 70's and 80's. 1978-1984

[Boredkid]

That was prior to my birth.

[Columbus Civil]

He was also the henchman of a James Bond villain in The Man with the Golden Gun.

[US75Guy]

Nick Nack

[Lakewooder]

What about Dr. Loveless on Wild, Wild West?

[Boredkid]

I know that was way before my time...

[Lakewooder]

So you are more of a "Mini-me" ?

[Boredkid]

naw, i did not live in the us at that time... if its not with in the past 5 years... i know nothing of it...

[tamtagon]

^^^^So, what do you guys think about The Gulf States Building and/or the Third Rail Lofts?

[X Factor]

I think it is a great project. I can't wait to see it finished. It is a major investment in to downtown, and will help achieve the all important "critical mass". I can't wait to see the crane in downtown, It will be nice to see a newer buiulding style in downtown.

[Boredkid]

Also having more public parking will be nice

[X Factor]

From Wednesday...

http://img469.imageshack.us/img469/7251/conast15ej.jpg

http://img469.imageshack.us/img469/122/const20vt.jpg

[shawndb]

Don't know all the details yet, but part of this developement caught on fire less than an hour ago. From what I could see from the street it looked like the small former department store that faces Elm street is what caught on fire. There were many fire trucks and other emergency vehicles. Parts of Main and Elm Streets were closed.

[BigD5349]

^wow! only grass fires on the news tonight, how bad is the damage?

[shawndb]

I can't tell how bad the damage is. I heard all the fire trucks coming down main street, but really think anything of it. Then I went to walk my dog. When I walked out the door onto main street there was smoke everywhere and water pouring down the street. I was only outside by Iron Cactus for about 10 minutes, but my clothes stink of smoke. I'm sure people in the Kirby right next door could smell the smoke really bad.

[dizzy]

It seems to be under control now but it must have been a good size to get so much attention. It appeared that it was contained to just the back (Elm) side of Gulf States.
couple of pics... Sorry they're a little blurry. I was out on the fire escape and it was pretty windy up there. I was just trying to talk myself into taking pictures and not looking straight down.

[dizzy]

One more worth posting.

[dp2]

Excellent reporting! Thanks for the pics.

[moopinator]

I posted a few of the burning building in the photography section of the forum. I had a "nice" view of the fire. It was kinda scary considering how close it was.

[younggreenanne]

Firefighters fight three-alarm downtown fire

06:51 PM CST on Tuesday, December 27, 2005

WFAA-TV Staff

Governor Rick Perry issued a disaster declaration as more than 70 wildfires blazed around Texas.

Wildfires erupted across North Texas Tuesday afternoon as unseasonably high temperatures combined with low humidity and gusty winds to create conditions ripe for fast-moving fires.

However, one fire broke out in downtown away from grassy areas. The call for the three-alarm fire burning in a building at Elm and Akard streets came in around 6:00 p.m.

The building was undergoing loft renovations and is scheduled to eventually house 68 lofts. Witnesses said the fire appears to be coming from the back of the building and firefighters said they believe it started in the elevator shaft. No people were reported in the building.

Firefighters also battled a major fire along the Arlington-Kennedale border in Tarrant County. Flames consumed several single-family homes near the Tierra Verde Golf Club and firefighters were setting up defenses around at least two apartment complexes and a number of residential neighborhoods.

A mobile home park near Mansfield Timberview High School was caught up in a grass fire; at least one home was destroyed and others were damaged.

Another dangerous fire was reported in the Canyon Creek subdivision in Hood County located southwest of Fort Worth.

"It's just chaos right now," said Hood County Sheriff's Department Lt. Billy Henderson. "We have an entire subdivision on fire."

Henderson said the department was trying to evacuate all Canyon Creek residents. There were no reports of injuries.

The fire was blazing near Highway 287 and was being watched closely because it was blazing in an area surrounded by apartment complexes.

Other wildfires were reported in Colleyville, Fort Worth, Farmers Branch, Ponder, Aubrey and Burleson.

"These fires that we've seen are human-caused," said Texas Forestry Service spokeswoman Traci Weaver. "Most of these fires are. Historically in North Texas, about 94 percent of our fires are human-caused."

Weaver said the weather conditions, with winds gusting to 40 mph, made it especially dangerous for firefighters. "It's amazing how fast it spreads in this wind," she said. "When it gets like it is right now, you just can't put a firefighter out in front of that—they'll get burned."

"This is tough; this is tough to watch," said American Red Cross spokeswoman Anita Foster, who said the agency was mobilizing relief trucks and personnel to the affected areas. "We're going to make sure that everyone has a roof over their head tonight."

The Red Cross set up these phone numbers for residents who need help: 817-335-9137 in Tarrant County and 214-678-4800 in Dallas County.

All of North Texas remained under a Red Flag fire warning Tuesday.

Outdoor burning bans were in effect for counties throughout the region. The National Weather Service warned that open flames, burning trash, a discarded cigarette—even the heat from a vehicle's exhaust system in tall grass—could spark a fire.

The mercury reached 82 degrees on Tuesday, setting a record for the second consecutive day.

"It just doesn't look like we have any relief in sight," said WFAA-TV (Channel 8) meteorologist Pete Delkus. "We are going to stay very dry. There is no rain in our forecast through the end of this year."

North Texas has had just shy of 19 inches of rain thus far in 2005—that's more than 15 inches less than an average year and more than 28 inches shy of last year's total.

Delkus said 2005 is on pace to be the fifth driest year on record in North Texas, and the driest in about a half-century.

Wildfires burned Monday in Collin and Wise counties. One blaze destroyed three homes and damaged several buildings just north of Eagle Mountain Lake near the town of Newark in Wise County.

Collin County firefighters also stayed busy Monday battling six grass fires, including one in Princeton that left two people injured. A 16-year-old boy suffered minor burns and a 25-year-old woman was taken to a local hospital for smoke inhalation.

Princeton firefighter Jamie Arnold wasn't looking forward to another warm, dry and windy day on Tuesday. "I'm dreading it, to be honest with you," he said. "If we don't get some rain and get these conditions better, it's going to be a nightmare."

WFAA-TV reporters Jim Douglas in Arlington, Gary Reaves in Mansfield and Steve Stoler in Wise County, WFAA.com editor Walt Zwirko in Dallas and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

E-mail cvega@wfaa.com
Online at: http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa051227_wz_wildfires.1ade68bd.html

[CityLove]

I posted these on moopinator's thread, but I'll repost them here. Some of my first pics on the new cam (Canon A610), so pay no attention to quality. Street-level action:

(click to enlarge)
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/3623/img00188ux.th.jpg (http://img510.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img00188ux.jpg)

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/8038/img00161cw.th.jpg (http://img510.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img00161cw.jpg)

[dizzy]

Nice pics TG2.

[moopinator]

Nice pics Miss Trolley. Ya, it stinks in my place big time. The windows don't have the tightest seal in the world so it was getting just a wee bit smoky in here. Bleck!

[jsoto3]

WFAA Video (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/VideoPlayer/videoPlayer.php?vidId=44528&catId=104)

[clipper]

I hope the building can be saved. It's one of the few George Dahl buildings downtown, along with the SW Life Insurance Building at Ross and Akard and the DMN and WFAA buildings on Young Stree.

[Columbus Civil]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcon...e.1e200a39.html

Firefighters put out blaze at Dallas high-rise

11:05 PM CST on Tuesday, December 27, 2005

By DAVID RENFROW / The Dallas Morning News

Dallas firefighters quickly extinguished a fire in a downtown high-rise building Wednesday evening.

Police cordoned off several blocks around the building at 1414 Elm St. while about 75 firefighters worked about 45 minutes to put out the flames. There were no injuries.

The vacant building is undergoing renovation as a residential and retail development and is unoccupied.

Investigators determined that the fire was caused by a construction worker's cutting torch. Damage is estimated at $200,000.


-----

$200,000 doesn't sound like much damage at all.

[Mephis Gooseberry]

Somebody obviously didnt follow proper Hot-work procedure. I bet somebody is going to be fired. Heres an article from FM Global.


Hot-work fires: devastating but preventable

WHEN SIMULTANEOUSLY delivering good and bad news, I find it better to deal with the bad first. So, here it is: Contractors appear to be responsible for a majority of hot work-related fires and explosions — which result in multimillion-dollar disasters — at commercial and industrial facilities.


The good news is that some very simple steps can prevent contractors' (and their clients') worst nightmares, thereby preserving the reputation and integrity of their business operations.

For the past year, engineers and researchers at commercial and industrial property insurer FM Global have been analyzing the various threats associated with hot-work procedures (for example, welding, cutting, grinding, brazing and torch-applied roofing). Additionally, the FM Approvals laboratory has been testing products and studying methods that can prevent those threats from happening when they are partnered with a solid hotwork management program.


The study found that hot work-related disasters reported to FM Global averaged nearly $2 million per incident; since 1993, cutting or welding torches caused three of every four such incidents. Another disturbing trend: The risk of fire at commercial and industrial facilities can more than double when outside contractors perform unsupervised hot work. During the past two decades, contractors have accounted for nearly 75% of hot-work blazes at FM Global-insured properties.


In most cases, hot-work fires occur when companies, their employees or contractors fail to follow proper hotwork safety guidelines. Those who perform the hot work aren't necessarily irresponsible; they simply are human and are bound to make mistakes, or they aren't aware of the hazards or the steps that can prevent property loss. Sometimes, they're lulled into a false sense of security, especially at facilities where hot work is conducted routinely.


Sparks and molten slag from cutting and welding can, of course, easily ignite combustible materials located below or near hot-work areas. But hotwork hazards aren't always so obvious, even to seasoned professionals. Hotwork residue can fly or roll long distances, igniting combustible materials, such as insulation, wood particles or flammable liquid vapors. Sparks also can settle in areas not easily seen smoldering undetected for hours before finally igniting a blaze. Examples include the tops of high ledges or inside vents, recessed walls, floor openings or ceiling openings.


Combustible material isn't even always visible. Cutting into metal walls, for example, can ignite the insides of walls or anything close by. Flammable deposits, such as vapor or invisible gas, can spark a fire or explosion. Poorly maintained hot-work equipment, such as hoses or connections that leak gas, is another prime culprit.


Before starting any hot-work job, contractors and their clients should discuss the planned project completely, including what the clients' hot-work management policies and regulations are. A signed contract should include language stipulating that contractors adhere to the company's hot-work policies.


Contractors also can take their own steps toward prevention. The first is something that we call "the hot-work 35-ft. rule" — clearing combustible material from any area within 35 ft. of the hot work. Other crucial steps include:


Shielding combustible flooring with wet sand, FM Approved hot-work blankets/pads or sheet metal;
Cleaning up the area, especially of oily deposits and trash;
Covering or shielding any storage (or other combustibles that cannot be moved) with the aforementioned hotwork blankets or welding curtains;
Blocking off any duct openings to prevent sparks from traveling to other areas or to ignite deposits/ linings within the ductwork;
Covering or filling any openings in exposed walls, flooring and ceiling with noncombustible materials or FM Approved fire-stop material;
Relocating any movable combustible material;
Cleaning dust and deposits outside and inside enclosures and ducts;
Providing the hot-work blanket under the work area if hot work is being performed at elevated locations such as building frames, ceilings or the undersides of roofs;
Closing all doors and fire doors;
Checking for significant gaps under doors or along their sides to prevent sparks from getting through and igniting combustible material outside the hot work area.
Another alternative is to designate an area devoted exclusively to hot work, assuming the items being worked on can be moved into this area. Then, isolate the area from the rest of the facility with noncombustible screens or partitions. And never ever let that area be used for temporary storage.


Welding pads, welding blankets and welding curtains that meet FM Approvals' Approval Standard 4950 (a testing standard for hot-work protection products) are now entering the market to help prevent disasters.


Devastating hot-work fires are preventable. But prevention requires twoway communication between contractors and facility managers, diligent adherence to safety precautions and proper use of quality products.


Mark Blank is chief engineering technical specialist for FM Global. He is the author of the FM Global Property Loss Prevention Data Sheet No. 10-3 (Hot Work Management) and is a member of the National Fire Protection Association.

[clipper]

The building that burned on opening day, 1947.

[TexasStar]

Turned down Elm street and found it was blocked this weekend.
Didn't care.

http://TexasStar.smugmug.com/photos/52541440-L.jpg

http://TexasStar.smugmug.com/photos/52541446-L.jpg

[Tnekster]

Cool, look at the Fidelity Union tower in the background.

[antoinekhuu]

Cool, look at the Fidelity Union tower in the background.
They are replacing the old glass? Very encouraging news

[slfunk]

What you are looking at in the Fidelty Union building is the construction elevator. They have taking out a section of the wall all the way up to accomodate it. I would imagine they would want to replace the windows all around the building.

[Jack Flack]

On a related note, windows have been cut into the facade of the Mayfair Building to accomodate the new apartments.

[dizzy]

Does anyone know much about these cranes? One thing I'm wondering, as I look out my window and the crane is actually rotating around a bit, does it automatically adjust it's position according to the wind? I know for a fact no one is in it and it moves as much as 15-20° rather quickly. It's kind of spooky to watch. It doesn't put me to ease that it passes directly over my apartment either.

[crescentboi]

Some shots from Sunday....they have added a TON of window openings for the building fronting Elm St.

[gc]

Very nice

[antoinekhuu]

Is the building with the scafold in the first pics the old department store?
Are they gonna retouch the exterior of that building?

[clipper]

If you mean saw windows all in it, then yes, it's been retouched. A photo of the Mayfair building in better times.

[antoinekhuu]

That is exactly what I am longing. More windows will create better visual appeal to that zebra wall of concrete

[gc]

clipper, that pic is awesome....

[clipper]

Yes, and look at how many people are on the sidewalks and all the cars - at night, too.

[carousel]

Yes, and look at how many people are on the sidewalks and all the cars - at night, too.

don't forget that dallas was once a real city