Progress

There’s more specific detail in the video, and images that let you see the progress being made by Minvilla’s contractor.

We anticipate completing construction in time for an October 2010 move‑in date.

The problems with the vein of rock running under the lower units of the Broadway front building have been resolved and those units are now framed. Drywall will be installed in them very soon.  Most of  the units in the larger building have already been drywalled and some are in the process of being painted.

Local designer Carol Nooe is helping with the color and furniture selection.  Two local hotels have donated numerous items such as lamps, towel bars, etc. that will allow us to provide nicer furnishings and fixtures.  There will be more about this later.

This short piece goes with these previously-posted details. Enjoy and/or critique!

Last Wednesday, VMC took board members and staff on a brief site visit to Minvilla Manor.

Progress is especially evident from the inside. We didn’t get up into the third level of the structure floor, but we were able to check out the apartments at the first (basement) level and on the second level.

New openings have been cut in some of the load-bearing walls to permit construction of hallways on the second and third levels. A lot of framing and utility rough-in has been completed on these levels, and you can see the individual apartments taking shape. Many of the new framing members are joined to old framing members that had to be left in place to satisfy historic rehab requirements.

Ceiling clearances on the first level were too low for apartments. It wasn’t feasible to raise the ceilings to get the appropriate clearances, so the contractor removed approximately 22 inches of earth in that area, reinforced the foundation, and poured new concrete slab. The apartments on this level in the larger of the two buildings are relatively large, and are framed in.  They’re still excavating on the first level in the smaller of the two buildings. A seam of rock has made that a bit more challenging, and  they’re moving a lot more dirt on that side.

A new building will connect the two existing buildings. It’ll house an elevator and stairs and will face Broadway. Another staircase will be added to the back side of the larger existing building opposite the elevator. That will provide the required two means of emergency egress.

So Minvilla Manor is coming along, roughly according to schedule, in some uniquely challenging circumstances. Wood Brothers and Southeastern Housing Foundation are working very hard to make it possible for the first occupants to be able to begin moving in late this fall.