Hi everyone,

It’s been a quiet couple weeks on the job site, but behind the scenes there has been plenty of activity.

Last week, the Massachusetts State Plumbing Board and Elevator Board finally approved variance requests that we had made earlier in this winter.  These variances were mainly procedural, necessitated by specific conditions in our old building, but they have now paved the way for new work to begin:  ordering and installing the lift, finalizing plumbing bids, etc.

Meanwhile, I have been working daily with our architect, our builder, and the city’s office of Inspectional Services to revise and finalize a strategy for the construction of the new fire stair adjacent to the driveway.  These revisions were necessitated by unexpected conditions at the existing, 150-year-old fieldstone foundation that we discovered during excavation for the new foundation.  Since the questions involve the building code and life safety, we wanted to make sure we got it right!  The final plans have been reviewed once with Inspectional Services, and we expect that the head building inspector assigned to the project will be signing off on them this morning.  After that, framing can begin again for the rest of the exterior, and activity will pick up again at the site.

Meanwhile, a newly-energized Building Committee is holding a meeting this Saturday at 9:30 at the site, to figure out just how we are going to put you all to work!  We have a tentative schedule for spring and summer work weekends, which will be finalized and distributed after the meeting.

As usual, feel free to email with any questions or bright ideas….

Cheers,

Josh