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The USO Service Center building needs substantial repairs, but poses no safety threat, according to an engineering report presented to City Council Thursday.
The building integrity has not substantially changed since a report prepared two years ago, Mayor Pro Tem Clarence Fenner said.
The new report was prepared following examinations by civil engineer Jon Davis, president of Langford Engineering and structural engineers Robert Hansen & Associates.
Although the building appears to be safe at this point, it should not be allowed to continue to deteriorate, Robert S. Hansen, P.E. said in the written report to council.
The recommendations in the Sparks report should be undertaken now. Eventually, if left unattended, the structure could become unstable.
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange just before the closing bell, Thursday Oct. 12, 2006. Stocks pushed higher Thursday, with the Dow Jones industrial average crossing 11,900 for the first time, after big consumer names like McDonald's Corp. raised hopes that corporate earnings would remain strong and the Federal Reserve said economic growth was moderate. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) .
WASHINGTON - Housing construction plunged in August, falling to the lowest level in more than three years as the once-booming industry showed further signs of a dramatic slowdown.
The Commerce Department reported Tuesday that construction of new homes and apartments fell by 6 percent, the third consecutive decline and a much bigger setback than analysts had been forecasting.
The weakness pushed the annual rate for construction down to 1.665 million units, the slowest pace since April 2003.
Meanwhile, wholesale prices edged up a modest 0.1 percent in August, and outside of energy and food, prices actually fell for a second straight month. That hadn't occurred in more than three years, the Labor Department said.
Analysts said the slowdown in inflation should reassure the Federal Reserve that it can continue to keep interest rates on hold.
Demolition of the old LBJ Tire and Auto Repair at the Heart of Huntsville/Market Square mall doesn't mean construction on a new project is about to happen, the property owner said last week. Scott McLain, Heart of Huntsville's owner, said the building was unsafe and had become a place for homeless people to camp. "It's not really motivated by imminent development," McLain said. "We are demolishing LBJ because it ultimately will be demolished, because it was an old building that was falling down. It has become a nuisance." McLain, who has been working on plans for the downtown site, off Clinton Avenue and South Memorial Parkway, for several years, said he and the city have reached an agreement on the configuration of Heart of Huntsville Drive.
NEW CASTLE, Pa., Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Yablonsky helped break ground today in Lawrence County for the new Western Hemisphere headquarters for tableware manufacturer Steelite International USA Inc. Yablonsky announced the state is offering the company a package of loans and grants totaling $389,500, which will make the company the first tenant in the Millennium Technology Park and help it create at least 45 new jobs within three years. The DCED secretary said Steelite's decision is an example of how Governor Edward G. Rendell's economic development efforts have helped attract new companies to the commonwealth. "When Governor Rendell took office, he said we were going to do more to attract new companies and help our existing businesses expand and succeed," said Yablonsky.
Most owners choose the floor plan, finishes and fixtures that go into their custom-built homes. Juan Guevara made those choices and more. He selected each interior and exterior component and confirmed every detail in building his $1 million home in Delaware County. He also hand-picked the roofer, framer, excavator, drywall installer and a host of other subcontractors. Guevara made the decision to be his own general contractor, a choice more homeowners are making in projects big and small. He said his decision to manage the project has saved him a significant amount of money and given him more control over the project. "We went to many custom builders and found that, with the money we would save, we could have more house. I expect to save about $200,000," he said. "With a builder, you dont have as much control." Guevara, the owner of a flooringinstallation company, now has a second full-time job making sure the subcontractors show up when they are needed and that they follow the detailed plans drawn by an architect.
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