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3. Why Tear Down of 110 -Year -Old Garage/Carriage House Is Needed
<br />We originally intended to restore the lovely, 110 -year-old, detached, garagelcarriage house that comprises
<br />the entire Eastern end of our property. The garagelcarriage house [18'x 48' (the width of our property) x
<br />18] is bounded by our property lines on 3 of its sides. However the fourth side, the garage front, faces our
<br />slate -paved courtyard. However, after we brought 5 different building contractors ---all with A+ ratings
<br />from the Better Business Bureau of SBN--- to inspect the garage/carriage house, we had to drastically
<br />change our plans. We had wanted bids for restoration, but they all said the garage's 3 exterior brick and
<br />block walls, as well as the 1 exterior wood wall (the front, with sliding doors) are crumbling, severely
<br />bowed, unsafe, and a liability. The building contractors all said they would not want to work on it, as it is
<br />so dangerous.
<br />Two contractors said they are surprised that the city had not made us tear it down. They likewise said that
<br />city has approved tear -down of other old garages/carriage houses that are unstable liabilities and safety
<br />threats, as this one is. Once it is torn down, we shall apply again to commission, to put a tall wooden
<br />privacy fence around the back area, where the unstable garage/carriage house now stands.
<br />4. Description of Project: Tear -Down -Haul -Away of Garage/Carriage House
<br />Garage/carriage house is 18'x48'xl8', has 3 exterior brick/stone walls,1 exterior wood wall ---all of which
<br />are crumbling, bowed, and unstable. The garage also has 3 interior wooded walls ---like separate stalls.
<br />You can see these wooden interior walls in the photographs. They are in not -too -bad shape.
<br />All work will have to be done by hand, as heavy equipment will not fit in 2 alleys, without risking
<br />damage to neighbors' homes and property. Contractor plans (1) to take off the bowed wooden
<br />front of garage, to allow access to its interior, next (2) to take out/off remaining roof, now caved in
<br />and sagging, as photo shows. Once (1) and (2) are done, and site is cleaner, excavator proposes
<br />(3) to work from inside garage, with rope/chains/cords, pulling walls inward, so as not to harm
<br />neighbors or their property, and so as not to harm any passers-by or cars. When all block/brick
<br />walls are down, the excavator plans (4) to haul away all remaining debris and make site clean, but
<br />(5) the keep the concrete slab, so that we can extend our courtyard patio .... and later apply for
<br />permit to build wooden privacy fence around slab.
<br />The job must be done by hand, more expensively, because excavators cannot get their large
<br />equipment onto the site without threatening the neighbors, passers-by, and neighboring property
<br />and people. Hence, without large equipment, the tear -down will take nearly a week.
<br />5. Materials to Be Used
<br />Contractor will use truck to haul materials ---and perhaps several dumpsters, to keep site clean during the
<br />excavation. The largest equipment possible to be used is a small bobcat, as ropes, chains, and hand tools
<br />will be used for excavation ----not any typical excavation equipment. Many well-known contractors ---such
<br />as the main excavator for the University of Notre Dame, saw our site, but refused to give us a bid because
<br />he said (1) he could not bring his large equipment on site, and (2) he did not want his men to have to do
<br />this hand work. Hence we feel fortunate to have a good contractor, willing the do the tedious hand work.
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