by Glenn Tschimpke
Staff Writer
Vestcor Companies’ $14 million renovation of the Lynch building is chugging along on schedule, according to project manager Tom DeLuca. The development company purchased the building late last year with the intent to transform the vacant commercial building into apartments and lofts, which will be called 11 East Forsyth.
“We’ve got about 85 percent of the demolition done,” said DeLuca. “We’ve got all the asbestos removed and the lead-abatement is in process. I’d say that within 30 to 45 days, all the demolition will be done.”
Only a few floors of the 114,000 square-foot, 17-story building remain relatively untouched. The rest have been completely gutted with only structural components remaining. On any given day, between 65 and 100 workers chip, rip, blast, saw and hammer the insides of the building to prepare it for comfortable apartment living by a target date of April 2003. All the original piping and electrical infrastructure is being removed and discarded. Demolition crews drill holes in each floor to accommodate new plumbing and electrical runs. The switch in floor plan from office space to apartments necessitates slight changes to the building’s structural design. Thus, new steel beams are welded to the existing structure.
A few interior pieces were salvageable for reuse. Only about 20 original doors were saved — more stringent, modern fire codes precludes the widespread use of older units. Also, a great deal of mahogany wood trim has been set aside for reuse.
So far, there have been no surprises for DeLuca and crew as they scrape away nearly 80 years of history to get to the core of the building which was erected in 1926.
“The original structure is in good shape,” said DeLuca. “If I had to rate the building as far as construction, I’d probably give it an eight.”
Each floor will have eight apartments ranging from 600 square-foot efficiencies to larger two-bedroom units. The top floor is reserved for seven 1,500-1,800 square-foot lofts. Residents will be able to take advantage of an exercise room on the second floor as well as a large club room on the main level complete with kitchen, computer area, fireplace and other amenities.
Changes to the exterior of the building will not be as drastic and will take a historical preservation approach. The windows will be cleaned and repaired to original specifications. The limestone and brick facade will be pressure washed to clean away years of dirt and grime. The terra cotta inlays under each window will be cleaned and freshened with new grout and then resealed to protect them from the elements.
At some point in the building’s past, red marble tiles were applied in a band just above the ground floor. The tiles were removed to reveal original ornate steel plates. The plates will be freshened and sealed. The surrounding red bricks will be removed and a limestone cover will be applied in their place giving the look of columns extending to the ground.
DeLuca estimates that exterior work will be completed by mid-year.