by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
If Kimmick Corporation builds condos as fast as it chases down building permits, the contractor’s renovation of the Lerner Building should be done in no time.
Project manager Douglas Williams said his crew would finish interior demolition within 10 days. Work started up again Wednesday morning after City inspectors shut down construction Tuesday, citing a lack of permits.
Williams said work was set back only two hours. [City Inspector] Larry Donahue said it was the “fastest turnaround” of a stop–work permit, “that I’ve ever seen.”
The City ordered work stopped a little before noon on Tuesday. Donahue said his inspector was heading to the site with a temporary permit by Wednesday afternoon.
The City permitted Kimmick to perform $8,000 of internal demolition and electrical work. Donahue said the shut down was ordered after they received a phone tip that some “exploratory demolition” had pushed too far.
“We let them do exploratory demolition as long as it’s not affecting the building’s structure,” said Donahue. “But you can’t start heavy demolition without permits.”
Williams said the work stoppage was a misunderstanding and had “no effect on anything.” He said the work schedule would proceed as planned.
Kimmick plans to turn the six–story building, the former home to Southern Drug Company, into a first floor restaurant, second floor retail and loft apartments on the upper floors, including the addition of a seventh floor penthouse suite.