Bird Blog: Week 9
Every week, Jennifer Mankins, owner of the Bird boutiques, tells us about the new 2,500-square-foot store on Grand Street in Williamsburg that she’s getting ready to open. Last time ’round, workers sorted tons of waste, the bulk of which was recycled. This week, the HVAC, in all its heating and cooling glory, is reckoned with……
Every week, Jennifer Mankins, owner of the Bird boutiques, tells us about the new 2,500-square-foot store on Grand Street in Williamsburg that she’s getting ready to open. Last time ’round, workers sorted tons of waste, the bulk of which was recycled. This week, the HVAC, in all its heating and cooling glory, is reckoned with…
I needed to consider another, possibly big, expense for a space this size; the air-conditioning and heating unit referred to as the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning). I had intended to have the existing HVAC unit checked early on, and with the decision to go forward with LEED certification I couldn’t wait any longer. We contacted the technician that Bill recommended, Valery Danovich, and he agreed to meet us on site and take a look. Based on the exposed ductwork, he initially estimated it to be a five-ton unit, smaller than I had hoped. But to be sure, he needed roof access to get a closer look….
Upon inspection, the unit actually proved to be 7.5 tons, sufficient for cooling up to 3000 sf. All the electrical lines had been disconnected (the downside of waiting so long!) but the system looked to be about seven years old and in good condition. That was the good news. The bad news was his estimate for the cost of running new ductwork. Since we won’t be installing another dropped ceiling, we’ll need to run new insulated spiral duct through the whole store. For this he charges about $2000 per ton, or $15,000. I have to admit I was a little surprised it could be so much, so I will definitely get another estimate.
There was other good news, too. The condensing unit, currently perched directly on top of the northernmost skylight, could be moved out of sight to another section of the roof. According to Valery, this wouldn’t be difficult, but we’d need to use a crane, which would cost an additional $1000.
With everything cleared out and the drywall removed, we could also take a further look at the condition of the central brick wall, which separates the front and back sections of the space. It wasn’t pretty, and we could see evidence of at least two or three previous ‘renovations’. Both Ole and Bill had questions about the various supporting structures within the wall, which has a wide opening that connects the two spaces, but also carries the load of the two floors above it. In addition, it contains the clerestory windows.
I knew that I probably couldn’t eliminate the wall altogether, but I hoped to open it up further. What we needed to know was (1) how much wider we could make the opening, and (2) how much restructuring was needed to safely distribute and support the load of the second and third floors. Although the landlord was confident of the wall’s reliability, we decided to be on the safe side and call in a structural engineer.
Bill recommended Maged Iskander, a structural engineer he had worked with and liked. The landlord recommended Becker Engineering. Stephanie called both to check on availability and prices. Becker couldn’t send an engineer out immediately, and Maged could come that afternoon. Becker wanted $1500 for the first on-site visit and Maged only asked for $400, which would be put toward his overall fee if we decided to hire him, which we did. Ole, Maged and the landlord met the following morning to discuss the structure of the supporting wall. The landlord had installed the clerestory windows himself and explained what he did to reinforce them; he had installed vertical steel supports between each window. These supports connect to two steel I-beams, which span the width of the opening and rest on two brick columns.
After about 45 minutes of very technical talk they headed up to the roof and discovered erosion on both steel I-beams. This would have to be fixed, clearly! Maged agreed to draft a proposal detailing the drawings he would provide, both of the current wall and of possible structural solutions should we decide to widen the opening. Hopefully we aren’t opening too big a can of wall-widening worms.
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No, I’m just not sure why 17 tons of debris needed to be created to open a retail store in a building that was in pretty good condition to begin with. But I don’t know the details that closely, and by expressing that skepticism, I am not saying the owners of the store have made the wrong choice. I just don’t know the business.
Wow what a world we live in??? Here is a gal that is trying to do the right thing at her own cost for the environment and there are people that actually critisize it. The LEED process is not perfect, but it is the first step toward a better, greener construction industry. I’m just throwing out a question to the critics:
Would you like to have the 17 Tonns of debris that was diverted from land fills during the demolition of this project dumped in your back yard?
A perplexed friend of the environment.
bird carries all sorts of stuff, and it’s reasonable and tasteful. love the blog, love that you are coming to Grand, it’s emerging as the best street in brooklyn. ignore the haters.
good luck!
Who cares if they really “need” to do such a renovation? It’s their bloody money!! Plus they can afford to do it considering they charge $189 for a bathing suit! I too am one of those who thinks that all these “up and coming designers” are all fads. They all must think that they’re hot stuff charging that kind of money in a recession. It’s ok, soon the bottom will fall out of this real estate market and they’ll be left holding the short end of the stick.
I’m bullish on Grand street, and I do think this blog is fascinating, but I also wonder if, in pursuing the environmentally-correct thing to do, you’re not also being taken for a ride and biting off more than you can chew with this. I mean you don’t own the building. And did the 2004 renovation job really not provide adequate heat and ac?
I’m also annoyed by “upcoming new designers” more than a little because, although I could afford their clothes, none of them fit me. And I’m not that big.
Wasn’t the existing ductwork and a/c installed by the last business there… in 2004?
Ahh, bxgrl.
Sad. I’ll keep an eye out for that.
That’s denton- but it was my latest stalker bxQrl who posted about the a/c. You can always check by looking at the profile page- they put in a Q but in the typefont here is looks like a g.
3:22- it’s be interesting to hear what people think is a stable or good retail venture these days.
12:46 said “but in ,say Manhattan any luxury goods store would do well, even in this “challenging environment?”
Not judging by all businesses clearing out, at least on the UWS–and no new businesses coming in. Commercial RE in Manhattan is on the verge of tanking.