Progress to Date
(newest posts are at the top)

Wahooo!!
The origional lime-stone begins to go up in the building's exterior. Steve Patzer and two other stone masons are starting on the building's west (parking lot) facade. Also today, the stairs are finished -- handrails and all -- and the hardwood floors.

Stone work is completed on the interior... Wood floors arebeing installed... doors and trim are on-site.

Soffits are completed, tall stone wall is completed and the masons are working on the kitchen wall.

Masons nearing completion of the tall stone wall.... The stairs are installed!

Steve Patzer, Ziggy (mason), and Manny (laborer) complete the second bedroom wall, and make great headway on the tall stone wall.

Masons working on the wall in the second bedroom wall and begin the tall living room/entry wall... Garage doors are installed.

Blow-in insulation is installed.... first it is blow-in, and it's then "shaved" even with the studs.

Walls are framed, roof is enclosed.

Walls are framed, roof decking is completed.

Roof-decking continues....

Roof trusses are delivered and installed, work in the basement progresses.

Second-floor walls coninue to go up, and the garage/office roof is framed.

Second-floor walls go up, and the garage/office roof is framed.

Walls are framed, roof is enlosed.

First-floor walls go up...

The concrete basement and foundation is poured....

Basement and foundation is excavated....

The building is “dismantled” and the site is leveled.

The final walls are gentely nudged in upon themselves.

Demolition is complete down to the first-floor walls.

Second-floor walls and front facade is dismantled.

Dismanteling continues.... Stone is stacked on pallets, shrink-wrapped, and stored off-site.

Stone by stone, the work continues...

Stone by stone, the the building is dismantled.... Stone is stacked on pallets, shrink-wrapped, and stored off-site.

Work begins on dismanteling the building -- stone by stone....

Crews from Braemoor Custom Homes being demolition of the building's second-floor interior storage-racks (used to store trim and molding when the building was part of White-and Todds Lumber Yard).

Progress -- and lots of it!
As of June 5th, I've got a demolition (deconstruction) permit, I've selected a general contractor (Paul McCue's Braemoor Custom Homes), and -- most importantly -- I should be closing on the additional property needed from Old Second National Bank tomorrow morning at 10am! It has been a long road, but having a good team -- and I am confident that I do -- will make all the difference in the project's end result.

Next step... going green?
As my architect and I began finalizing the plans it became apparent that we had a wonderful opportunity to make this a “green” building project. Under Lane's direction I plan on making this a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified building -- the first in the City of Aurora, and one of only a handful in the western suburbs. LEED is a certification program created by the US Green Building Council that takes in a project's energy and environmental impact. A “green” building is not just about adding solar panels, or using recyclable materials, it is a building that encourages the use of less energy because of it's proximity to essential services (banks, schools, stores, and public transportation). It is a project that is more environmentally friendly during construction because it utilized old, existing, or reclaimed building materials (such as all the Holbrook Mill's original stone). By incorporating “Energy Star” appliances, compact florescent lighting, and innovative mechanical and ventilation systems, they are cheaper to operate and also healthier to live in.

We're still working through the application and design review process, but we'll proudly share some of our “eco- friendly” ideas and strategies as the project progresses. In the meantime, visit: United States Green Building Council's LEED for Homes page or the USGBC's Green Homes Guide for more information.

Are you deconstructing it yet?
What's going on now!?
These are common questions, and the simple answer is, no not yet -- but hopefully soon. The architectural plans are being finalized, and I hope to begin the permitting process soon. Ultimately the project has been delayed by the ongoing negotiations to acquire the property needed for the garage addition, and a 5ft. set-back from the property line (as per fire code). The City of Aurora has been very supportive and we believe we have a solution which solves the issues, and yet still meets all fire codes.

Any plans for restoring the Holbrook Mill need to be approved by two governing bodies -- the Aurora Historic Preservation Commission, and the Aurora Downtown Design Review Board. Both committees review the exterior elevations, the finishes, colors, and then comment/recommend changes to ensure the building blends in to the vision of Aurora's downtown. The Historic Preservation Commission is also watchful that a project meet national guidelines for preservation. This means that the windows should be of the "original" style (wood, double-hung, no vinyl cladding here), and that any new construction should be made of similar, but contrasting materials to delineate the addition, (which is why the garage addition is being constructed out of brick as opposed to limestone).

In February of 2007 both committees approved the plan for deconstruction of the mill, and the following month they approved the s plans for the building's reconstruction.