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Berkeley Moves Fast To Resume Sequoia Demolition After Permit Beef Quells Jawzilla
Jawzilla, the monster jaws-on-a-crane was quiescent Thursday, as city hall convened an impromptu permits meeting to clear the way for returning Telegraph Avenue to "normal," after demolition of the fire-gutted Sequoia Apartments rained bricks that closed North-South foot traffic.
Had the removal of the Sequoia been shut down more than briefly, killer disruptions to the Ave, could have de-toured the 28th Telegraph Ave Holiday Street Dec. 16-18, and 22-24. The fair is a chance this year for Berzerkers to support Telegraph in its moment of travail.
Jaws, and scoops of re-construction, began their end-stage savagery Friday morning, much to the relief of everyone who wants to see the avenue cleared. "Freddy" Pena, demolition crew-chief, said Friday that resumption of demolition puts clearing plans back on schedule.
Pena added that his estimated completion date (3-5 days) for restoring Telegraph foot-traffic, would be met. He rotated his hand, gesturing maybe.
You could hear a collective sigh of relief from Teley businessmen, some of whose businesses have either been shuttered or remain open--devoid of customers.
As the usual gawkers gathered for the grim spectacle of destruction,Thursday, it soon became apparent that demolition had shut down.
Meanwhile, the structural engineers for the Sequoia owners met at 11 a.m. with various department personnel within the city manager's office to craft a solution to a permit violation, which occurred when mortar overheated Wednesday, causing the Sequoia to sink beneath the twenty-nine and one-half foot limit of the demolition permit.
By late afternoon, additional departments met to go over new engineering plans which had been submitted earlier by Sequoia engineers.
Friday morning, Jawzilla, seemingly rested, and now joined by his cousins, a couple of scoops on a crane, looked on approvingly as removal of rubble proceeded.
As debris removal approaches ground floor cornices, slamming, bashing, and battering will give way to more gentle methods to protect the ground floor and adjoining businesses. According to Pena, demolition will now be "brick-by-brick.
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Ted Friedman, a 30 year South sider, is rooting for Jawzilla, so Teley can rise from ashes once more, as it did after the Berkeley Inn fire.
