Green Roof Reno: March 2008
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March 23, 2008
Tomorrow and the D.O.B.
Sorry to have not followed up on our last post . . .We had some minor scheduling issues with our structural engineer (actually his secretary made a mistake and we were stood up). But we finally have our meeting scheduled for tomorrow. Sound like déjà-vu? Yeah, us too. But we’ve looked for the silver lining in this small setback and expecting tomorrow to be great!
The delay did give us an opportunity to do a little extra research. We realized it might be a good idea to take a trip down to the DOB and try to find the original plans and/or structural modifications to the building. I followed the instructions found in a great comment here:
http://www.brownstoner.com/forum/archives/2008/02/help_finding_in.php
We know our building was built in 1920 and was last modified in 1987. We were hoping that the original plans might be on file. We were also hoping to find any drawings relating to the structural modifications in ’87 which we believe included reinforcing the staircase and adding a central beam in the basement.
So the DOB is quite an adventure . . . After getting my block and lot number via PropertyShark.com, I headed downtown last Wednesday. A friend told me if I had my block and lot number I should just go directly to the 1st floor. Well, that turned out to be wrong . . . They sent me to the 2nd floor, who sent me to the 7th floor who sent me to the 8th floor where I finally found the correct window, only to be told that I needed to get a ticket and this form signed at that other window before they could help me. I felt like I was in one of those futuristic movies of bureaucratic hell (a la Brasil) . . . finally, though, when I reached the person who brought up the records, they were very helpful and the process only took about 15 minutes.
Unfortunately for us, we totally struck out. Our building had no microfiche plans and the folders of past DOB filings only included permits and an old basement plan from 1946. We’re hoping the structural engineer can tell us more . . .
March 6, 2008
Judgement Day . . . Maybe
Sedum Trays
These are all 4 inch aluminum planting trays manufactured by Green Roof Blocks out of St. Louis, Mo. This is an extensive module sedum tray system and one of the better products we have seen in the lower price range. With an unlimited budget, we would love to install a seamless, integrated green roof system (more like a carpet as opposed to the modular system shown here, and unfortunately, for small sites, more pricey, too), but most of the companies that do this type of work focus on much larger projects, usually upwards of 5000 sq ft.
Steel – Yay or Nay?
Our day with the structural engineer has finally arrived! We’ll definitely snap some candids and post on the momentous event that’s happening tomorrow morning. Also, we’ll talk about the whos and hows and whys of dealing with a structural engineer after we have a chance to meet with them.
Thanks for reading.
