new residential downtown

[Tacachale]

I like the tapas idea due to my envisioning of the space:  A place to hang out and socialize opposed to a place to sit down and dine.

Personally, I would make like to see north African themed menu, Magrebh (sic) I believe.  Such a wide range of flavors are possible in your mouth-hole when you start mashing up mediterranean and arab cuisines.

Maghreb. And yeah, that would be a great idea, places like that are quite popular around here, especially if you did it really well.

[CG7]

Since we are in Florida after all, I think something along the lines of a family / Mongolian style crab-seafood boil would be awesome. Put the chef in the center of the room, with gumbo's, fresh local seafood and a crab boil, and customer's come up to order directly from the chef. Put long family size tables around, so people can dine with a variety of folks, not just the one's you came with.

[UNFurbanist]

A Tapas bar would be awesome! Then you can really mix and match and be as creative or simple as you want! Cajun or African flavors would be very welcome in the core I think. I'll have to think of a name. So glad things are finally moving forward

[UNFurbanist]

Any new updates Ron?

[ronchamblin]

Thanks for asking Urb.

Well .... been busy ... out of cash ... and have been waiting for my best worker to be freed up so that he can demo and provide needed info so the architect can complete the dwgs.  We have to verify the load bearing walls.  There are so many.  We will remove most so as to configure the best apartment layouts.  My worker is scheduled to start .. with a helper ... in two weeks ... three at the most. 

The one fellow who was going to help has, as of about a week ago, been put in jail for 13 months.  I was at the court session.  After the public defender (useless fellow) and the judge (incompetent) maneuvered everything so as to ensure that this fellow did go to jail, they huddled and smiled at each other, apparently happy that they sent another poor black fellow to jail.  This fellow did not deserve to go to jail for 13 months, as there was no intent to do harm to anyone.  But ... that's another story. 

Also, I am maneuvering my finances so as to get a construction loan when it's time to get the contractor involved, which by the way is "Breaking Ground" .... a wonderful company to work with.  Mary Tappouni has done one new-build addition for me, and one renovation ... which was the Laura Street bookstore cafe.

So ... yes, we haven't lost interest, lost sight, nor forgotten.  It's a matter time and energy, and a matter of money.  But ... we are finally getting ready to proceed.  Soon you will see my dump trailer out front, being filled with stuff. 

And unless someone is the city has become angered with me, I am still due to get the $37,000 grant from the city ... for the first floor work.  All I must do is provide a solid business plan for the first floor.

But ... yes, I am getting impatient ... and must get going on this thing.  The delay has been necessary for the most part, but I tire of it.

[UNFurbanist]

I understand how these things go sometimes. Just keep at it and I'm sure it will turn out to be a great space! Have you decided on the downstairs concept? Tapas, reading and music perhaps? Best of luck!

[Jax96]

Any new updates to report on, Ron?

[ronchamblin]

Any new updates to report on, Ron?

Tnx for asking Jax96 ... I am meeting with a structural engineer and general contractor this morning to discuss the solution to the weakened main east/west wooden 80 foot beam on the lower floor.  All is stable, but I want to ensure that the beam issue is resolved.  We will probably replace the wooden beam with steel, which will allow us to reduce the five wooden columns (some weakened too) to only two of steel ... with new footings.  I'll update in general after the meeting, perhaps in the morning. 

[ronchamblin]

Met with the contractor and engineer Jax96 yesterday.  Looks like we will use three 26 foot long steel I-beams between the first and second floor -- running east to west with only two steel columns instead of five wooden; thereby giving more room for tables, and providing greater visibility for people to see the stage at the rear ... upon which we will occasionally have old fashioned burlesque shows late into the night.  Currently we have six deteriorated 13 foot wooden beams, each made up of five 2" x 10", sandwiched together.

BTW, the primary reason for the beam and joist deterioration is that fact that over the many decades since its construction in 1904, the owners allowed plumbing leaks to soak the various wood pieces, thus allowing the rotting of some beams and joists.  For example, about 80 percent of one section of beam has rotted (termites perhaps) completely away.

We are removing 100% of the old plumbing, which supplied a total of 10 small apartments on floors two and three.  We will also remove 100% of the electrical.     

Behind the current bookstore building is a 28 foot by 60 foot courtyard.  We are going to remove an old furnace chimney on the outside, at the rear corner of the bookstore building, thereby providing easy access to the courtyard from the 225 building.  We will clear the alley between the bookstore building and the 225 building so that anyone can easily visit the courtyard.

The courtyard will have a stage at the south end, and tables for fifty ...with canopies and umbrellas. The courtyard can be used for music, poetry readings, college lectures, author signings, parties etc.  Profound and important individuals such as Chris Hedges, Ralph Nader, Richard D. Wolff, Noam Chomsky, Mohammad, Jesus, and Trump could use either the 225 bldg or the courtyard space for speeches or discussions.  Would have been nice to have Malcolm X, .... M. L. King, or Robert or Jack Kennedy to give a speech, but unfortunately all of these radicals have passed away of natural causes. 

The brick on the south wall is beautiful.  We will sand blast it to improve the contrast.  In any case, we are finally moving along, and will soon have completed drawing set, and a bank loan so that the contractor can proceed.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Would have been nice to have Malcolm X, .... M. L. King, or Robert or Jack Kennedy to give a speech, but unfortunately all of these radicals have passed away of natural causes. 

Don't let a little thing like death hold you back here.

Michael Jackson and Tupac both hit the stage within the last few years.  Hell, you could actually make it quite the event with with a holographic 'Dead Lecture' Circuit.

[Captain Zissou]

^ Sounds like it will be an amazing space both inside and out.

[ronchamblin]

Hello Hello MJ friend persons.

The project is moving along.  We have eight or nine clawfoot cast iron tubs in the way ... all have been move to the lower floor.  I am selling them for varying prices, depending on condition, and how wealthy you are ... from $150 to $300.  Anyone interested can phone me at 477-9416 to set up a review of them.  We can help move to your vehicle.

[Tacachale]

Hello Hello MJ friend persons.

The project is moving along.  We have eight or nine clawfoot cast iron tubs in the way ... all have been move to the lower floor.  I am selling them for varying prices, depending on condition, and how wealthy you are ... from $150 to $300.  Anyone interested can phone me at 477-9416 to set up a review of them.  We can help move to your vehicle.

[RattlerGator]

Hmmmm . . .

The courtyard will have a stage at the south end, and tables for fifty ...with canopies and umbrellas. The courtyard can be used for music, poetry readings, college lectures, author signings, parties etc.

We may have to figure out a way to bring some of the creative kids from Florida A&M over for an interesting soirée.

[BridgeTroll]

Hello Hello MJ friend persons.

The project is moving along.  We have eight or nine clawfoot cast iron tubs in the way ... all have been move to the lower floor.  I am selling them for varying prices, depending on condition, and how wealthy you are ... from $150 to $300.  Anyone interested can phone me at 477-9416 to set up a review of them.  We can help move to your vehicle.