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The "Oldest Man" demolition continues at 4733 Bethesda Avenue, where the recent arrival of hydraulic robots has been able to increase the speed from snail to turtle. Some of the floors have been demolished, and you can see barricades on the next-to-top floor, along with the familiar veil over part of the building. Why do a controlled implosion in seconds, when you can take the scenic route, right? This building will be replaced by The JBG Companies' 4747 Bethesda Avenue office project.
Dyer, I didn't realize you're a structural engineer with a full knowledge of controlled implosions and building demolition. Stick to opining on things you know... Westbard, crosswalks, and frozen food dinners.
It might "look cool", but imploding a steel frame building isn't simple and disturb the most heavily-trafficked district in downtown Bethesda. I'm sure JBG/lendlease/Berg know what they're doing.
In addition, there's no guarantee that JBG pivots straight to construction after demolition. As of now that's the plane, but word is they're still looking for an anchor before breaking ground.
I'd rather the building come down slowly than sit vacant for months prior to construction.
Elm is right, Dyer is right in questioning this. Why do they have to waste tax payer money on a robot when the demolition could be more efficient and that money could go else where.
@6:15 Why do you think Dyer should only stick to those matters. I for one think Robert has been the only reporter uncovering the dirty work and inefficiencies in the council? Are you an unpaid intern with nothing better to do?
7:55: So we're just better than the other cities where they do have implosions? Why go to the trouble and expense of implosion, if you can dismantle it by hand for 8 months, right? I doubt the residents across the street find 8 months of noise "entertaining."
@8:00am Lendlease is a $15 billion/year international corporation and JBG Smith is the largest, most reputable developer in the DC area with a long history of delivering excellent products at healthy returns. But just as with everyone else who you disagree with (which is absolutely everyone who is not a Trumpbot or Westbard NIMBY) you insult them and insist you know better.
As others have pointed out, there is a very good reason for demolishing the building using their current method. This isn't the third world. You can't just move everyone out, throw dynamite in the building, set it off, and call it a day.
"Robert has been the only reporter uncovering the dirty work and inefficiencies in the council"
Looks like Dyer's brainwashed toadie (or most likely Dyer himself) is earning his coin today.
Can't wait until he defends Dyer's eventual claims that the moon landing was really faked as part of a nefarious scheme led by the evil Reichsleiter Herr Hans Riemer and the kounty kouncil in concert with: Bethesda Mag journalists, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, "the interns," scientists, and all the developers Robert doesn't like.
Dyer, even Rain-man and Forrest Gump could figure out why a controlled implosion is not suitable for this site. Your argument, which doesn't hold dust, let alone water, presumes that the rapid demo process, though more efficient, is appropriate for this location. If your bird-brain will allow, just view the location of many of these implosions and you will notice that there is a setback of several hundred feet from any surrounding structures. This is for safely and damage control. It is also obvious that the cast-off plume of debris and dust must be accomodated, and cleaned-up after the process. In many urban sites this is a costly and hazardous issue, especially with NEPA considerations. So NO, this is NOT a suitable location for your to play with your DYNOMITE! STAY IN YOUR LANE ROBBIE. Try raising your ERECTOR SET elswhere.
Can you provide an example of a controlled implosion occurring on a building that is physically attached to a neighboring building that is occupied and has shared underground space? I working 7200 Wisconsin and if 4733 was imploded our shared mailroom and storage area would be buried in rubble.
JBG knows what they are doing, if implosion was a possibility I'm sure it was explored and quickly discounted as impossible given the circumstances.
A big thank you to whoever posted back on the other demolition article about steel-framed buildings and implosions. I hadn't known that, so I went and read up. Most interesting and informative and something I would never have thought to learn on my own. So thank you.
Do you not see that the building is basically attached to another building, you just showed a video of a free standing building. I live next door from this construction and I'm more rational about this than you.
According to JBG, the new building will be LEED Gold Certified, which likely requires careful harvesting of recyclable construction waste. Even if a controlled implosion was possible is such tight quarters, the pile of debris would be a mess to sort and recycle. If you watch the demo process, they are carefully sorting steel and concrete as it comes down.
I appreciate Roberts reportage, but sometimes he seems to think he knows more that most experts in their field.
My biggest curiosity on this caper is why they choose to tear down a perfectly useable 8 story high steel frame, only to put back a larger (but similar) building mass. It would seem that additions and reinforcement to the frame could have allowed a somewhat larger building at a much more cost effective method. Perhaps not 14 stories, but it still seems wasteful to tear down (and recycle) so much of a usable building.
Of course it was ugly as sin, but that could have been fixed with a thoughtful reskin.
Incredible property values in this area. I read the Regal/Apex Building was purchased by Carr for $105,000,000.00. That's a ton of money, and they as well will need to spend a handsome sum of money just the demo before the get to a clean site, not to mention the hassle of building a tube for the Purple Line. The power of Metro adjacency and the character of Bethesda Row is quite amazing. Hard to believe a rehab would not make more sense, and buy a nearby parking lot or low density site to place a tower.
Another issue is that this building may be too short or small for implosion to be effective. You need a certain critical mass for the building to properly collapse into itself.
Instead of arguing about this, Dyer should just be the journalist he claims to be and ask the source or a professional expert and let us know what they say. What we (Dyer, shills, trolls, readers, etc.) think is not really relevant not being experts or being in the know.
Ageist.
ReplyDeleteDyer, I didn't realize you're a structural engineer with a full knowledge of controlled implosions and building demolition. Stick to opining on things you know... Westbard, crosswalks, and frozen food dinners.
ReplyDeleteIt might "look cool", but imploding a steel frame building isn't simple and disturb the most heavily-trafficked district in downtown Bethesda. I'm sure JBG/lendlease/Berg know what they're doing.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, there's no guarantee that JBG pivots straight to construction after demolition. As of now that's the plane, but word is they're still looking for an anchor before breaking ground.
I'd rather the building come down slowly than sit vacant for months prior to construction.
Dyer is not stupid, he understands the council is not choosing the most efficient way to handle this.
ReplyDeleteElm is right, Dyer is right in questioning this. Why do they have to waste tax payer money on a robot when the demolition could be more efficient and that money could go else where.
ReplyDelete@6:15 Why do you think Dyer should only stick to those matters. I for one think Robert has been the only reporter uncovering the dirty work and inefficiencies in the council? Are you an unpaid intern with nothing better to do?
ReplyDelete@6:15 AM, Why don't you just stick to that slightly failing magazine of yours. Robert has done a great job with covering the issues that matter.
ReplyDeleteThe Dyer is correct. Building could be dropped on a dime.
ReplyDelete@6:41, 6:44, 6:45
ReplyDeleteoh hi robert
7:03 you forgot 6:40 and 6:52.
ReplyDelete"the council is not choosing the most efficient way to handle this."
ReplyDeleteThis has to be parody. "The Council" is not responsible for choosing the method by which a private building will be demolished.
Dyer you are off your rocker more and more each day.
ReplyDelete7:07: Every comment I post is signed by me.
ReplyDelete7:28: How so, nutjob? You posting crazy comments just makes you look crazy, that's all.
Robert always signs his comments.
ReplyDeleteAll of downtown Bethesda would be covered in dust if they imploded it. Sorry if it's not entertaining enough to you.
ReplyDelete7:55: So we're just better than the other cities where they do have implosions? Why go to the trouble and expense of implosion, if you can dismantle it by hand for 8 months, right? I doubt the residents across the street find 8 months of noise "entertaining."
ReplyDeleteRobert is right. I agree.
ReplyDelete@8:00am
ReplyDeleteLendlease is a $15 billion/year international corporation and JBG Smith is the largest, most reputable developer in the DC area with a long history of delivering excellent products at healthy returns. But just as with everyone else who you disagree with (which is absolutely everyone who is not a Trumpbot or Westbard NIMBY) you insult them and insist you know better.
As others have pointed out, there is a very good reason for demolishing the building using their current method. This isn't the third world. You can't just move everyone out, throw dynamite in the building, set it off, and call it a day.
Dyer's troll is now posting as me and others in this site's community.
ReplyDeleteThe troll may want to dial down his hate a bit, particularly today.
8:12: Are Chicago, Detroit, and Tulsa "third world" cities? They have controlled implosions, among many, many others.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of third world, didn't you just say recently some paved roads in the county were like third world roads?
Delete6:40/6:41/6:44/6:52
ReplyDelete"Robert has been the only reporter uncovering the dirty work and inefficiencies in the council"
Looks like Dyer's brainwashed toadie (or most likely Dyer himself) is earning his coin today.
Can't wait until he defends Dyer's eventual claims that the moon landing was really faked as part of a nefarious scheme led by the evil Reichsleiter Herr Hans Riemer and the kounty kouncil in concert with: Bethesda Mag journalists, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, "the interns," scientists, and all the developers Robert doesn't like.
So a shill account is now claiming shill accounts are actually troll accounts? This blog is confusing.
ReplyDelete@8:16
ReplyDeletePlease give me an example of a single controlled implosion of a structural steel building in a central CBD location and busy pedestrian area.
@8:22
ReplyDelete9/11
if you believe the conspiracy theories which i do
Dyer, even Rain-man and Forrest Gump could figure out why a controlled implosion is not suitable for this site. Your argument, which doesn't hold dust, let alone water, presumes that the rapid demo process, though more efficient, is appropriate for this location. If your bird-brain will allow, just view the location of many of these implosions and you will notice that there is a setback of several hundred feet from any surrounding structures. This is for safely and damage control. It is also obvious that the cast-off plume of debris and dust must be accomodated, and cleaned-up after the process. In many urban sites this is a costly and hazardous issue, especially with NEPA considerations. So NO, this is NOT a suitable location for your to play with your DYNOMITE! STAY IN YOUR LANE ROBBIE. Try raising your ERECTOR SET elswhere.
ReplyDeleteCan you provide an example of a controlled implosion occurring on a building that is physically attached to a neighboring building that is occupied and has shared underground space? I working 7200 Wisconsin and if 4733 was imploded our shared mailroom and storage area would be buried in rubble.
ReplyDeleteJBG knows what they are doing, if implosion was a possibility I'm sure it was explored and quickly discounted as impossible given the circumstances.
Robert raises my erector set
ReplyDeleteDyer is right, a controlled implosion would be simple and cost effective. #LockThemUp
ReplyDeleteA big thank you to whoever posted back on the other demolition article about steel-framed buildings and implosions. I hadn't known that, so I went and read up. Most interesting and informative and something I would never have thought to learn on my own. So thank you.
ReplyDeleteAlthough. it's more fun when buildings go boom.
STFU, Robert. You're out of your element.
ReplyDeleteDo you not see that the building is basically attached to another building, you just showed a video of a free standing building. I live next door from this construction and I'm more rational about this than you.
ReplyDeleteThe council needs to look into better alternatives. #ThrowThemOut
ReplyDeleteAlternatives for what again?
DeleteAccording to JBG, the new building will be LEED Gold Certified, which likely requires careful harvesting of recyclable construction waste. Even if a controlled implosion was possible is such tight quarters, the pile of debris would be a mess to sort and recycle. If you watch the demo process, they are carefully sorting steel and concrete as it comes down.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate Roberts reportage, but sometimes he seems to think he knows more that most experts in their field.
My biggest curiosity on this caper is why they choose to tear down a perfectly useable 8 story high steel frame, only to put back a larger (but similar) building mass. It would seem that additions and reinforcement to the frame could have allowed a somewhat larger building at a much more cost effective method. Perhaps not 14 stories, but it still seems wasteful to tear down (and recycle) so much of a usable building.
Of course it was ugly as sin, but that could have been fixed with a thoughtful reskin.
Incredible property values in this area. I read the Regal/Apex Building was purchased by Carr for $105,000,000.00. That's a ton of money, and they as well will need to spend a handsome sum of money just the demo before the get to a clean site, not to mention the hassle of building a tube for the Purple Line. The power of Metro adjacency and the character of Bethesda Row is quite amazing. Hard to believe a rehab would not make more sense, and buy a nearby parking lot or low density site to place a tower.
Another issue is that this building may be too short or small for implosion to be effective. You need a certain critical mass for the building to properly collapse into itself.
ReplyDeleteInstead of arguing about this, Dyer should just be the journalist he claims to be and ask the source or a professional expert and let us know what they say. What we (Dyer, shills, trolls, readers, etc.) think is not really relevant not being experts or being in the know.
ReplyDelete12:44 PM, yes, our opinions are important.
ReplyDeleteHello Roald. How is our opinion on how JBG taking apart their own building important?
DeleteRobert Dyer frequently claims to be victimized by trolls. Yet his interactions with his readers matches all of these hallmarks of trolling:
ReplyDelete• "Gish Galloping" or creating straw men instead of responding to the points a reader makes
• Insisting he knows what a reader really means instead of taking responses at face value
• Posing an endless series of questions to create more grist for trolling
• A seeming inability to acknowledge that other people may have different, valid opinions
• Attempts to score points with a perceived audience rather than engage in direct dialogue
• Taking a reader's statements out of context by twisting single words and short phrases
• Failing to cite sources or citing sources that don’t back up claims
• Focusing on criticism and complaints to the exclusion of solutions
• Quickly devolving into ad hominem arguments.
12:59pm = Argle Bargle
ReplyDeleteLooks like there was a much faster demolition at BCC HS today!
ReplyDeleteWhat 12:44 said for Robert. Instead of complaining and wildly making conjecture about the process, why not ask the developer?
ReplyDeleteDoesn't look like they're demoing the building it is attached too. Might have something to do with it.
ReplyDeleteThat would be my guess as well.
Delete