(CAMERON)
A tedious effort by A-1 Demolition brought the 110 year old Green building
to a pile of rubble this week, without incident to adjacent
businesses. The Green Building has become a top story of 2001 for
the city of Cameron. The Roof collapsed in February, prompting city
officials to baracade streets around the building for safety reasons, and
ordered the owner, Bridget Barfield to either stabilize the structure or
have the building demolished. After a proposed sale of the building
fell through, and a plea to Cameron area residents for funds to restore
the building raised only $400, Ms. Barfield deeded the property to the
city. City officials were in the process of seeking demolition bids
when Cameron native and owner of the Houston Astros, Drayton Mclane Jr.
stepped to the plate. McLane said he and his family wanted to fund
the reconstruction of the building to it's 1891 charisma and donate it to
the city to be used as City Hall. The facade was removed last week,
and will be restored and re-installed after the new building is
constructed.
The City is
responsible for the demolition of the building, and has contracted
with A-1 Demolition to do the job for $51,000. EBCO is the
general contractor in the reconstruction project.
Cameron
Mayor James Lafferty and City Administrator Janet Sheguit look on
as building is demolished.
A-1 Demolition
crews study the structure during demolition Monday. Workers
were tasked with bringing the building down without damaging
adjacent buildings.
Most of the demolition took place Monday, as crews
started in the rear, and worked their way forward. The final
walls were taken down Tuesday.
The new
building will keep the face of the circa-1891 structure,
however new construction will include all the modern conveniences
including a 3 stop elevator.
John Egger of
EBCO said the design process should take around 3 months, and
construction another 4-5 months. City officials hope to move
into their new building by the end of the year.
(Above) Cameron Barber
Shop and Perkins & Bailey Tax Office, sharing a common wall
with the Green Building, vacated while the demolition took place
Monday and Tuesday.
The final walls were taken down
Tuesday morning, another job well done by A-1 Demolition.
(CAMERON)
A tedious effort by A-1 Demolition brought the 110 year old Green building
to a pile of rubble this week, without incident to adjacent
businesses. The Green Building has become a top story of 2001 for
the city of Cameron. The Roof collapsed in February, prompting city
officials to baracade streets around the building for safety reasons, and
ordered the owner, Bridget Barfield to either stabilize the structure or
have the building demolished. After a proposed sale of the building
fell through, and a plea to Cameron area residents for funds to restore
the building raised only $400, Ms. Barfield deeded the property to the
city. City officials were in the process of seeking demolition bids
when Cameron native and owner of the Houston Astros, Drayton Mclane Jr.
stepped to the plate. McLane said he and his family wanted to fund
the reconstruction of the building to it's 1891 charisma and donate it to
the city to be used as City Hall. The facade was removed last week,
and will be restored and re-installed after the new building is
constructed. 
Most of the demolition took place Monday, as crews
started in the rear, and worked their way forward. The final
walls were taken down Tuesday.
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