Fun with permits

Need gravel delivered Wednesday for the basement. I called to get No Parking signs put up. But I need a permit for the gravel truck BEFORE I can get the No Parking signs. So I called the traffic department. The gentleman said he would fax over an application. The fax came through -- blank. If it's not a torrential rainstorm, it's bureaucracy and technology.

Inspector

Swung by today. So far so good for my place. He'll report violations for the place next door (we've almost drained their basement through attrition), and he'll contact the apartment building behind me, so they can reroute their downspout, which is currently dumping all the building's water onto my back area (which is dragging away the dirt in my house, and not in a good way).

A million details...

First the neighbors now the weather

The basement is dug up, awaiting the installation of the drainage system and plumbing lines. Only it won't stop raining. Too much rain and it floods. Constant rain and it never gets the chance to dry out, and the ground needs to be somewhat dry for the work to progress. If the ground is dry enough, it will take at least a week before the ground can be closed up. But the rain will be coming and going for the next couple of weeks.

Bones

Stopped by this morning and they were digging out the bottom level. One of the guys said that they found bones in Hoboken one time. I said if they find any bones at my place just bury them again. No CSI delays, please.

Lots of Progress

Top floor addition. It's been pushed out six feet.

Bottom level out back, will be raised a couple
of feet and become the kitchen with patio doors.

Old fireplace, apparently. Will NOT be restored.

The second floor addition is framed out, as is the entire second floor itself. The floor joists had to be replaced entirely because the floor itself was so uneven.

The back part of the main floor is cut away now as well. the next step - digging out the front part of the bottom level to add another foot to the room height (increasing it to a whopping seven feet). Also, the french drain will be laid, and the sewer pipes, etc.

I'm on dumpster number four now. One 40 yd and two 20 yarders for the debris, and a 10 yarder for the dirt and concrete.

The horizontal beams on either side of the chimney are
where the old floor joists lined up. Check out the differential.

Ladder to be replaced by stairway.

View from the front main floor.