In which we have some concrete walls!

A beautiful day reveals beautiful cement walls that have to cure for at least 10 days without the building weight on them.  So, we have walls now, or at least partial walls.  There is a story here, so bear with me.  The jacking firm didn't want to risk any damage by raising this big old heavy building any more than they had to do.  So, the foundation building firm said that was fine, but they couldn't fully pour the walls and would instead, have to hire a mason to come in and finish the walls with cement block.  Unfortunately, the jacking firm had one of their I-beams in the way of the wall at the back of the building, so that also has to be built up with concrete block.  I dunno how they are going to get the I-Beam out of the way there, but after all, tomorrow is another day.

 Unfortunately, the jacking firm had one of their I-beams in the way of the wall at the back of the building, so that also has to be built up with concrete block.  I dunno how they are going to get the I-Beam out of the way there, but after all, tomorrow is another day.

I love this photo of Greg standing in the soon-to-be-doorway of the lower level retail space.  For those of you who have been trespassing when no one is around and crawling around under the building (you know who you are, and so do we) This is the side of the basement that will have wooden walls, windows, and a door for the newly minted retail space.  

Look at how beautiful the footings are!  And for those of you, my dear readers, who think "I can't believe he just wrote about beautiful footings, whooda thought?" You are right!

And just so you understand the method of our madness, the rear of the building was raised first so that new foundation walls would be able to support the building perfectly before the front of the building gets raised.  These walls you see below are next.