Thursday, October 21, 2010

Whoops! More Buffoonery at Capitol Hill Oasis

GetInline
Reader Jaime H. sends in this shot of a capsized construction vehicle, and explains that "The diggers-in-training dug themselves onto a little island-o-dirt that, turns out, couldn't support the digger." Really, Capitol Hill Oasis? Really? I can't even believably feign shock at this point.

And what is that sidewalk looking thing they've dug under? Are those pervious pavers?

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow that doesn't look safe whatsoever, way to screw up a perfectly good lot, the fiasco continues

curmudgeon said...

Is it just something weird with the photo, or do the buildings that are part of the "Oasis" look crooked/misaligned with respect to each other?

curmudgeon said...

P.S. check title spelling.

Kenny G said...

My condolences to G. B. Herndon & Associates.

not on parker said...

I think it's time to engage DCRA.

le poo des poos! said...

hey, carmudgeon, i was thinking the exact same thing. it's not the angle of the photo. methinks the bldgs are off kilter...

Award said...

That's what happens when you hire Barney Gumble construction company.

Unknown said...

DCRA conducted an inspection a few weeks ago. Still waiting for the results....

Anonymous said...

I can't tell if it is a perspective thing, because the top of some of the buildings is cut off.

However, if anybody could screw this up, it would be the builders in training.

Where is the money to finish them coming from? What is the business plan?

Tom A. said...

Actually it woudl be a really cool building if it were as "curvey" as this photo makes it appear!
Unfortunately, it is a hot boring mess.

Rayful Edmond said...

Reminds me of the Dancing House in Prague.

Anonymous said...

Are they digging under the houses? yikes!

wildman steve said...

is there any way to bribe suicide bombers to strike a specific target? if so, let me put in 20 for someone to bomb those atrocious houses.

Develo said...

My backyard looks right into this alley. Needless to say we spent a couple hours last night watching the recovery effort (which they rapped up around 10 PM). There were about 10 of us out there watching and taking pictures of the whole fiasco...it was certainly more interesting than anything on TV.

JJ Walker said...

I think I know a project that could use some DYN-O-MYTE!!

Anonymous said...

@develo Was the Benny Hill theme song playing in the background?

djbays said...

The townhouses were up for auction a few weeks ago, as reported here on Frozen Tropics. Anyone know what happened, if any of them sold?

Anonymous said...

i think its just the photo. from the front and side theses things look very plumb.

i hope the driver of the machinery is okay.

David Garber said...

where are the ugly police

Ten Foot Pole said...

If I lived next to this lot, I would start asking for the structural engineer's insurance information, then demand that BLRA have the engineer of record install monitoring devices to insure that my building is not losing lateral support during construction. I would attach this picture to put any questions at bay.

It looks to me like the soil gave way, not that they dug under the pavement or lots. The potomac clay that our houses sit gets really weak when its wet, which is probably why it gave way here.

When I had to dig just a few feet down on a project a fraction of the scale of this one, my structural engineer required timber lagging (bracing) with 3x8 horizontal shear keys. It looks like Cap. Hill Oasis has dug about 4 times as deep as I did, and they have no structural support whatsoever anywhere. I would like to know who their structural engineer is so I can avoid him like the plague.

That is a scary situation for everyone, especially the lot's neighbors. Remember, Cap. Hill Oasis is building on the Jimmy's Tire Shack lot now, after their roofers burned that functioning business down.

oboe said...

The DCRA would look into this, but they're too busy investigating private homeowners who are accused of un-permitted fence-repair, unapproved application of non-flammable paint, and moving their kitchen table from one side of the room to the other.

not on parker said...

...accused of un-permitted fence-repair...

Fence repair requires no permit, but you probably already know that.

unapproved application of non-flammable paint

And you probably already know DCFD deals with fire code.

DCRA bashing is old.

Unknown said...

no no, DCRA bashing is NOT old.

oboe said...

@not on parker:

...accused of un-permitted fence-repair...

Fence repair requires no permit, but you probably already know that.


unapproved application of non-flammable paint

And you probably already know DCFD deals with fire code.

DCRA bashing is old.




From http://dcra.dc.gov/DC/DCRA/Permits/Get+Answers+on+Building+Permits
:

What types of work do not require a building permit?


Unless you are in a historic district, the following work does not require a building permit:

Repair of existing fences with like materials
Retaining walls, 18 inches (0.46m) or less in height
Construction of garden storage sheds complying with DC Code Section 105.2.6
Painting, but not painting with fire-retardant paint


Yeah, I agree I was being a bit unfair. You wouldn't need to contact the DCRA so long as you don't change anything about the fence, including the materials, you should be okay.

Oh, and you may want to let DCRA know their website claims you can't apply "fire-retardant" paint without a permit.

The crack about moving your dining room table across the room was completely without merit. Mea culpa.