Newsletters: January - February 2008
And We're Off
Natural Times-January/February 2008
By Cristin Burns, Project Manager
Our permit is in hand and we're off. It took a little longer than we had hoped to get to this point, however the time has not been wasted. Our project is engineering heavy, and both our engineers and architects have taken every opportunity to clarify the details of the renovation before construction begins and changes become much more problematic.
Internally we are doing everything in our power to understand the complexities of phased construction and the challenges our customers and employees will face.
Mad Dog Design and Construction began demolition in early December. The walls, ceiling tiles, duct work and flooring in the new space have been torn out. Before we can do much of anything else we will tackle our electrical panels. We're reusing as much of our existing electrical system as possible. Unfortunately, the expansion requires a major electrical upgrade. The electrical piece alone is projected to cost over $300,000. Once the electrical is in place we can begin renovating the new space and eventually installing equipment. Once Phase One is complete, the new stock room will be operational and deliveries will be brought to the back of the store. We are very excited to reduce traffic on the side service road.
Construction costs came in at $1.5 million, almost half a million more than expected. The mechanical portion, which includes plumbing, HVAC, sprinklers and refrigeration, is another $450,000. As projected costs became actual costs we have been forced to make some tough choices. The floral department planned for the entrance will not come to fruition. Likewise, a dedicated cooler for chilled bulk will have to wait and the wellness service counter has been removed to allow for more shelving. What you won't see, especially if we do are job right, are the thousand of little decisions that have been made to minimize costs. If we have a stronger opening than expected, and we find ourselves in a cash-rich situation, we will consider adding all of the elements that have been cut out of the plan.
The number one question we've been asked is, "When will the renovation be complete?" As it stands now, construction is scheduled to be finished by May 1, 2008. The second most popular question has been about the incense smell in the new space. As we gut the space the incense smell is dissipating. We're confident that the incense will not be an issue once the renovation is complete.
I have not been utilizing our website www.newleafmarket.coop as much as I had planned. However, now that the construction has begun, I feel confident that I will be able to post periodic progress reports and photos of the changes as they unfold. Please stay tuned.
