So there I am, in my office, when suddenly I hear this godawful loud “BANG!” and the entire building shakes. It feels like the building’s been hit by a lightning bolt or a bomb’s gone off or something. I stick my head out the door, look around, don’t see anything, and go back to work.
Ten minutes later, i hear noise outside, I stick my head out the door again, and see this:
Now, the building has had termite problems for about five years or so. The owner knows this, but hasn’t done anything about it because he’s been trying to sell the building for that entire length of time. In fact, he has a potential buyer coming in next week to look at it.
Well, the termites have had their way to the point where the building’s structural integrity has been compromised. The “BANG!” was one corner of the upper floor collapsing:
The building is zoned for mixed use–the bottom floors are office space, the upper floors are apartments. The rescue workers were afraid that someone might still be in the top-floor apartments, and that the entire top floor might collapse. They brought in a “heavy rescue vehicle,” whatever that is:
and the hook and ladder:
They eventually decided that nobody was home, and got bored and went away.
It’s really hard for me to fathom a hook and ladder truck being sent to a two-story building that isn’t on fire.
Well, three-story, technically, but…yeah. The police (two cars showed up after I took these pictures) and fire department definitely over-responded. Not enough excitement elsewhere, I guess.
It’s really hard for me to fathom a hook and ladder truck being sent to a two-story building that isn’t on fire.
Well, now. That is sure to impress a potential buyer. Be happy it isn’t your building. The owner must be either a moron or an asshole.
I’m guessing a buyer would demolish and rebuild.
I’m guessing the buyer will opt not to buy, and that the current owner has screwed himself. Mmmmm… karma…
A bit of both, I think.
At this point, the real estate isn’t worth any more than the land it’s on–the building would probably have to be bulldozed, as rebuilding it doesn’t seem cost-effective. Serves him right, too–he’s known about the termites for years.
Well, now. That is sure to impress a potential buyer. Be happy it isn’t your building. The owner must be either a moron or an asshole.
I’m guessing a buyer would demolish and rebuild.
I’m officially declaring Insect Swarm Control Experiment # 3 a partial success. Now if I can just aim the little buggers a bit better then the world will be a safer place. 😉
I wondered about the little Bluetooth modules on those bugs. Well, no matter–I’m declaring my High-Energy Bluetooth Jamming test a complete success. 🙂
I’m officially declaring Insect Swarm Control Experiment # 3 a partial success. Now if I can just aim the little buggers a bit better then the world will be a safer place. 😉
I’m guessing the buyer will opt not to buy, and that the current owner has screwed himself. Mmmmm… karma…
Well, three-story, technically, but…yeah. The police (two cars showed up after I took these pictures) and fire department definitely over-responded. Not enough excitement elsewhere, I guess.
A bit of both, I think.
At this point, the real estate isn’t worth any more than the land it’s on–the building would probably have to be bulldozed, as rebuilding it doesn’t seem cost-effective. Serves him right, too–he’s known about the termites for years.
I wondered about the little Bluetooth modules on those bugs. Well, no matter–I’m declaring my High-Energy Bluetooth Jamming test a complete success. 🙂