Olympia Festival, April 19th

Come out to the neighborhood and enjoy music, food and fun for the whole family!
April 19th, from 11:00 - 5:00

Store Front

Got a nice view with the fencing down of the store front.


Remember this look?



Zoom in on the below photo to see the bird in the pipe.
He may have to find a new home soon.

The Front is Taking Shape

Several new items of interest are happening at 701.
We have completed the storefront framing. The new framing consists of tube steel welded to plates on grade and the I-beams up top, which are part of our seismic upgrades to the front facade. These make for an incredibly strong framing structure.







And of course, the part that the public will eventually see - the final millwork that wraps the steel and becomes the new "front facade", is ready. After months of review and changes, the final trappings of the new storefront are finally going in. Shenandoah has installed a mock up on the east corner. Dan Elswick with the South Carolina Department of Archives and History will be on site this month to review the mock-up in order for us to proceed with the final millwork details.
All of the bead board on the 2nd floor has been re-installed and the old crown molding which Hood painstakingly saved is being reinstalled on the 2nd floor this week.

Lowery Painting is beginning to paint the bead board and beams on the top west side.
Rough-ins continue on plumbing and electrical and as they complete, drywall is being hung. So far, drywall has been installed on all of the exterior walls of the 2nd floor and on one wall of each of the demising walls in the lofts.
All new HVAC units have been set up on the roof.
The elevator has been delivered and is waiting for final utility hook-up to be installed.
Four of the remaining secondary entrances have been completed and are ready for installation. T
Our new pad for SCANA's transformer is being poured this week so that the utilities can be connected in the next couple of weeks. We are bringing the new utilities for 701 in underground and getting rid of the unsightly power poles and electrical drops to the buildings.
The old Colonial Printing building next door, which we bought last month has been torn down to make way for our site improvements and parking.

Our new site plan - plantings, etc. are nearly complete. We had the final meeting with the city and got the go ahead for Mark Cotterill's design.
Stay tuned for further updates on all of the new advances being made!

New Year/New Progress

Notes From Richard
I can't believe that 2007 is over. 701 has had a busy year - first, from a clean it out so that you can see what you've got perspective and then a design it, build it and they will come perspective.
Everyone involved has worked hard on this unique project this year. Careful consideration has gone into every decision made and I'm proud to be a part of this team.
My stated goal in late May was to be substantially complete with the structure - new steel in place, roof on, windows in and storefront in place. General life safety issues taken care of and the building be ready to show possible tenants - even start working on some tenant build out.



Well, I've always been a bit of an overachiever...

If you were to stop by for a visit, this is what you would currently see...

Loft live/work framing in



Electrical rough-in
Plumbing rough-in
New wall framing downstairs (interior walls)


New exterior wall framing
Gutters and downspouts being installed
Sprinkler piping being installed
Windows on the top east side going in

Interest from possible renters remains strong, however, we are still not quite ready to write leases.

If any of you would like to take a look around, please don't hesitate to call. I'll be glad to give you a personal tour!

Hard Hat Tour

Historic Columbia Foundation
is offering a SPECIAL TOUR of 701 Whaley.
September 20, 2007
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Take a behind-the-scenes look at the restoration process of the building that was once one of the most popular gathering sites in the historic Olympia Mill neighborhood. Historic Columbia Foundation and Garvin Design Group will host a reception immediately following the tour at the Granby Mill Administration Building, located at 339 Heyward Street.

For reservations, please call 803.252.7742, ext. 29 or email reservations@historiccolumbia.org

PROGRESS REPORT FROM RICHARD
THINGS ARE MOVING FAST!


Many parts of the total project are currently underway. They include:
The steel structure for the interior section on the east side is nearly up.




The concrete block in-fill on the front lower facade has been removed.



The old roof on the west side is currently being removed in order to start the new roof membrane.
Windows on the west side are wrapping up and the plywood will come down in a few days.
The upstairs front facade windows have had new lintels installed.

The brick masons have nearly completed the west side repairs. Charlie Thompson and the Guignard family have graciously donated brick harvested from a building built during the same time period. These brick have allowed us to blend the repairs into the current brick facade. They look great!
In the next few weeks, we hope to accomplish several key parts. They include,
Setting roof top curbs for the HVAC units.
Completing the new roof on the west side. Finishing the new roof deck on the east side.
Having the new second floor deck (east side) in place.
New structural framing for the lower front facade windows.
Initial underground plumbing and electrical rough-ins underway.
New windows installed on the upper front facade.
Old in-fill on the east side (windows) removed.
There will be numerous other projects underway this month and as October and cooler weather come our way, we will see significant changes as the building starts to morph towards occupancy.

This is going to be an incredible space. A great view of the church steeple and mill and an enormous window to the east.


As always, if any of you would like to take a look, I am available to be your guide. Feel free to forward this site on to the growing number of fans interested in 701!

Richard

m: (803) 414-9450
f: (803) 254-1456

NOW LEASING

NOW LEASING!
Interest is growing for leasing space at 701.
We've had many inquiries and a lease has already been drawn up for a potential tenant.
Suite sizes range from 300 sq ft - 10,000 sq ft.
These floor plans may change slightly but they are pretty close.
You can click on images for a larger image.


If you're interested in leasing space at 701, please contact:
Richard Burts (803) 414-9450

701 Update
The view from the front spaces will be fabulous!

Steady progress is being made on the 701 Whaley restoration. New massive footers (foundations) have been poured and some of the new steel will be in soon.



Windows for the west wall will begin arriving in August.

The concrete block fill in the front can be removed in August as well.


The stripping of paint on the exterior brick facade, which has long been pink in color, is nearing completion.

What a difference in the look of this extraodinary old Mill building a little time has made!

Columbia Design League Presents

The Columbia Design League and the Columbia Museum of Art Present "701 Whaley".
MAY 11 @ The Columbia Museum of Art
6:00 cocktails
6:30 showing

I've been working on a documentary for the past year, talking to people in the Pacific/Olympia/Granby Mill village area, who shall be referred to as POG Mill Village...How's that? Too long. How bout just POG.
Anyhoo, I've interviewed about 10 or so people thus far, shot over 14 hours of tape, gathered a good bit of materials and am continually researching -particularly 701 Whaley, who shall now be referred to as "701 Whaley". "Gallery 701" was a great name but now it is "701 Whaley" or just "701" if you like.... Say it with me " 7 0 1 Whaley" Again - 7 0 1 Whaley
7 0 1 Whaley
7 0 1 Whaley
7 0 1 Whaley
7 0 1 Whaley
7 0 1 Whaley
It just rolls off the tongue don't ya think?

On May 11th I'll show some clips I've edited and some other things not seen yet.

My plan is to continue to talk with folks and find archival photos/film and then to finish the documentary when the building is renovated and in use - which the hope is 2008ish.