Restoration takes off at MI Homes


Thursday, December 16, 2010
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Restoration takes off at MI Homes

By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer

Photo by Sue Watson

Construction supervisor Jim McNeese points to an architect’s rendering of the proposed building elevation and building plan. The Wishcamper Companies is the project manager.

There has been no time wasted in getting to the task of restoring old apartments at MI College Homes apartments since the recent ground breaking.

Jim McNeese, construction supervisor with Patton & Taylor Construction of Memphis, discussed the work plan and how it is being approached.

Four buildings of eight apartments each are being stripped of old roofing and gutted inside to the wall studs, he said. The old mansard roofing is off three buildings and new siding and a pitched roof will be added which will change the entire appearance of the apartment buildings. The black-shingled siding on the second level will be replaced with new siding.

The wiring, plumbing, fixtures, flooring - all will be replaced. Workers are also replacing the old sewer lines with new PVC pipes. McNeese said the old sewer lines were in dire need of replacing while the water lines are, for the most part, in good shape.

Any faulty wall studs or water lines found will be replaced, he said.

“When we go back it will be like a new building,” he said, “all new fixtures, all new cabinetry, all new windows.”

He said no unusual or unexpected problems have arisen so far while demolition proceeds.

“It’s pretty much straightforward rehab,” he said.

After the first four buildings are finished, existing tenants from 32 units will move into the new apartments and four more buildings will be tackled, he said.

“Basically, 32 families will move into the first rehabilitated apartment units then we will attack the next series,” he said.

The rehabilitation of all 100 units is expected to take about a year at a cost of about $4.5 million. The apartments were built in 1972.

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