I live on Atlantic Blvd and last year we began to get notices that the city would be putting in sidewalks on our side of the road. We were not happy about it. I liked having no foot traffic and hated the idea of ongoing construction disrupting our peaceable kingdom, particularly after the deck fiasco last year. Last year we really got taken by a total charlatan. He dug post holes for our deck as required by code enforcement, passed the post hole inspection and then proceeded to pour cement in them without attaching any anchors. The result was that we flunked final inspection and were ordered to dismantle the whole mess and we ended up redoing the entire monstrosity. After this disaster, the city kept us in their sights when we put up a fence. By this time we had thicker skins, jaundiced eyes and double checked credentials before hiring anyone. Eventually we found a great contractor who did the job well and also repaired/rebuilt the deck. But he did not come cheaply.
So you’ll forgive me if I was not too keen on the idea of workers swarming the road and thought they would be on the never-never plan for completing the sidewalks.
I asked the workers and foreman if I could shoot a few pictures while the work was being done and they were happy to comply.
I began by taking a few pictures of the work begun at the Atlantis Guest House down the street. This corner was done on the fly because the plans were so inaccurate that the foreman had to deal with the embarrassment of looking ill-prepared in the face of an irate property owner who was opposed to the work in the first place. I have to say that it turned out incredibly well. The Atlantis owners have the most gorgeously landscaped property on the block and the sidewalks were designed for more lush plantings. I’m jealous! Who knew concrete could be so attractive? If you can’t tell by these pictures, the sidewalk has a gentle curve and a perfect grade. In fact, the work was so well done that even the owners had to admit that the work has upgraded the property granting their guests new and easier access to their guest house.
I bet this guy has been doing this forever.
Here’s how they began – by measuring from the middle of the road and then tamping down the earth to get a even surface to work with.
Then they put in all this crap!
Then this . . .
Here’s Jose – another pro.
Then the big boys move on it. Pretty exciting!
Of course, I was dying to put my mark on things, especially when I saw this. Look at that nice pattern – a perfect backdrop for the Bunny Island logo and handprint!
But alas, it was not to be. These guys know what they’re doing. They pour cement in the morning and by the time they leave, it’s dry!
Anyhow, they have been here almost two weeks and this block is just about done. They have been polite, forthcoming and open. I can’t say I will miss them when they go, but I am completely impressed by their obvious pride in work, their willingness to go out of their way to save plants (mine) and their eagerness to be considerate.
They were even generous enough to pose for this picture.
Front left is Leo the Superintendent and the third from right is German, the Traffic Foreman. I am not exactly sure who is who in the picture but the rest of the team is comprised of Jose, Jesus, Juan, Alex, Bobby, Henry, Adam & Mario.
Thanks guys, you made it look so easy!
