Sunrise to Sunset: The Homestead Construction Update

Sunrise to Sunset- The Homestead Update

‍The Homestead construction update provided by resident and Springwell’s official historian Frank Simmonds.

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Let’s take another look at Homestead Section A as seen from Springwell. It was constructed on a hillside, the front of the building is at the bottom of the hill facing away from Springwell, the back faces Springwell. In order to lay a level foundation, part of the hillside was excavated a depth of 12 feet. Masons used this space when working on the foundation and walls. They built a long first floor wall with no windows in back, for a loading dock, storage, maintenance equipment, electrical equipment, etc., areas that don’t need windows. Apartments will be in the front of Section A.

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The bare block wall was waterproofed because dirt would be packed against it. A black waterproof covering was pasted to the wall, a 2 inch thick layer of white Styrofoam was glued on top of that, followed by another black waterproof covering. The Styrofoam is porous and traps moisture which drains to the bottom and out, keeping the interior of the wall dry. When waterproofing was done, masons no longer needed space to work on the wall, dirt was trucked in and dumped against it. The soil level was raised 12 feet to below door sills, giving second floor resident’s patios and the feeling of a yard.

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The roof structure of Section A was completed, shingles attached, windows and doors installed giving the building a home-like appearance. There are single windows and side-by-side single windows; no big single pane windows that would be difficult for Senior Citizens to open and close. Patios will be poured for these second floor residents while third and fourth floors will have balconies.

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The construction of Section B is progressing quickly, that is where the front door, offices, lounge, dining room, exercise room, aerobics room, library and apartments will be. Parts of Section B and C have window-less walls and will be waterproofed the same as Section A. Section B will have two distinct areas, the Courtyard and the Patio. They will be constructed close to the Springwell building and will keep us watching and wondering as they are being built.

Photos courtesy of Ernie Imhoff.