Although progress is continuing inside the building, this week we’ll once again focus on the exterior work taking place. Winter will be here soon enough, shifting the focus to the interior work. In the meantime, the green alley, fence posts and elevator tower were the targets of intense work this week.
The alley has been designed to be a bit different from the green alley at the Green Garage, as its purpose will be primarily for drivers. The alley will be the exit point for residents and guests of the El Moore, so it will receive regular traffic. Because of this, the center of the alley will be cement behind the building and exposed aggregate from the easternmost point of the building to Second Avenue. Bordering these sections of cement will be cobblestone, providing a border for cars to follow. The alley will be sloped towards the edges, where there will be permeable lattice pavers with gravel underpinnings. Beyond that will be garden beds with Michigan native plants. Just like the alley at the Green Garage, 100% of the water falling on the alley will return to the water table.
Surrounding the entire property (the El Moore and adjacent garden) will be a beautiful wrought iron fence that was reclaimed from the Machpelah Cemetery in Ferndale along Woodward. One day when Tom was on the bus heading downtown, he saw that the fence was being removed and made an inquiry about purchasing it. They were happy to sell it to us, and we have since sent it to Disenos Ornamental Iron to be repaired and painted (the same black we have on our windows).
Before the fence can be installed, we need to set up the posts that will line the property and support the fence. The posts are made of stone curbs that were removed from Prentis Street (just a block north of the Green Garage), and they happen to be made from red sandstone, the same stone that fronts the El Moore. These posts began to go in this week.
Our photos this week also show more work on the entrance to the elevator tower. Right now all you can see is the wood, but keep in mind that all of this wood will be covered with the same siding that was used on the rooftop cabins. This same siding will also complete a section of the tower, providing continuity with the El Moore.
Take a look at this week’s photos.
