The Burlingame Voice

Safeway Part 63 - See Through Building

This image didn't come to mind when I heard that the old Wells Fargo building would be saved/reused during the Planning Commission and Council sessions.  Some of the architects in town are scratching their heads as well since the building was an attractive modern architecture example.  But let's hope it ends well!

 
The work on the water main on Primrose seems to be progressing well.  According to the parking signs, it should be finished this Friday.

Safeway Part 62 - WebCam is Up

Here is the link to the webcam that oversees the Safeway construction site.  Check out the time lapse button at the top middel of the page also

http://oxblue.com/pro/open/safeway/1547burlingame

The office building foundation is being poured, but it is off-camera right behind the pile of gravel.

Safeway - Part 61 Web Cam

Safeway is planning to install a web camera overlooking the sight so we can all watch the progress on the new store.  So far it's been really interesting watching them grind the old buildings into tiny bits and haul them away.  I have this vision of bits of the produce section coming back as a new road surface in six months.  We'll post the link to the webcam as soon as it's available.  In the meantime, here's the grinder at work.

 

Wells Far-gone

The Claw was up early today and so was the Voice.  Here is a photo of the Claw chewing on the backside of the old Wells Fargo building at 6:15 am.  As I recall, the street side of the building will remain and be reconfigured into smaller spaces with Chipotle taking one of them.

 

Walgreens Requiem

Here's another cool picture.  The most common thing I am hearing from people is "I didn't realize how big the Safeway/Walgreens parcel was until the green construction fencing went up around it."  Followed by something like "I'm glad the City got this right even if it did take a long time."

 
 

Safeway Part 60 - Just a Very Cool Photo

 

Bye Wally

According to the Chamber of Commerce newsletter, the old Walgreen's store demolition is due to start on October 19th.  If they can demo a typical house and cart away the debris in two days, I'm guessing the Walgreens will take six days.  What's your over and under?  I'll be traveling so would one of you bloggers please get a photo?

 

Safeway Part 59 - Lock the Doors, Fire up the Bulldozer

I made it a point to be in Safeway at 5pm tonight and heard the announcement, "the store is now closed, please bring your purchases to the check-out".  Regular readers of this blog know that it doesn't take much to make me nostalgic about an older B'game building that is about to be torn down.  THAT WAS NOT A PROBLEM THIS AFTERNOON.  I've probably shopped in Safeway twice a week for the last 20 years and all I can say is "good riddance".  I'm ready for the new store.

Here's hoping a long B'game tradition will improve---how could it not???

 

Safeway Part 58 - The Final Month

The long saga of our old Safeway and Walgreen's stores is about to end. The schedule below was described in an e-mail from someone on the Safeway Working Group:

Until the construction bid is awarded, there is still a chance some of these dates could be adjusted.  The culvert bypass referred below is part of the city plans.  It will branch off of the existing culvert that runs under the Safeway project. 

 

September 18th - store closes; commence abatement as well as commence work on the box culvert bypass

 

September 30th - Safeway expects to award the construction contract

 

October 19th - start of demolition of all the buildings (except the old Wells Fargo Building which is being remodeled)

 

August 2011 -  Planned opening of the new Safeway

 

April - Expected completion of the shops

 

I wonder if I can get dibs on the buzzer at the seafood counter?

Safeway Part 57 Construction

With demolition scheduled to start in June, it seems the construction trades will be stepping up their picketing of Safeway.  Last month's protest was on the corner and now there are five guys in front of the entrance.  I hear the plans call for the exterior of the building to be complete by Thanksgiving.  We'll see.