Chronicles update

San Francisco

With groundbreaking slated for summer 2003, developer Forest City Enterprises, Cleveland, is negotiating with contractor Swinerton Inc., San Francisco, for construction services for the 27-month project, which involves renovating the historic Emporium department store into an mixed-use center.

"The first six months will involve demolition work, raising of the dome and shoring of the building façade," says Dan van Leeuwen, project developer with Forest City. "It's a long process because care has to be taken to preserve the historic building."

Swinerton performed preconstruction work for the project, which included asbestos removal of the entire structure.

Tacoma, Wash.

Demolition of 16 existing buildings on the future site of the convention center has commenced. In mid-January, R.W. Rhine, Tacoma, was awarded the $866,000 contract for demolition, hazardous materials abatement and salvage of historic building elements, according to Suzanne Smith, preconstruction services manager with contractor Mortenson, Minneapolis.