Latest news with #OurCity
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Major renovations underway at NOLA's St. Louis Cathedral, how you can help
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — The St. Louis Cathedral has been the city's center of worship for over 280 years, but the current building has stood for almost 175 years. That building now needs special care. WGNO's LBJ and Photographer Jeff Kent got a chance to document the work being done and what it will cost to save this historic landmark. New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson explained, 'For many, many years it was just neglected. I mean when you go in the building initially it looks beautiful. But if you look a little closer, you could see the plaster coming down, and the art work is not as polished as it was.' Benson is a longtime parishioner of the cathedral and she's leading the effort to restore this national treasure, where the damage to the structure has mostly been caused by our city's location in the Southern U.S. and the climate we live in. 'It's the combination of heat, water, sometimes we get extreme cold and then when air conditioning inside the cathedral meets that hot humid air outside all kinds of bad things happen near the entryway. So weather and occasional hurricanes, that's a problem. This is a common problem on any older building in the French Quarter and elsewhere, but it's water intrusion from the outside,' said Executive Director of the Catholic Cultural Center Chris Wiseman. The work has already begun and it's expected to take three to four years. The team is also taking extra care with the damaged art that adorns the walls and ceilings of the cathedral. 'This is canvas, painted and placed on there so you'll see later this summer we'll have scaffolding. We'll do some analysis to see what it will take to get that canvas off, restore it, and then put it back,' said Wiseman. The restoration planners also drew on an internationally famous cathedral renovation for their expertise. 'Mrs. Benson actually sent out two lead architects to Paris so they could talk to the people doing the Notre Dame renovation and learn some things,' according to Wiseman. At a cost of over $45 million to repair and restore the exterior and interior, Benson has been generous in her giving and solicited donations from around the world. But there is also an appeal to locals who hold the church dear and want to see it preserved. 'Everybody needs to have and invested interest in this and if they do, then they know they were a part of it and we get a lot of checks for small amounts which is very touching because it shows me that these people really care,' said Benson. There are also plans for a new, larger gift shop where the rectory now resides, and two new restrooms. To donate toward the St. Louisiana Cathedral renovation, visit the Our City, Our Cathedral renovations underway at NOLA's St. Louis Cathedral, how you can help Will Chrysler's next 100 years be electrified? Hamlin gets 3rd 2025 win at Michigan Told he'd never talk, NOLA 6-year-old now starts conversation at Xavier University White House dismisses Pride Month as WorldPride gathers in Washington Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Irish Post
22-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Post
Sisk awarded £38m contract to bolster flood defences in Derby
SISK has been awarded a major contract to bolster flood defences in Derby city. Derby City Council has awarded the £38m contract to John Sisk & Son (Sisk) to improve the city's flood resilience and provide better protection for homes located along the River Derwent. 'This package of works, known as Derby Riverside, will provide significant flood resilience protection to many properties along the left (east) bank of the Derwent from Causey Bridge to Derwent Bridge,' the council explained. Sisk has been awarded a lucratvie contract to reinforce Derby city's flood defences (Pic: Sisk) Irish-founded and headquartered Sisk will be responsible for delivering a new flood wall and floodgates that will offer enhanced protection for Exeter House and properties on Meadow Road and Meadow Lane in the city centre. They will also carry out demolition of the riverside office blocks on Stuart Street to create a new riverside green area, which will provide more space for flood water to pass through the city in a controlled corridor. Demolition and construction began this month, Sisk have confirmed. 'We're delighted to be working with Derby City Council on this phase of the Our City, Our River programme,' Alan Rodger, Managing Director at Sisk Infrastructure, said. 'We understand how vital this project is for further flood prevention and the regeneration of this area in the centre of the city,' he added. 'Our team of dedicated professionals will leverage the latest innovations and sustainability practices to help deliver this fantastic scheme, alongside social value projects in the local community." Derby Councillor Carmel Swan, who is the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability, said she was 'delighted that the contract is now signed with John Sisk and Sons to deliver the vital second phase of the Our City, Our River flood defence project'. 'These works are crucial as we continue to future proof the city against extreme weather and unlock the potential for regeneration along the river,' she explained. 'We can now look forward to seeing work begin on site in the near future.' David Turnbull, Area Flood and Coastal Risk Manager Derbyshire and Leicestershire for the Environment Agency, said: 'This contract award marks another step forward in making Derby more resilient to the threat of climate change. 'The Environment Agency are proud to be in partnership with Derby City Council for this journey, and we are delighted to see this complex but vital phase of the programme begin very soon.' See More: Construction, Derby, Flood Defences, Irish, Sisk
BBC News
27-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Covid-19 memorial installed at Derby's Nottingham Road Cemetery
A sculpture to remember the victims of the Covid-19 pandemic has been installed at a cemetery in bench, at Nottingham Road Cemetery, was designed and made by artist Richard said the wing design was a modern take on gothic gravestones and the Victorian angel sculptures found elsewhere at the Janes, who spent three months on the artwork, described working on the project as "humbling". "I've been talking to people who lost people and people who didn't have good experiences... it brings back those memories," he said."The steel that's the main form of it has got little elements that are forged which give it a much more tactile feel. "With it being a Covid piece, one of the things we couldn't do [during the pandemic] was touch things, so I felt it was quite important. It has a human edge."Young people from the city's Voices In Action youth council, pupils from two local schools and the Friends of Nottingham Road Cemetery were involved in the design process. At a workshop, members of the youth council made clay models to represent the positives that they saw during the models have been cast in bronze and included in the artwork was paid for by the Our City, Our River flood defence project, which is funded from a range of sources including central project has also seen tree and bulb planting take place at the Ndukwe Onuoha, Derby City Council's cabinet member for street pride, public safety, and leisure said: "During the pandemic we all pulled together, and the community effort behind this sculpture reflects that attitude."
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Reading and nonprofit developer announce plan for Penn Street office building
Our City Reading Inc. is collaborating with Reading officials to redevelop a key downtown building, the nonprofit development group has announced. Plans for the building at 450 Penn St. include retail spaces at street level, with office and residential units on the upper floors, the city and nonprofit said in a release. The four-story, 120,000-square-foot building on the southwest corner of Fifth and Penn streets serves as a cornerstone in the city's downtown, the release said, noting public interest is being invited to ensure the project aligns with the needs of the community. The project, designed with flexibility in mind, is aimed at driving economic growth and job creation and enhancing the vibrancy of the neighborhood, the release said. The redevelopment comes at a time of significant momentum for the city, officials said, and will be supported by the newly announced City Revitalization and Improvement Zone, CRIZ, and the potential restoration of passenger rail service between Reading and Philadelphia. Jim Boscov, chairman of Our City Reading, said the organization is proud to partner with Mayor Eddie Moran and city officials to support the continued revitalization of the downtown. 'This redevelopment project reflects Our City Reading's mission and our ongoing commitment to contributing to the positive changes taking place in the city,' he said in a statement. Reached in his office, Boscov said the project's timing is ideal. 'It offers a wonderful opportunity, I think, at a wonderful time,' he said, 'because there's a lot going on in the city with the potential of what's happening with passenger rail, with CRIZ and with some of the other development that's going on.' Boscov said the nonprofit has worked well with the mayor and his administration on other projects, particularly in creating a commercial kitchen for Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank in a previously vacant building at the GoggleWorks. Helping Harvest names chef to run its Community Kitchen in Reading 'I'm delighted to be collaborating with them again to find a better, newer, reimagined use for this building,' he said of 450 Penn St. Our City bought the property from the city in 2005 after the city razed several vacant buildings on the parcel, including those of the former Whitner's department store. Construction of the $17.9 million office building was funded by $1.6 million in public grants, $11 million in loans and a $5 million contribution by the initial tenant, the former Sovereign Bank. Santander acquired Sovereign Bank in 2013, assuming the lease and becoming the sole tenant. Officials said Santander's 25-year lease will expire at the end of the year and the bank does not plan to renew due to reduced space needs. 'They have been a good tenant, and we appreciate their relationship over the years,' Scott Gruber, executive director of economic development for Our City Reading, said in a statement. Boscov said the building has much potential. The Our City team and city officials have been brainstorming and working with community stakeholders on ideas, he said. 'We have some thoughts about how it can best be used,' Boscov said, 'and since Santander will remain in the building through the end of the year, we can use that time to plan and imagine.' The project is still in the planning stage, he stressed, noting he is eager to hear ideas from community members and others. 'I always benefit from hearing from other people,' he said. Moran also expressed his enthusiasm for the project and collaboration. 'This redevelopment project is an exciting opportunity for our community,' the mayor said in a statement. 'By revitalizing this important building, we're improving the downtown area and creating new economic opportunities for residents and businesses alike. I'm thrilled to see this project moving forward and look forward to the positive impact it will have on our city's future.' Work on the redevelopment is expected to begin next year, city officials said.
