Building collapses in Chesterfield, Virginia -- several workers trapped inside

[Plot Device]

This is breaking news on MSNBC, so I can find very little in Google News at the moment to try and post.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jCUZUyqz41WcLXfHXqfWu3cIWLFgD9340LQG0
http://www.wavy.com/Global/story.asp?S=8985698&nav=23ii
http://www.wxii12.com/news/17439460/detail.html
http://www.wdbj7.com/Global/story.asp?S=8985559

The number of workers trapped inside is being debated. Some are saying there's no one it there at all. Others are saying there's a full dozen men in there. But there's no confirmation yet. They have fire crews picking through the rubble right now, trying to find survivors, and they are finding no one, not even hearing any cries for help.

The buildings is evidently a NEW building in a the downtown district, and is being described as a "mixed use" building.




Now, assuming there are no people physiclly hurt by all of this, this mention of the phrase "mixed use" TOTALLY upsets me because "mixed use" is currently a phrase that is little-known to manistream America, and I'd hate for its nation-wide introduction to happen via a tragedy like this. The phrase "mixed use" is one of the most important phrases used by New Urbanists, and this travesty might very well cast mixed use architecture as well as the entire New Urbanist movement in a very bad light. And that would be so unfair not to mention downright detrimental to the whole movement.


::ETA::



Here's a video of the scene. Scroll down and click the video on the left.

http://www.wric.com/global/Story.asp?s=8985308

[vixey]

Thanks for posting. That's part of Richmond (or just outside). We have family there. Checking links.

[vixey]

The buildings is evidently a NEW building in a the downtown district, and is being described as a "mixed use" building.

Just for clarity: Richmond is surrounded by Chesterfield County on one side, Henrico County on the other. There is no downtown Chesterfield. This area is a suburb of Richmond.

Not to argue - just wanted to be clear. ;)

[Plot Device]

UPDATE:

MSNBC says that all of the construction workers were at lunch when the collapse happened, so there was no one inside. (And I kinda suspect that their conspicuous absense within the first ten minutes after the building went down is what prompted the rumor that they were all inside.) One guy did get hurt on the outside of the building. But it seems there was no on in there at all.

[Plot Device]

Just for clarity: Richmond is surrounded by Chesterfield County on one side, Henrico County on the other. There is no downtown Chesterfield. This area is a suburb of Richmond.

Not to argue - just wanted to be clear. ;)


No. That's fine. :)

The news is at this moment clarifying that it IS a suburb, but it seems that the buiding that collapsed was part of some kind of an artificially designed "village center" thingy that they were building in the suburb to allow for a walkable-to-able center for a local grocerette and small apartments and a post office and stuff like that.

[maestrowork]

I'm glad no one was inside. What a horrific thing to happen, though...

[Tirjasdyn]

This happened in Denver last year...14 construction workers got hurt.

Mixed-Use is not a new term in construction and real estate...it's been around at least 30+ years.

[Plot Device]

This happened in Denver last year...14 construction workers got hurt.

Mixed-Use is not a new term in construction and real estate...it's been around at least 30+ years.


I never said it was new, just that the general public rarely uses that phrase and many peple have no clue what it means. So if THIS news story becomes the introductory news piece that leaves a lasting impression in people's minds for what a "mixed use" building is, then it could bode poorly for the future acceptance of "mixed use" construction if people somehow associate that phrase with "buildings that collapse."