Update: Evidence and finger prints found

Quick to respond, this evidence, left behind by the 5 Points graffiti artists, was found. They have a partial print and a warrant has been issued. A Black Sheep spokesmen suggested leniency given the benign nature of the tagging.

Glaring absent was the can of spray paint. More at 5pm.

Breaking: 5 Points Graffiti Artists Embrace Black Sheep - group split on response

Construction crews at 1534 Oak Street were greeted Tuesday morning with a flock of sheep. Several spray painted Black Sheep logos around the project, likely left by overnight vandals. The damage was minimal, but questions still remain.

The teams behind the development knew going in there was a potential for this, given the eclectic neighborhood with a history of artistic expression. The only question was when it would happen. The answer - 3 months.

Luckily, the site was only tagged on the footers and elevator shaft - areas likely never to be seen again. The rental equipment and signage was spared...this time.

One source from the development team, who preferred not to be identified, commented this morning, that "while it's no Banksy, it's pretty rad" that the friendly vandals tagged the site with the Black Sheep logo.

The contractor, on the other hand, was concerned that the interlopers may come back when steel is overhead, creating a liability. A spokesman for DW Meyers promised, "We will find these young men and see that it doesn't happen again."

Despite highly sophisticated surveillance equipment, this is the only photo captured of the tagging -

This photo taken 30 minutes earlier shows a man of interest (on the corner), possibly scouting the site or acting as a look out -

Despite increased rounds by JSO, no arrests have been made as of this posting. Please call 701-4OAK if you have any information.

Preparing the hot tub

It's actually not a hot tub, but so many people checked in when they thought we were putting in a swimming pool...

Maybe we should rethink the roof top amenities.

This is actually our elevator footing, but after last nights rain, it was 1/2 filled with water - so really a cold tub.

We're installing a hydraulic elevator. From what I gather, the cylinder, which is 45 feet below the ground in the middle of that square footer, uses the footer above for leverage to "climb" out of the ground pushing the elevator up.

When it's done, it should have you up to the bar for a happy hour cocktail in about 30 seconds.

Road Closings and gas lines

This is a sign we all hate to see. Our contractor, DW Meyers, has tried to keep road closures to a bare minimum over the course of this project. Until the spaces and landscaping on Margaret Street are put in place sometime next April, that street will never be closed.

Unfortunately, JEA did have to close Oak Street for portions of the day Thursday and today to connect the water and sewer. Though water and sewage won't be flowing through these lines for another 8 months, JEA, as has been the case throughout the start of this project, is on the case and working quickly to get this done.

This connection was done Thursday and will hopefully never be seen again - it's the sewer hookup.

In both cases, they had to dig around this 4" gas line...

And this equally as large At&t fiber optics cable. If you can't upload this blog or anything else in the next few hours - it was JEA! Seriously though, there have been meetings and markings and then more meetings and markings. I have no doubt it will all go well. Is that gas I smell?

The Foundation and the Greet

For the past 2 1/2 months, the most important work of the building has been going on, but work no one will see again. The Foundation. Like a warm, sincere "greet" at your favorite restaurant, the foundation sets the tone for the rest of the building (or experience).

As all have agreed - we've got a lot of building on a little lot. Infill construction in an urban atmosphere around historic structures requires a lot of sensitivity and more complicated building practices, largely in the footers and foundation. Instead of going wide for stability, we had to go deep...very deep, with lots of rock and steel filled concrete to keep the building up. 100,000+ pounds of each.

The Team -

That's Russ (with a white hat to the left of the excavator)- he run's the site and, as you can see, is the first guy on the job and always before 7am.

The massive hole they were pouring rock into 2 weeks ago turned into a sea of steel rebar carefully constructed by the guys from EC Concrete - the subcontractor. After weeks of digging, pounds of rock, and yards of rebar the hole was filled last week with "The Big Pour."

After the structural engineering firm signed off on the work and Russ made the arrangements, truck after truck of concrete came Friday to fill up the massive hole.

Having been there since 7am or earlier, these guys were still waiting for concrete at 5:30pm Friday. They got a late start to their weekend.

But they waited and poured so now we have what looks kind of like a little skating rink. Concrete smooth as ice that no one will ever see, but holding up the building and setting the tone for things to come.

Urban rooftop gardens

Had a great tour of a roof top garden on the westside today. Designed by Kevin Songer, the roof for Breaking Ground Contracting is a fully integrated polyculture roof, bringing together food producing plants and pollinator attracting flowers that ensure the continued regrowth of both. See more at http://breakinggroundgreenroof.com/

A stones throw from I-10 and in full summer sun, this garden thrives off the condensation lines from the surrounding HVAC units.

The visiting bees come for the the flowers and help pollinate to create things like tomatoes, peppers and eggplant.

What would you grow on your rooftop?