Nearly one year on…
I got the keys to the building at the beginning of February, so it hasn’t quite been a year yet. Even so, the end of the calendar year invites reflection. I’m not gonna lie, it’s frustrating that we’ve reached the end of December and - on the outside at least - the building looks pretty much the same as it did nearly a year ago. I’m not sure anyone would notice the new guttering. The window stickers, up since April, now blend into the background.
I had hoped that we’d end the year with a flurry of activity. Alas, there were no Christmas miracles. The guy from the water company did come out to switch the water back on. Only to realise that, while the stripout crew left the bathroom in situ, they removed all of the plumbing. (?!) So while the water was very briefly back on, we had no way of testing it or determining where it was flowing. The guy from the water company turned it back off again. This all happened on December 20th. Suffice to say it will be January before that particular wrinkle gets ironed out.
Equally, bids for the main building work were due on December 13th, and I was hoping to make a decision before everyone closed for Christmas. But no. One bidder pulled out and two of the remaining three asked for an extension. And so we wait. (Though, honestly, at this point I’m inclined to just go with the person who got it in on time because they got it in on time.)
Over the course of the past 11 months, I have gained appreciation for the immense challenge that the Council is up against trying to bring an entire town worth of run-down buildings back into use. Signs that other new businesses are opening provide some encouragement to press on. I’ve always approached this as a long-term project, anyway. But still, I hadn’t anticipated that just getting started would be so complicated. So difficult. So. Darn. Slow.
That said, I have learned a lot.
I have a bunch of relationships now that I didn’t have a year ago with people working in professions that I didn’t know existed a year ago.
I have a lovely tenant lined up who I hadn’t met a year ago.
Everything that was left behind by the previous owners - including all of the grease - has been cleared out.
The asbestos (thankfully only very minimal) has been removed.
The handleless emergency exit door has been replaced.
The building and I are both ready for a fresh start and a burst of energy when spring finally arrives.
