Elfers Elementary School Restoration

Project Contractor: C&N Foundation Technologies
Project Engineer: Driggers Engineering Services

The Elfers Elementary School, built in 1914, was the first brick school building in Pasco County and included an auditorium as well as independent plumbing run throughout the building to supply its indoor toilets and drinking fountains. The building itself was built at a time when the road that serviced it wasn’t even paved. This building along with its auditorium has supported the entire community for the past 95 years. For many of those years the Elfers community Christmas tree program was held in the auditorium. This program provided children of the community and surrounding areas the opportunity to meet Santa Claus. Not to mention decades of various other community activities.

Within the buildings’ three class rooms, three teachers taught the first through the sixth grades. This was also the first school to have black boards, erasers and chalk within each of its three classrooms. There were no janitors for the first six years of the buildings use so the pupils in each room were assigned daily chores to sweep, clean the black boards and clean the rooms. In addition all of the other work within the building and on the grounds was performed either by the pupils or the community. Nearly everyone carried his lunch and ate under the trees; but those pupils who lived close enough went home for lunch. The first through third grades' activities were ring-around-the-roses, jump rope, and swinging with rope from the trees. Other grades played sports such as volley and “stringree" baseball.

Engineers and contractors associated with FAS3, working closely with Pasco County, were afforded the opportunity to work on and ultimately save this valuable structure. Specifically, soil related issues had developed such that underpinning was deemed necessary so as to transfer the load of the building from the surface soils to a deeper more competent stratum. This underpinning effort included the use of 44 pin piles and 192 lineal feet of spreader beams. Of particular concern were the nearly 100 year old exterior unreinforced brick walls. Once the restoration was completed the entire building was re-supported and the soil problems overcome.

This project stands as an example of what FAS3 strives for: the restoration and continued use of existing buildings. In this particular case, a building that held significant importance to the community and its residents that it has served for years.

Letter to the Editor

St. Petersburg Times
Thursday, July 30, 2009

Did our elected officials really think mortgage companies would not catch on about the automatic dropping of sinkhole coverage? The if-they-don't-ask, don't-tell-them suggestion that Sen. Mike Fasano made at a meeting at the Spartan Manor was not going to work for long.

While I was president of HAC (Having Affordable Coverage) I strongly warned people the new legislation to automatically drop sinkhole coverage was risky and that when the mortgage companies figured it out the coverage would be required. We already knew of local banks that were requiring it, but it is only a matter of time before they all will require it. It is after all a peril that can destroy your home and cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair.

Well the proof just came in the form of a letter from U.S. Bank Mortgage Co. to a mortgage holder. The letter reads in short that the homeowner who had his sinkhole insurance automatically dropped from his insurance company is required to maintain his coverage or it will be forced.

The letter states:

"We understand from speaking with many insurance agents located in Florida that catastrophic ground collapse has been added to these policies in lieu of sinkhole coverage. However, our research has indicated major differences between these two perils. A sinkhole is the systematic weakening of the land supporting your home. If damage attributed to a sinkhole were to occur to your home, your property could still be deemed livable by your local authorities."

"A catastrophic collapse is a geological activity that results in all of the following conditions: 1) an abrupt collapse of the ground cover, 2) a depression in the ground cover visible to the naked eye, 3) structural damage to the building, including the foundation, and 4) the insured structure must be condemned and ordered vacated by a government agency. While we understand the financial burden caused by the current insurance situation in the state of Florida, we are required to ensure your home is covered in the event of damage. Sinkhole damage not only causes significant damage, but the repair costs are very high. Without sinkhole coverage, a homeowner would have to bear the burden of the cost to repair the property while maintaining their monthly mortgage payment."

Now, what shall I tell this man who has Citizens Insurance, lives in Pasco County where no other insurance companies are writing and cannot afford to add the sinkhole policy back? Not to mention now to add the insurance back you will have to have a sinkhole evaluation at your cost. So much for our elected officials working to help lower our insurance!

Virginia Stevans, New Port Richey

http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/letters/article1023123.ece