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About our co-op Join us! What's new The inner workings |
Co-op Construction Q & A Q) Did the co-op blast a hillside away to create a space for the store? A) No, the hillside had been blasted away in the late 1800s and early 1900s when it was a gravel quarry. The rock taken from that hillside was used primarily to build King Street and Route 5&10. Since then, some brush and trees had grown up along the road, hiding most of the old quarry from view. The co-op construction process has made the previously hidden old quarry, with its majestic granite cliff, visible from the road. Q) Why did the co-op select an old rock quarry for its location instead of the old Price Chopper building? A) After an exhaustive site search it was the only feasible option for the co-op in Northampton. The former Price Chopper site and other various existing commercial locations were not available with terms that were possible for the co-op. Q) Did the co-op purchase the old quarry? A) No, the co-op secured a long term land lease with the rights to develop the property according to its needs and specifications and has the right to purchase the property in the future. This enabled the co-op to invest in a LEED certified green building design to ensure its facility would be built as energy efficient as possible to reflect its environmental values, as well as meeting its operating requirements. Grocery stores typically use a large amount of energy so this is an important investment which includes a 30 kw solar electricity generation system, as well as energy saving measures. Q) How much blasting was done by the co-op on the site? A) The "ground" on the co-op site had only a thin layer of soil over granite ledge and some of that granite was too hard to dig trenches into by mechanical means alone. There were very limited blasts where needed (a total of 10 over a 3-week period), over several weeks in June to loosen the hardest rock ledge for completion of the entrance driveway, trenches for the foundation and footings, drainage, and utilities. The blasting was minimized by use of as much mechanical rock removal as possible. Q) Is the material removed from the site being deposited into area landfills? A) No. Wood, soil, and rock are all being recycled. The trees and brush were made into mulch. The topsoil has been saved for use in the landscaping and tree planting stage of the project. The rock has been ground into gravel for use on the site as well. Q) What are the next steps in the construction process? A) Pouring footings and foundations will be the focus for July. In August we'll begin to erect the building. We're still waiting to learn when the 30 KW solar panels will be delivered for installation on the roof. We are planning a fall tree planting day, and will complete the equipment installation and other inside work over the late fall to early winter months, and plan to open for business in early 2008. More Questions? Email info@rivervalleymarket.coop |