With excavation complete, construction of the block wall at the basement level begins.

I think there’s someone walled up in the opening under the steps, and the workmen used this niche like the one in “The Cask of Amontillado” . . .

Site meeting among Dave, the site manager, Mary, the project manager, and Natalie, our new architect. The outdoor furniture is now protected by a wooden framework that also serves as a work table.

In addition to the west wall in the basement that was removed earlier in the week, the small east wall next to the plumbing stack has now been removed, turning the entire area into an open space (to hold more bikes, of course):

The finished product, ready for framing to begin on top. The opening in the front will house the new basement windows. The only thing left is demolition of the rest of the chimney – the bricks that are visible to the left of the steel support. This will occur after the demolition of the rear of the first and second floors.