New AAA building gets repairs. Windows let in water, allowing mold growth

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New AAA building gets repairs

Windows let in water, allowing mold growth

By ADAM TAYLOR, The News Journal

Posted Saturday, October 28, 2006

http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?

AID=/20061028/BUSINESS/610280312

The News Journal/JENNIFER CORBETT

WILMINGTON -- Just 16 months after it opened, the AAA Mid-Atlantic

headquarters building is undergoing a substantial repair of the

areas around many of the windows to stop water leaks that have

caused mold to form, managers said.

The Commonwealth Group, which owns the building and leases it to

AAA, is responsible for having the repairs done, AAA spokeswoman

L. Rossi said. The red brick building is at 1 River Place

on Wilmington's riverfront.

About 400 employees moved to the Wilmington location from

Philadelphia in June 2005. A ceremonial ribbon-cutting ceremony was

held three months later.

" We have had some water intrusion around the perimeters of the

windows, " Rossi said. " Some of the work areas have been disrupted

because of relocations while the repairs are taking place. "

Most of the windows have been leaking since the employees moved in,

Rossi said. All of the 350 windows are being repaired, Rossi said.

The work is about two-thirds complete and should be done by spring

2007.

" It's disappointing to see scaffolding around a brand new building, "

Rossi said. " But Commonwealth is working on the problem. The payoff

when the work is complete will be a beautiful building in one of the

best locations in town. "

The water leaks caused mold to grow in the building, Rossi said.

Tests have shown that the building's air quality was not affected by

the mold, she said.

Rossi referred other questions to Tim , a staff attorney for

the Commonwealth Group. did not return phone calls.

Commonwealth Group Vice President R. Ruggio said he had few

details about the problem. He said not all of the windows are

leaking.

" It was a construction issue, an installation issue, and we're

correcting it, " he said.

The cost of the repairs was not released.

Wilmington Licenses & Inspection Commissioner J. Starkey

said he was aware of the leaking windows, but said city code

inspectors have not issued any citations.

No permits from the city were required for the repair work, City

Communications Director Rago said.

Commonwealth Group, with offices at 300 Water St. on the

riverfront, is finally proceeding on an office project at Fourth and

King streets that had been stalled for years. It also has plans for

a series of condominium towers on the Seventh Street Peninsula on

the East Side.

Contact Adam at 324-2787 or ataylor@....