Viant Crane DNT Service Center story jump 10-20-2014
Transcription
Viant Crane DNT Service Center story jump 10-20-2014
Duluth News Tribune | Monday, October 20, 2014 Page C4 duluthnewstribune.com !Viant Continued from Page C1 fastest-growing crane company in the country,” Lemke said. Its cranes have been used on Enbridge projects, Magnetation and Essar Steel projects on the Iron Range, the construction of the new Duluth International Airport passenger terminal and parking garage, the St. Luke’s expansion, the new Multimodal Transportation Center in downtown Duluth and various jobs at Fraser Shipyards. The company also has volunteered its services, including moving the legendary Leif Erikson Viking Ship from Leif Erikson Park to safer quarters last year. The company’s growth, however, has squeezed its operations at 5300 Stinson in South Superior. Office space is cramped, storage space insufficient, and there’s only one bay for servicing cranes. “We just need more space,” Lemke said. So with an investment of more than $2 million, the company will begin moving its service center and yard to a larger location next week, a move that sets the company up for future growth. Its office staff will follow early next year. In the process, Viant Crane is giving an old railroad repair shop in South Superior new life. Viant has acquired the former General Electric locomotive repair station and yard on 58th Street, about one-third mile west of Tower Avenue and about two miles from its current site. The property had been among the holdings of parent company Capstan, formerly Reuben Johnson and Son. In 2009, the corporation’s real estate arm had purchased the 15-acre site from General Electric Railcar Repair Services Corp. for $425,000 as an investment. When Viant began looking for a bigger location in 2013, it became clear the property and its 18,000square-foot building would be a good fit. Sister company RJS Construction is serving as general contractor in the renovation and repurposing of the 1970sera building. The city of Superior, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers all have been helpful, Lemke noted. “Everybody was on board for reuse of an old industrial site,” he said. Jason Serck, Superior’s director of economic development, planning and ports, helped guide Viant through the permitting and easement process. “It’s exciting to see a company that grew right before our eyes in a short amount of time, not only doing projects around the port but nationally,” Serck said. “It’s a really good company. It’s nice to see that growth. But it’s also nice to see them moving in and repurposing a building built for one use, repairing old trains, with a vision of being able to fit it Using a model, Viant Crane President David Lemke explains the operation of a crane at the company’s Superior office. Photos by Steve Kuchera / [email protected] The former GE locomotive repair shop in South Superior is being transformed into Viant Crane’s new service and storage center. in this community. It just goes to show that they’re Viant Crane has acquired the former General Electric locomotive repair shop on 58th Street growing correctly. They’re in South Superior to turn it into its new center of operations. The 60-by-300-square-foot making the correct moves building will be used for servicing Viant’s 45 cranes as well as for storage. A building to to build that foundation house the company’s office staff also is under construction nearby. that the company can stand on.” As for contractors in to their needs. So it’s going “The staff is excited for time. “We found there was the region, renting from a from trains to cranes.” the new facility, because a need locally in the relocal company can mean Moreover, such efforts we’re really squeezed gion.” savings in cost and time. add to the stability of the now,” Lemke said. “They Starting with a few That was the draw for city’s economy, he added. are excited to have more cranes, they went from fillNorthern Industrial Erecshop space. And along ing the crane needs of sisFROM TRAINS TO CRANES tors in Grand Rapids, with it comes a new lightter companies RJS For decades the sprawlwhich does heavy indusing, ventilation, heating — Construction and Fraser ing 60-foot-by-300-foot shop trial and commercial steel all the creature comforts.” Shipyards to leasing was used to service GenOutside, the yard space cranes to customers doing erection. Before Viant eral Electric locomotives came along, Northern Infor storing cranes and projects doing heavy conused by Burlington Northdustrial used a vendor that trucks increases from two struction and projects for ern and other railroads. To acres to 15 acres, though the taconite mines and the was more than 300 miles accommodate the trains, initially 4½ acres have Calumet refinery in Supe- away, said Joe Moosbrugtracks run through the ger, one of Northern’s projbeen prepared for use with rior. building. The arched ceilect managers. 18 inches of gravel. “They saw that need out ing rises nearly 30 feet at “There’s a major advan“Each crane will have there and paid attention to its peak. tage to having them in the its own designated site,” it and is growing as a reWork to repurpose the Lemke said. sult,” said Taylor Pedersen Twin Ports area,” he said. building began in July. “The trucking costs getSales and other office of the Superior-Douglas It has largely been gutting one here are substanstaff will move to the new County Chamber of Comted, insulated and given location when a two-story, merce. “Viant is a fantastic tially less.” new walls, metal siding Like many large con4,800-square-foot office company, with deep roots and utilities. Structural building under construccolumns have been reintion next door is comforced. New overhead pleted this winter. The doors, still large enough staff is expected to move for a locomotive, have been in around Feb. 1. installed. Its 18,000 square feet of space has been diSEEING THE NEED vided into a storage area The full service crane and a shop. The deteriorental company and its rated concrete floor will be success wouldn’t have ground down and an epoxy happened if another siscoating applied, but the ter company, Fraser railroad tracks will reShipyards, hadn’t main, Lemke says. needed a crane back in The move will increase 2007. Viant’s area for servicing “Companies were cranes and trucks from renting cranes from 1,500 square feet to 10,800 Minneapolis, St. Paul square feet, with plans for and Milwaukee,” said a 9,000-square-foot addiLemke, who worked for tion, if needed. RJS Construction at the Duluth property transactions residential, 9/14. PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS Oct. 9-16 BANKRUPTCIES This bankruptcy information is gathered from cases filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Duluth Oct. 9-13. DEBTOR: Diane L. Davin dba Applause Entertainment ADDRESS: 24 Larch Drive, Duluth CHAPTER 7 DATE FILED: Oct. 9 ASSETS: $31,753 LIABILITIES: $39,981.58 DEBTOR: Gail E. Peterson ADDRESS: 2774 County Road 4, Carlton CHAPTER 7 DATE FILED: Oct. 10 struction companies, Northern Industrial owns some cranes. “We own about 12 cranes, but they’re busy most of the year,” he explained. “So we rent a fair amount of cranes from Viant. They’re a great vendor. Every time I call them, they’re always Johnny-onthe-spot. You can tell they take a lot of pride in what they do. They’re very customer-oriented. And their rates are competitive.” While Viant continues to grow, it embraces new technology. To that end, it’s investing more than $3 million in the latest in lifting technology: a new Manitowoc lattice boom crawler crane with an innovative system that can boost capacity from 330 tons to 450 tons. On order, the new crane will be delivered in 2015. ASSETS: $141,771 LIABILITIES: $76,569 DEBTOR: Donna M. Bunes ADDRESS: 19854 N. Sherrys Arm Road, Grand Rapids CHAPTER 7 DATE FILED: Oct. 10 ASSETS: $654,498.50 LIABILITIES: $760,731 DEBTOR: Jennifer Rose Oertel ADDRESS: 305 N. Norman Ave., Eveleth CHAPTER 7 DATE FILED: Oct. 10 ASSETS: $55,730.22 LIABILITIES: $90,357.73 Morning coffee and the D Duluth uluth News News Tribune Some things just go together DEBTOR: Loretta F. Krynicki ADDRESS: 7108 Saginaw Road, Saginaw CHAPTER 7 DATE FILED: Oct. 13 ASSETS: $21,283.10 LIABILITIES: $42,622.18 DEBTOR: Brett J. Wallace ADDRESS: 202 W. Second St., Apt. 510, Duluth CHAPTER 7 DATE FILED: Oct. 14 ASSETS: $1,740 LIABILITIES: $20,548.24 2502 W. 15th St., Orry Engebretsen and Laura Alaspa purchased from Sean and Amy Holmgren for $135,000, residential, 8/14. 719 N. 43rd Ave. E., Robert and Anna Heger purchased from David M. and Sara L. Rapp for $143,000, residential, 8/14. 14 W. Fifth St., No. 1, JB Properties of Duluth LLC purchased from Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for $61,000, residential, 8/14. 327 S. 71st Ave. W., Ashley McArthur purchased from Beryl L. Rodin for $74,900, residential, 9/14. 1122 W. Arrowhead Road, Walsh Properties of Duluth purchased from Nancy E. Anderson for $61,000, residential, 8/14. 5324 Avondale St., Daniel N. Kaiser purchased from Joshua J. and Carley Manley for $164,000, residential, 8/14. 1619 N. Basswood Ave., Teron Green purchased from Richard and Janis Wingren for $142,500, residential, 8/14. 201 Crestline Court, David Wilcox purchased from Cory, Terry and Jill Stebner for $58,000, residential, 5/14. 14 W. Fifth St., JB Properties of Duluth LLC purchased from Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for $61,000, residential, 8/14. 2416 W. First St., Zymrie Bekteshi and Bajram Aziri purchased from Marlin and Patricia Dahl for $25,000, residential, 8/14. 322 E. Gilead St., Ryan A. Asleson purchased from William H. Stein for $125,000, residential, 9/14. 322 E. Gilead St., William H. Stein purchased from Robert and Billie Jean M. Kolojeski for $120,000, 5012 Glendale St., Steven G. Holmstrom purchased from Verlin G. and Jacqueline Holmstrom for $75,887, residential, 8/14. 6530 Grand Ave., Kwik Trip Inc. purchased from D & M Johnson Family Limited for $450,000, commercial (with buildings), 6/14. 6303 Greene St., Kari L. and Alec L. Olson purchased from Ryan S. Carlson for $43,000, residential, 8/14. 450 Hastings Drive, Jan. H. Ranson purchased from William A. and Audrey C. Schmitt for $513,000, residential, 8/14. 80 Howard Gnesen Road, Holly G. and Luke Mirau purchased from Alan J. and Gina M. Amatuzio for $122,000, residential, 8/14. 327 Howard Gnesen Road, Kristina and Brian Linder purchased from Clay and Sunshine Carter for $230,000, residential, 9/14. 907 S. Lake Ave., Matthew Silverness purchased from Patricia L. and Gary L. Nelson for $110,000, residential, 8/14. 717 Lincoln Parkway, Kyle Skomars purchased from Jessi L. and Daniel Roland for $95,000, residential, 8/14. 705 Lincoln Parkway, Matthew D. and Kimberlie Dillon purchased from Andrew and Jami Trenz for $124,800, residential, 8/14. 2317 Lochaire Ave., Joshua and Rachel Major purchased from Mark D. and Dawn M. Moran for $266,900, residential, 8/14. 5809 London Rard, Melody C. Lovin and Justin Berke purchased from Timothy Broscious and C. Roytz for $198,000, residential, 8/14. 1807 Melrose Ave., Andrew and Deborah Leedahl purchased from Jodi Elstad for $173,000, residential, 9/14. 3235 Minnesota Ave., Molly A. Har- ney purchased from Matthew J. Mirau for $354,000, residential, 9/14. 2824 Minnesota Ave., Todd and Amy Wing purchased from David F. and Dori L. Decker for $269,000, residential, 8/14. 1325 Mississippi Ave., Bradley Flynn purchased from DL and JC Fredrickson trust for $249,900, residential, 8/14. 5226 Norwood St., Robert G. and Diane N. Johnson purchased from Secretary of Veteran Affairs for $179,500, residential, 8/14. 2102 Princeton Place, Dianne Dorland purchased from Jane E. Koenig for $235,000, residential, 8/14. 2208 W. Sixth St., Sara L. and David M. Rapp purchased from David and Denise Nord for $152,000, residential, 8/14. 623 W. Skyline Parkway, Terry P. and Peggy A. Olivas purchased from Melissa L. Swor for $104,000, residential, 8/14. 2320 E. Superior St., Peter L. and Colleen A. Russell purchased from Doris J. Rud for $270,000, residential, 7/14. 5128 Tioga St., Andrew Westergren purchased from William and Elsie Kovala for $129,900, residential, 9/14. 425 W. Winona St., Brittany Maag purchased from Wayne R. and Rebecca L. Gannaway for $144,227, residential, 8/14. 715 Woodland Ave., Posa Investments LLC purchased from John Murrin IV, et al, for $498,000, residential, 8/14. Residential bare land, Terry and Peggy Olivas purchased from Melissa L. Swor for $122,000, 8/14. Bare land, Jerold and Linda Forsberg purchased from the city of Duluth for $4,600, 9/14.