Clapper, Patti, Schweizer and Mason

The Saginaw Centre in Saginaw, Michigan is set to be demolished but the price tag just took a massive jump after inspectors discovered tons of asbestos at the site.  The steel girders used in the building’s infrastructure were treated with an asbestos-based fireproofing material that was designed to add heat resistance and structural integrity to the support system.  Now, decades later, that same cost-saving measure may run the demolition’s budget up by at least $800,000. 

This demolition is part of the plan for building a new commercial area in downtown and includes the demolition of the Saginaw Plaza Hotel.  This massive project encompassing over 6 acres of property already had a high price tag but the asbestos discovery nearly pushed the budget to the breaking point.  In order to “find” funds for the asbestos abatement, the project developers had to redesign portions of the project and cutback the size of the associated parking lot.  In addition, new LED street lights originally slated for use in the parking area will no longer be purchased. 

The Saginaw Centre was constructed in 1972 – shortly before asbestos building materials were outlawed by the passage of the Clean Air Act.  Up until that point, asbestos was a very common material used in everything from tiles to adhesives during new construction.  Thousands of commercially available products contained unsafe levels of this deadly carcinogen and were used without restriction, causing many to be exposed to asbestos and hundreds of thousands of people to die of mesothelioma, an incurable type of cancer. 

Now, with demolition and renovation projects taking place across the country, asbestos abatement businesses are booming.  Saginaw County has already contracted with one such firm for the safe removal of any tainted building materials.  This process will be closely supervised by various environmental agencies from local, state, and federal levels. 

Asbestos abatement is so costly because only licensed contractors can handles such projects at the commercial and industrial levels.  Also the materials and special transportation associated with asbestos abatement added significantly to the hourly wages assessed by these licensed professionals.

AKT Peerless Environmental and Energy Services won the contract for the abatement of the Saginaw Centre and estimated the costs of safe removal at $800 thousand.  The removal should take just over a month – an amazing feat in itself considering the scope of the project.  Only after the final load of asbestos debris has been carted off to an approved disposal site can demolition continue as previously scheduled.