Clapper, Patti, Schweizer and Mason

The Norwich, CT city council found out just how much asbestos abatement can cost when the consultant they hired came back with an estimate that was 5 times as high as the one they’d acquired for the complete demolition of the building. 

Mystic Air Quality Consultants told the council that it would cost $450,000 to remove the asbestos in the former Greenville School (not including $50,000 to cover unforeseen circumstances).  The district was given a quote of 1/5 that ($100,000) to demolish the school.

Built in 1956, the Greeneville School is full of asbestos containing materials, including basement piping, floor tiles, and window and door seals.  It was not uncommon in the 1950s to use asbestos liberally during construction.  Many building products were supplemented or fortified with the carcinogen because asbestos is strong, fire resistant, and—at the time—affordable. 

City Manager Alan Bergren said that the abatement work must be done despite the cost and regardless of what the city decides to do with the building, whether to renovate or demolish.  The former school was donated to the city with the provision that it be used for either education or recreation purposes.  At least one interested group in Greenville, headed by Ron Ward, has expressed intentions to create a charter school using the Greeneville School building, though the city has yet to reach an agreement.

In either case--demolition or refurbishment--the Greeneville School would have to undergo the costly abatement process to ensure that asbestos exposure was kept to an absolute minimum.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is quick to warn the public that there is no safe or acceptable amount of exposure to asbestos and even small amounts can cause mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. 

Ward is hoping that the city will become a partner in his plan and bond out the abatement cost but at least one city official doubted that would be likely.

While everyone agrees that the asbestos needs to be removed from the site, no one quite agrees when that should be done.  Bergen cautioned the city council that "there is no real hurry to dispose of property,” adding that it would be financially smarter to hold onto it in case a use for it opened up in the future. 

City officials are still awaiting an estimate for the removal of asbestos from the former William A. Buckingham School which they plan to demolish and use the property as a the site of a new police station.