Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 19, 1990 TAG: 9006190185
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Beginning in mid-July, the Roanoke Civic Center auditorium will be closed so asbestos can be removed from the lobby ceiling and other areas.
In recent weeks, City Council has approved several contracts for asbestos removal.
The latest one involves the four historic buildings at 118-124 Campbell Ave. S.W. that were purchased by the city last year to prevent them from being razed.
The city will spend almost $65,000 to take asbestos out of the Victorian-era structures that were bought from James Trinkle, who had planned to raze them for a parking lot.
Asbestos, a widely used building material for many years, has been linked to several forms of cancer.
Removing asbestos from the civic center auditorium is expected to cost $200,000 to $400,000. Council already has approved a $76,600 contract with a consulting firm to prepare the plans and oversee the asbestos removal. Now it must hire a contractor to do the work.
There is asbestos in the ceiling of the auditorium lobby and beneath the carpet. A small portion of asbestos was exposed last year while workers were installing an elevator for the handicapped.
Some asbestos was safely removed during construction of the elevator shaft, but some was accidentally disturbed. The auditorium was closed for a week until the carpet, draperies and other contaminated materials were removed.
Because of bookings, the auditorium could not be closed until this summer.
Removing asbestos from school buildings will be the biggest expense for the city.
The $15.2 million bond issue approved by city voters in November included $3.3 million for asbestos removal. Almost all school buildings have some asbestos.
School officials said the asbestos will be removed during summer break as a safety precaution to prevent children from being exposed. The work is being done with funds previously earmarked for the purpose. Beginning in the summer of 1991, the bond money will be used to remove asbestos from other schools.
Total Action Against Poverty also was required to remove asbestos from the old Dumas Hotel on First Street Northwest (Henry Street) before renovation work could begin on its conversion into a music center.
The anti-poverty agency had to pay $210,000. The city loaned the money to TAP.
Asbestos now is banned for most uses, but was used for insulation and other purposes in many buildings constructed before 1978.
State building regulations require asbestos to be removed from commercial and public buildings - constructed prior to 1978 - before the owners can obtain building permits for renovation or demolition.
by CNB