A July structure fire in the Five Points neighborhood has created an ongoing controversy, as the potential presence of asbestos in the eight-apartment building has held up the demolition process, leaving it unclear how much the job will cost.
The building’s owner apparently has a contract to have the building demolished for $41,000, but the state intends to hire a different contractor to do the job for $124,000. “We’re not going to stand for the city to whack us $80,000 more than this job costs to do,” said Donald Frymbo, a licensed public adjuster representing the building’s owner. According to Frymbo, three separate contractors have taken samples at the site, and all three of them found no presence of the deadly toxin. “The very minute the state looks at those three asbestos reports, [and] concludes there is no asbestos in the building, the demo begins instantly,” he said.
Still, city officials are of the opinion that the demolition should have occurred much sooner, especially given the dangerous state of the structure. Because damage has left some areas of the building inaccessible, the city is moving forward as though there is asbestos present. “Nobody should be entering that building,” said Denver Community Planning and Development Communications Director Andrea Burns. “It’s unsafe.”
Burns also explained why the city had not hired anyone to test for asbestos. “We’re not going to put contractors or employees in danger by accessing the site,” she said. Exposure to asbestos can result in numerous respiratory illnesses, including mesothelioma.
Now, it’s a matter of whether the state will approve the owner’s plans before the city takes its initiative. Whatever the state decides, residents of the Five Points neighborhood just want the issue to be dealt with. “It’s awful and embarrassing and I get worried because sometimes I see kids playing in there,” said Joleen Trujillo, a neighbor.
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