Asbestos removal, other renovations may cost too much to fix up Alabama school
The 80-year old Cave Street School in Tuscumbia, Alabama needs a lot of repair work, and renovations may cost too much to save it. City officials have stated that the roof and windows need to be completely replaced. There is asbestos underneath the top layers of flooring, and lead paint has been used throughout the 25,000 square foot building. It would cost over $500,000 to stop the deterioration of the school, and that would not account for any other repairs needed once the building was in shape to handle renovations. The building will continue to get worse if nothing is done, and the cost of stabilizing the building doesn’t include electrical, mechanical or HVAC systems.
City officials have hinted that it may be best to just demolish the building, as renovations could cost between $800,000 and $1 million to get it back in working order. Additionally, the city would have to bring it up to city building codes for wiring.
A public hearing will be held before any decision is made concerning the school building’s fate. If no one is willing to make the large investment to renovate it, the building will have to come down to make space for something else. Several options include preserving the building by the Colbert County Historical Landmarks Association, allowing an American Indian group to turn it into a downtown museum, using the building for a youth program and saving the cafeteria for use as a senior center.
For the full story, go to The Times Daily.
