119-year-old Tacoma building demolished

Oct 16, 2009

The historic Luzon Building in Tacoma, Washington came down on September 26. Built 119 years ago, it was demolished despite efforts of local lawyers to find a judge who would grant a temporary restraining order to stop the demolition. The demolition was carried out by R.W. Rhine Inc, costing the city approximately $600,000. The expenses were assessed against the building’s owners as a property lien. The owners could not be contacted, and the city will likely take ownership of the property.

A crowd had gathered to watch the building come down, some with placards protesting the loss of the historical building. Some said that it was a sad occasion, but it was understandable because the building was in danger of collapsing.

Workers wore protective clothing and kept the demolition site wet as a safety measure because the plumbing, walls and ceiling contained asbestos. If asbestos fibers become airborne, they create a health hazard. Inhaling asbestos fibers can lead to serious illnesses like mesothelioma, a rare but serious form of cancer. Keeping the demolition site wet prevented the asbestos fibers from becoming airborne, protecting both workers and onlookers.

Though the building did not take long to come down, it will take approximately five or six weeks to complete cleanup of the demolition site.

For the full story, go to The News Tribune and their earlier story.

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