California housing development site a fire and asbestos hazard
The Oak Knoll redevelopment project in Oakland, California has been stalled since last year when Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy. Lehman Brothers had been SunCal’s only financial partner for the project, and without them, they could not afford to pay contractors to complete the necessary asbestos abatement on the abandoned buildings that still stand on the property. There are 18 old housing units that still require lead paint and asbestos abatement before they can be demolished. Bags of asbestos-containing material still remain on the property from when the contractors stopped work last year, and the bags are beginning to deteriorate.
Nearby residents are concerned about the fire hazard the old buildings present, as 11 fire hydrants on the property have been identified as out-of-service. Grass fires, as everyone knows, have a tendency to spread quickly in California. Combined with the asbestos hazard, residents have every reason to want these buildings to come down as quickly as possible.
The City of Oakland brought in a herd of goats to remove low-lying vegetation from the Oak Knoll site, getting rid of some of the dry grass that could help a fire spread, and officials hope that other hazard abatement work will begin in January.
For the full story, go to Examiner.com.
