After $350k asbestos abatement, Illinois powerhouse comes down
In early February, the Bartonville hospital powerhouse was demolished after a thorough asbestos cleanup was finally completed. Asbestos abatement cost $350,000, but the demolition cost only $80,000.
The powerhouse was built in 1949, when the use of asbestos was still common because the health effects were not widely known. Inhaling asbestos fibers can lead to serious illnesses like mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer. Abandoned since 1972, the building was sealed in 1997 by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) because it was a health hazard. There are plans to turn the only remaining building on the property, the Bowen building, into a commercial enterprise. However, that building also has a high rate of asbestos that must first be removed before the building can be safely developed or demolished.
For the full story, go to The Journal Star.
