Demolition of old Estes Park elementary building going forward

The demolition of the 45-year-old primary school building on the Estes Park School District campus will be moving into full swing in the next couple weeks and will likely generate a lot of interest, school district officials say.

The building which was first constructed in 1969, and had as many as five additions done to it through 1993, hasn't been used as a classroom since 2003. A new primary building was constructed in 1997 and expanded in 2007.

The cost of demolishing the old building was originally set at $435,727, according to Brian Lund, the district's business manager. However, asbestos was discovered in the building and its removal is adding another $149,100 to the cost.

Lund said the final cost for demolition will be $584,827.

Dave Coleson, the school district's transportation and maintenance manager, said the asbestos was discovered in the building's cinder block walls.

"Apparently they used it as block filler to make it easier to paint the walls," Coleson said. He added that there is approximately 38,000 square feet of area that will require asbestos removal.

Since the presence of asbestos is wide spread, Coleson said its removal is being done in two phases. He said the first phase - already underway - will be to remove the asbestos in the main building by May 21.

After a state inspector checks the site and deems it safe, demolition of the northwest wall will begin on June 2. Sometime after that, the second phase of asbestos removal will begin, this time in the gym area.

Once that's done, Coleson said the gym will come down.

School officials admit that the demolition of the building will likely create a lot of discussion in the community.

See the original post:
Demolition of old Estes Park elementary building going forward