The Slavin and Shulkin Furniture and Jewelry buildings will soon fall. Massena, New York’s Board of Trustees voted to assume ownership of the three buildings in March. The village, however, won’t be able to take full ownership of the buildings until October.
Because of this, the bond to demolish the dilapidated buildings must be repaid over five years, rather than ten. If the village held the current title to the property, they would have been eligible to choose a 10-year bond, reports the Daily Courier-Observer.
The buildings have continued to crumble, and have become an eyesore for the village. Before the buildings are demolished, however, asbestos must first be removed. Asbestos is a highly toxic material found in many older homes and buildings. When disturbed, the toxic particles can easily be inhaled.
Such exposure has been known to cause several diseases, including mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is the rarest and most aggressive asbestos-related disease, known to form from the mesothelium.
Once patients are diagnosed with the disease, mesothelioma treatment is undergone. Such treatment, however, is palliative.
Bids for the asbestos abatement and demolition work were opened August 19. The lowest bid came from Richardson & Sons of Ogdensburg, New York at $274,000. Project Manager William B. Plant has noted, however, that the contract won’t necessarily go to the lowest bidder, but to the lowest “qualified” bidder.
