Cost of Mendel renovation balloons

$700,000 to cover asbestos removal

The $700,000 bill to remove asbestos from the Mendel building should be the last added cost to renovate it, says the city’s chief financial officer.

A report shared with council’s finance committee Monday reveals the cost to renovate the Mendel has ballooned to $2.2 million from $1.5 million because asbestos-containing materials were found throughout the building.

Specialized crews are expected to take five months to remove the asbestos, which means the building’s new tenant, the Children’s Discovery Museum, will need to push its grand opening back five months to late 2018.

“Once one gets started on renovations, it seems like what one thought the price was going to be continues to escalate all the time,” Mayor Don Atchison pointed out. “Are there any other skeletons that might be around the corner for us on this particular project?”

Chief financial officer Kerry Tarasoff said the additional $700,000 cost will cover the cleaning of the entire building.

He added that asbestos, if left undisturbed, is not dangerous and the city is being “prudent” in paying to remove it because the building’s future occupants will primarily be children.

Up to half the costs for renovations, including asbestos removal, may also be covered by a federal grant, Tarasoff said.

The city will learn this fall if it’s successful in obtaining federal money. In addition to removing asbestos, the city will pay to add sprinklers, upgrade water pipes, replace the boiler, replace the fire alarm system and install energy and electrical meters. The city will also put money toward installing an additional elevator in the building to make the second floor accessible.

Once one gets started on renovations, it seems like what one thought the price was going to be continues to escalate all the time. MAYOR DON ATCHISON