Asbesto-Laden Former School Demolished in Oregon
In Portland, Oregon, members of the community are sad to see the asbestos-laden Riverdale Grade School has been demolished. When the plan to demolish the school was announced, the community rallied to try and save the building. Ultimately, they failed, and the historic asbestos-laden school built in the 1920s is no more.
“This building is and always has been significant to everybody,” said Terry Hoagland, superintendent of the Riverdale School District. “All of us felt a tingle because we didn’t want to see it come down.”
Steve Jewell, who was the head of the Preserve Riverdale organization, now hopes that his organization can focus on remembering the school, even though it has been destroyed. “There’s nothing to save now,” he said.
Asbestos, a known carcinogen, is still present in many of our nation’s aging school buildings. Asbestos was once prized because it possesses a natural resistance to both flame and chemical damage. This made asbestos perfectly suited for use in fireproofing materials and insulation. Asbestos is now linked to mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Riverdale school officials wanted to build a new school to replace the one that was demolished. However, they are still waiting to acquire the proper permits. For the time being, the school is relocated to the former Smith Elementary School site.
The presence of asbestos was the final death knell that sealed the fate of the aging school. In the process of assessing the work that would be needed to repair and renovate the school, a large amount of asbestos was found. Workers uncovered more asbestos than was expected. “The real trigger that caused our concern was the amount of abatement,” Hoagland said.
“It would be costly to repair,” stated Hoagland.