Old School Building Needs Asbestos Abatement, Renovations

An aging school building in Estacada, Oregon may soon be getting a face lift, despite the structure’s current asbestos issues.

Eagle Creek Annex Committee members will be meeting the the first week in April to continue discussing plans for the old school building.

The Committee was formed four months ago to review options for the Eagle Creek Annex. The building is next door to the current Eagle Creek Elementary School, and has been closed for three decades.

The building is overgrown with moss, the roof is aging, and the windows and doors are covered with boards.

The building also contains asbestos. It has been estimated that asbestos removal will cost at least $18,000.

Besides renovating the historic building, other options put forward include demolition and using the building for a “learn to burn” exercise for firefighters in training.

However, because of the historic nature of the building, county officials will most likely be against demolition of the building.

Before renovations can begin, officials will need to come up with a grant proposal to secure funding. Before that can happen, they must formulate a plan for how the historic building will be used once it has been renovated.

Demolition will be much less expensive than renovations. Asbestos abatement will cost around $18,000 and demolition will run about $40,000.

However, renovations could cost as much as $500,000.

The committee is also considering selling the asbestos-laden property to a special interest group, who would then take on renovation tasks at their own cost.

Exposure to asbestos may lead to the development of asbestosis, pleural mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other respiratory diseases.