Asbestos Removed from Ohio Pizza Parlor

At Annie’s Old World Pizza in Geneva, Ohio, demolition crews have completed asbestos removal, and have begun the process of tearing down the building. According to City Manager Jim Pearson, “Demolition is moving along…Everything is going well. The first building was down on Monday and (the crew) is starting on the second building (Tuesday).” The building, located at 51 and 53 Main Street, is being torn down to make way for additional parking, making the northeast area of downtown Geneva more easily accessible.

The red brick building was purchased by the city for $38,000. Pearson revealed that the price the city paid for the building was reduced after asbestos was found to be present in the building’s drywall during a pre-purchase inspection of the property. Pearson said the asbestos abatement and demolition cost $22,000. “Some Community Development Block Grant money was used for the demolition,” he said.

Asbestos removal is a crucial step prior to demolition. Demolition could easily disturb the asbestos particles, shooting them into the air and creating a public health risk. Airborne asbestos particles can be inhaled, causing serious health problems for workers, building occupants, and neighbors. Asbestos exposure may cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other medical conditions.

The new empty lot where Annie’s once stood will help solve the city’s lack of downtown parking. “Our parking on Main Street has been a problem for 20 years since we went to three lanes on Main Street,” Pearson said. “That expansion to three lanes eliminated parallel parking and forced the city to look into the creation of off-street parking.”