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Former asbestos-tainted college campuses to be renovated
In Carthage, Illinois, the former campuses of Carthage College and Robert Morris College have long laid vacant. Now, thanks to new projects being undertaken in the community, the abandoned sites may soon find a new use. Carl Sandburg College President Tom Schmidt hopes that at least parts of these properties may soon become a resource for the community. The Prairieland Investment Group bought the former campuses in June of 2007.
Shortly thereafter, the investment grouped gifted the Bryan Auditorium building to Carl Sandburg College. Work on this building is part of what Schmidt describes as "the first leg of a three-legged stool". He hopes that the site might someday be home to the auditorium, as well as an adjacent gymnasium complex capable of seating 1,600 and a fitness center.
Johnson Building Systems is contracted to renovate the auditorium. "We're moving along. We're on schedule," project manager Steve McKelvie told reporters.
"If we don't get a bad winter, we're hoping to be done by the end of April, first of May," McKelvie said. To date, both mold and asbestos hazards at the site have been abated.
Asbestos exposure is conclusively linked to the development of mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer. Asbestos exposure can also lead to lung cancer and the scarring of the lining of the lungs. Mesothelioma affects less than 3,000 Americans each year, but sadly there is still no known cure. The disease typically lies dormant for up to fifty years before symptoms emerge. A large number of patients lose their battle with mesothelioma within 24 months of being diagnosed.
Schmidt envisions a bright future for his "three-legged stool". "The auditorium, for instance, could lend itself to hosting graduation services. Clearly CSC could host home athletic events in that facility, regional Illinois High School Association tournaments," he said. "There is no movie theater in Carthage. It could scratch that itch in the marketplace."