Empty asbestos-filled school in Watertown, NY to be demolishedWatertown, NY - In New York state, voters in the Watertown City School District will vote this May to decide the future of a vacant, asbestos-laden building. Located on Butterfield Avenue, the building was once home to the local elementary school, as well as the school district’s office. Since the district offices moved to the Harold T. Wiley Intermediate School three years ago, the building has been empty.
"Hopefully, voters will agree to this [demolition plan] and by Memorial Day, the old Butterfield grass will be growing," Board of Education President Peter E. Monaco said.
Superintendent Terry N. Fralick argues that the building is not only an eyesore, but potentially dangerous because of its dilapidated condition. "We feel very strongly that this abandoned building is a liability to the district," he said.
The cost of demolishing the building could be as much as $650,000. The cost of the demolition is high due in part to the fact that the building contains a great deal of asbestos, which would need to be removed prior to demolition. Asbestos exposure has been conclusively linked to the development of mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer. Mesothelioma affects less than 3,000 Americans each year, and while there are treatment methods available, including chemo, there is no known cure. The majority of patients lose their battle with this cancer in less than two years following diagnosis.
While the building may be demolished, the property itself will stay in school district hands, and may be used as the site of a new school if the number of students in the school district continues to grow. "If we get a lot of students from Summit Woods or somewhere else and need another elementary school," Mr. Fralick said, "Butterfield would be a prime location for that."
