New home built on former asbestos-contaminated property in ConnecticutGroton, Connecticut - In Groton, Connecticut, a ribbon cutting ceremony has been held to usher in the new home at 39 Midway Oval in the Poquonnock area of the city. The home was built on a piece of property that was once the site of an asbestos-laden house.
According to Heide Erb, Director of Communications for the company that built the new home, the original structure was in "impossible condition" and it did not make sense "to do a gut rehab on this project. [The] structure/foundation was seriously compromised. No materials were reused, parts of the house required asbestos abatement work for the demolition. The original materials were substandard."
Asbestos, a known carcinogen linked to the development of mesothelioma, must be removed from old buildings prior to demolition to keep the material from becoming airborne. Mesothelioma affects thousands of patients each year in the United States, and the average patient succumbs to the cancer within twenty-four months of being diagnosed.
"This is another great opportunity where The Connection [the company that built the new home] was able to remove a blighted structure, and replace it with a new, affordable home for a family here in Connecticut. We continue to strive to keep our communities thriving and provide homeownership opportunities," said Peter Nucci, the CEO of the company.
"I think one of the most important things to understand about this work completed by The Connection is that projects like these that add stability to our workers and their families represent key ingredients that shape our region's economic future," said John Beauregard, Executive Director, Eastern CT Workforce Investment Board.
"When we don't have suitable housing that's affordable to our workforce, we significantly impair our ability to grow economically in the future."
