It's a big open box of dangerous chemicals, and they're blowing freely through the neighborhood and into nearby park land. And the owner knew this was the case even before the building was ripped open, exposing chemical hazards to an entire neighborhood. (And no, this is NOT an April Fools story!)
HAZARD IS CONFIRMED
After much speculation (see "Related" below) it is confirmed that the sudden work stoppage of the North Shore School demolition in Rogers Park was ordered by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). The Bench has learned from a trusted source that demolition was stopped within hours of its start, by the IEPA, because of asbestos and other hazardous chemicals and materials contained within the building structure.
According to Don Gordon, a local lake shore activist who tried to stop the demolition in the eleventh hour, the owner allegedly knew the school building held a "brew of dangerous chemicals." Combined with what The Bench's anonymous source tells us about the IEPA action, many more questions are raised.
Did 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore know of the hazards before the demolition began? Many people speculated that this was so, and according to Mr. Gordon, the owner's own contractor allegedly knew it beforehand.
While it's good that the IEPA stopped the demolition, why has it not ordered the gaping building sealed to contain the hazardous materials?
Why have no warning signs been posted, no fliers distributed to warn neighbors of the hazardous materials blowing out of the partially demolished building? Where are Joe Moore's email blasts to advise neighbors to keep windows closed?
Why did the owner of the property, if indeed she did know of the hazards, proceed with the demolition?
What will be done to correct this?
ASBESTOS STOPPED NORTH SHORE SCHOOL DEMOLITION
THE BENCH EXCLUSIVE
It's a big open box of dangerous chemicals, and they're blowing freely through the neighborhood and into nearby park land. And the owner knew this was the case even before the building was ripped open, exposing chemical hazards to an entire neighborhood. (And no, this is NOT an April Fools story!)
HAZARD IS CONFIRMED
After much speculation (see "Related" below) it is confirmed that the sudden work stoppage of the North Shore School demolition in Rogers Park was ordered by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). The Bench has learned from a trusted source that demolition was stopped within hours of its start, by the IEPA, because of asbestos and other hazardous chemicals and materials contained within the building structure.
According to Don Gordon, a local lake shore activist who tried to stop the demolition in the eleventh hour, the owner allegedly knew the school building held a "brew of dangerous chemicals." Combined with what The Bench's anonymous source tells us about the IEPA action, many more questions are raised.
Did 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore know of the hazards before the demolition began? Many people speculated that this was so, and according to Mr. Gordon, the owner's own contractor allegedly knew it beforehand.
While it's good that the IEPA stopped the demolition, why has it not ordered the gaping building sealed to contain the hazardous materials?
Why have no warning signs been posted, no fliers distributed to warn neighbors of the hazardous materials blowing out of the partially demolished building? Where are Joe Moore's email blasts to advise neighbors to keep windows closed?
Why did the owner of the property, if indeed she did know of the hazards, proceed with the demolition?
What will be done to correct this?
It's a big open box of dangerous chemicals, and they're blowing freely through the neighborhood and into nearby park land. And the owner knew this was the case even before the building was ripped open, exposing chemical hazards to an entire neighborhood. (And no, this is NOT an April Fools story!)
HAZARD IS CONFIRMED
After much speculation (see "Related" below) it is confirmed that the sudden work stoppage of the North Shore School demolition in Rogers Park was ordered by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). The Bench has learned from a trusted source that demolition was stopped within hours of its start, by the IEPA, because of asbestos and other hazardous chemicals and materials contained within the building structure.
According to Don Gordon, a local lake shore activist who tried to stop the demolition in the eleventh hour, the owner allegedly knew the school building held a "brew of dangerous chemicals." Combined with what The Bench's anonymous source tells us about the IEPA action, many more questions are raised.
Did 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore know of the hazards before the demolition began? Many people speculated that this was so, and according to Mr. Gordon, the owner's own contractor allegedly knew it beforehand.
While it's good that the IEPA stopped the demolition, why has it not ordered the gaping building sealed to contain the hazardous materials?
Why have no warning signs been posted, no fliers distributed to warn neighbors of the hazardous materials blowing out of the partially demolished building? Where are Joe Moore's email blasts to advise neighbors to keep windows closed?
Why did the owner of the property, if indeed she did know of the hazards, proceed with the demolition?
What will be done to correct this?
