Collegiate Times

After nearly six months of vacancy, the retail space formerly occupied by Hanger 54, located downtown next to Happy Wok off Main Street, has begun renovations in preparation for a new tenant.

Though the interior floors remain empty, the street-side windows contain information unbeknownst to most Blacksburg residents.

Taped side by side are two permits: one for asbestos removal, and another for the demolition of an interior wall in order to reach this harmful carcinogen.

Asbestos, once a popular building insulator known for its flame-retardant nature, is no longer used in construction. It is notorious for its harmful effects on the human body, which are caused by inhalation. Now regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency, asbestos-containing materials can cause asbestosis, the scarring of lung tissue, and mesothelioma, a cancer of the lung lining.

The asbestos mineral was found during a routine inspection in preparation for a new retailer on Sept. 2. Before tenants can legally inhabit the location, they must have a building permit and site survey done. In this case, the report concluded that there was asbestos within the walls and under the tiled flooring. Sam Sapienza, building inspector for the town of Blacksburg, said asbestos must be removed before remodeling can begin.

"Basically, whenever you have a structure built prior to 1985, and you want to do renovations or demolition, the state requires you to have an asbestos inspection done by a licensed contractor to protect everyone involved," said Sapienza. "We won't even issue a demolition permit until we have proof of an asbestos inspection."

The work order for the space allowed the removal of the tiled flooring in order to reach the asbestos, as well as the demolition of the interior wall that would have inhibited the extermination process.

Sapienza said that asbestos is inert, meaning that it cannot spread unless tampered with. This property of the mineral, though sometimes convenient, can also make removal more difficult.

"It only becomes dangerous when you start chipping it up," Sapienza said. "Once they find it, they have to get an asbestos abatement contractor to hall it off to an approved drop site."

Chris Lawrence, the assistant to the Blacksburg town manager, attests that the asbestos in the Lyric Center has been removed.

"As far as we know, the material has been removed," Lawrence said. "There is no other stock-work order for that space related to asbestos anymore. It is basically out of our hands to remedy it. Either way, the space is ready to be renovated for a new tenant to go in. The asbestos that was in there has been removed."

Sapienza said that the removed floor was delivered to the hand sanitary landfill on Sept. 25.

The town manager's office is now looking ahead to the College Avenue Promenade design process, a revitalization of College Avenue that should be completed in the next several years.

Perhaps even more disconcerting for Lyric Center shoppers than the presence of asbestos is the dishonesty of Lester Properties owner Doug Walsh. Walsh, the man responsible for all of the buildings on College Ave between Draper Road and North Main Street, denied the presence of asbestos in the location formerly known as Hanger 54.

"We had an asbestos survey done when they moved out and they didn't find anything," Walsh said. "We are getting ready for a new tenant."

The statement Walsh offered was proven false by Sapienza, who made it very clear that he has on record information regarding asbestos in the floor tile.

Walsh did not return follow-up phone calls from the Collegiate Times.