Westminster Village seeks grant to enable needed demolitions

Westminster Village is looking for community support as it applies for a grant that would allow the company to tear down a number of abandoned buildings that are becoming hazardous to those living in the retirement community.

In a letter that went out to a number of local businesses and organizations, Westminster Executive Director Linda O'Guin is asking for support as the Village attempts to obtain an EPA Brownfield Cleanup Grant that would allow three buildings deemed hazardous to surrounding residents to be demolished.

"The buildings have been vacant and are proposed for deconstruction and demolition," the letter states. "In their current state, these buildings pose a hazard to residents of the retirement community. Water has begun to infiltrate the unmaintained roofs of many of the structures, causing ceiling collapse and potential problems with mold in this climate. The buildings were constructed with products that contain asbestos, which is costly to remove."

Westminster has applied for this grant before, which would allow the facility to bring in a team that would check the buildings for asbestos, but the effort has never even passed the threshold required to get the proposal seen.

"They just need to go away," O'Guin said. "But our hands are tied because of the possibility of asbestos. We just can't do it."

The Village is hoping to be awarded $600,000 in grant funds to tear down 16 units in the occupied area, 16 units in the unoccupied area and a former officer's quarters building.

cpinkard@blythevillecourier.com