Asbestos testing demands delay Caribou Village demolition
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Debris at Caribou Village on Jan. 14. Photo: Mitchell Byars/Axios Boulder
Debris from the burned-out Caribou Village Shopping Center still sits in Nederland as asbestos testing delays demolition.
Why it matters: The stalled demolition is impeding efforts to rebuild what most consider the economic heart of Nederland.
State of play: While some debris has been sorted into piles on site, what's left of the charred building at 20 Lakeview Drive largely appears as it did days after the Oct. 9 fire.
- Tebo Properties, which owns the property, has conducted testing on accessible areas and so far all the tests have come back negative for dangerous substances.
Yes, but: Testing so far hasn't covered enough of the burn area to meet state and federal requirements, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
- Department spokesperson Zachary Aedo said Tebo Properties must either complete further testing or continue as if the site does have asbestos, requiring additional safety measures during demolition.
- Aedo said the state approved a site stabilization plan to remove some still-standing structures and expand access for "a robust sampling plan" from Tebo Properties.
What they're saying: "We understand why the ongoing condition of the site is frustrating for nearby residents and the affected business owners," Michael Ogletree, senior director of state air quality programs at CDPHE, told Axios Boulder. "Our role is to ensure that when demolition occurs, it does not create additional health risks for the surrounding community."
The other side: Bill Rigler, a spokesperson for Tebo Properties, said the area yet to be tested presents some safety hazards and stabilizing it could take months.
- Rigler said Tebo Properties has instead submitted a plan to test several hundred more accessible sites in the burn area.
- "This is intended to provide an even stronger assurance to CDPHE, and to break through this logjam that is creating real hardship for the affected Nederland businesses and residents," Rigler told Axios Boulder. "We understand how important this is for the community and businesses."
- He also noted the building was constructed in 1985, years after the federal government began banning asbestos in building materials.
What's next: Rigler said he cannot speculate on how the delays have impacted the overall timeline for demolition and rebuilding, but said "there's an overwhelming urgency to begin demolition."
- Tebo said demolition could begin as soon as this week if they state approves their proposal.
- In addition to restoring the town's economic center, Tebo Properties hopes to clean up the area quickly so residents don't have to drive past debris every day.
- "That area was basically the heartbeat of Nederland," Rigler told us. "It's just heartbreaking to see."