Back to the West Side today to check on the Prince of Wales. She’s still standing, but probably not for too much longer. You can see at the very left a glimpse of the Building Eater that’s parked on site.
The architectural elements have been removed, so I think demolition is clear to start… Except for that pesky asbestos… 🙂
Now do we really think that the powers-that-be in charge of asbestos removal actually follow the appropriate protocol of sealing the unit, with handlers donning the proper breathing apparatus and toxic-waste gear?
In a fairly recent building being torn down, that shall remain nameless, it was viewed that the asbestos removal was conducted this way: guys in street clothes stuffed it in yellow bags and threw it in a bin. They wore gloves.
Now one might argue that it may not have been asbestos, but the vintage of the building mentioned would have been in all likelihood matched to asbestos use; and if not, why segregate the binned waste in yellow bags prior to demo?
Has anyone out there actually viewed an older building being torn down, where proper sealing of the building occurred and Ministry of Health guidelines in proper asbestos disposal were observed? In these times of fast demos and re-use of the same site to build yet another unoccupied strip mall or a millionth Shoppers Drug Mart (is it now a bylaw that there must be a Shoppers every 1000 feet in Windsor?) it seems like yet another example of sweeping it under the rug and hope that nobody notices.
All area residents be sure not to open your windows if you’re downwind from the asbestos dust-devils–one good thing about the cold weather: most windows are shut now anyway.
Same thing I’m curious about. I plan to be there for some of the demolition to take photos, but then.. I don’t know if it’s such a good idea? That-and 5000+ University students walking around nearby.