Ocala building slated for demo following asbestos removal

The Ocala City Council has approved a $11,044 grant to demolish the old Brick City Printing Building, reports Ocala.com. The building, situated on 316 North Magnolia Avenue in Ocala, Florida, is owned by Virginia Hitt.

The grant has been awarded to Hitt, in order to fund the demolition. The grant amount reflects the lowest bid obtained by the city, for the work. The city accepted bids on behalf of the property owner.

The demolition process includes asbestos removal. Asbestos must be removed from the building in order to prevent an asbestos disturbance. For when asbestos is disturbed, the particles can easily be aerosolized. Once made airborne, the particles can be inhaled.

Such exposure has been known to cause several diseases, including mesothelioma.Mesothelioma is the rarest and most aggressive asbestos related disease, known to affect nearly 3,000 Americans each year.

Due to an extended latency period of 10 to 50 years, doctors struggle to diagnose patients in the early stages of their disease. Due to patients’ late diagnosis, mesothelioma treatmenttends to arrive late. Such treatment is palliative, rather than curative, and most often involves chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.

When Whitt sells or transfers the property, or obtains a building permit for remediation or construction on the property, she must repay the city $5,522. She must repay the entire amount, regardless of whether that amount is equal to the demolition cost.