October 23, 3015
COALDALE — Demolition work begins Monday on the former Alberta Health Services (AHS) community health building, located at 2012 18 St.
AHS vacated the 40-year-old building three years ago due to structural issues. Further analysis determined the building could not be repaired. Local community health services were moved to the Coaldale Health Centre.
Inspection of the former community health building determined asbestos was present in some of the construction materials. A remediation company has been contracted to safely remove the materials prior to demolition.
“It is common for asbestos to be present in many older buildings in North America,” says Dr. Karin Goodison, Medical Officer of Health for AHS South Zone.
“If asbestos fibres stay enclosed or tightly bound in a product, and it is removed using proper protocols, there is no health risk to the public.”
The asbestos removal will take about three weeks to complete and demolition work will follow with a completion date of March 2016. The total cost is estimated at $324,000.
Homeowners living near the site are being notified about the demolition via hand-delivered mail.
The land, owned by AHS, will be sold after the building is demolished.
Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.
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