The largest Methodist Church congregation in the Midwest used to be in Gary, Indiana. The City Methodist Church building, however, is falling apart, and cannot be presently occupied because the former church is an asbestos danger site.
Gary Building Plans
For many years, the city of Gary considered various plans for the structure including turning the entire space into a type of ruins-type garden like those that exist in Europe. In fact, the Knight Foundation gave Gary a grant in excess of $160,000 to begin project funding.
Asbestos
Asbestos fears are currently holding up the project and Gary has applied for a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Cleanup Grant. Asbestos found in the church basement complicated by floodwaters would be the focus of the cleanup.
Building History
The building is located on Washington Street in Gary, Indiana, and was completed in 1926. Its initial attributes included a cafeteria, a theater, and a gym. U.S. Steel had contributed to the original building construction fund.
Good News
Groundwater samplings have shown that the building area soil and groundwater are not contaminated. There is substantial water in the building basement and that will have to be removed before asbestos abatement can proceed.
EPA Grant Significance
For the reclamation project to move forward, receipt of the EPA grant is imperative. Asbestos remediation is a complex process, and Gary is doing what it can to move forward.
Asbestos Facts
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fiber found in rocks. It was widely used in construction projects because of its insulating and fire-retardant properties. Asbestos is surprisingly strong, and many municipalities consider that any building built before 1980 contains asbestos.
Asbestos fibers, however, can be lethal when inhaled and/or ingested. They find their way deep into a victim’s lungs where they irritate the lung tissue over a period of years. In fact, the so-called latency period is so pronounced that it can take up to 50 years for asbestos-related lung symptoms to occur. These symptoms might include:
- Dry persistent cough
- Trouble breathing
- Chest pain
- Weight loss when breathing
- Rounder and wider fingertips–an issue called clubbing
Asbestos-related diseases can include:
- Asbestosis
- Mesothelioma
- Lung cancer
- Lung scarring
How Asbestos is Released
Asbestos used as a pipe wrap, for example, might not be an issue until the wrap is damaged. When that occurs, dangerous fibers can be released into the air.
Naval ships used asbestos as insulation on machine parts. When those parts needed to be cleaned or replaced, the insulation had to be rubbed or chipped off. Many asbestos victims became exposed to the dangerous mineral fibers in that manner.
Gary and Indiana Area Asbestos Problem Sites
- JM Foster
- US Steel
- Dean Mitchell
- Kraft
- Landair
- Pettinger Harding
- Eli Lilly
- ERMCO
- Kennedy Tank
- Schuchman Metals
Have You Been Exposed? You Need a Gary Mesothelioma Attorney
Gary is a city with many aging factory buildings and therefore many residents may have been exposed to asbestos. If you are worried about asbestos in or near your home or workplace, you need to contact a qualified Gary Mesothelioma Attorney like the Throneberry Law Group. The Throneberry Law Group provides aggressive and compassionate support and representation for asbestos cancer victims. Call an experienced Throneberry Law Group attorney today at (888) 506-1131, or visit them online for 24/7 assistance.
