former elementary school in durango set for asbestos abatement

A 3,500 square foot structure just to the north of downtown Durango, Colorado that has served as a school for three generations of residents may soon undergo an extensive asbestos abatement.

The one-story Mason Elementary School, located at 301 E. 12th Street, was built in the late 1950s, located in a mostly residential neighborhood. Not until 1995, when the City of Durango purchased the structure, was the building used for anything other than educational purposes.

But in the last two decades it has also housed city offices and a city gymnasium, as well as a day care program run by the city’s parks and recreations department.

The building was abandoned three years ago when the various city departments moved the services it was being used for to other locations.

Since then city officials have discussed future possible uses for the building before deciding that its aging structure and the discovery of mold would make it too expensive for an upgrade.

Now the City of Durango has issued a Request For Proposals for the building’s asbestos abatement, a necessary preliminary move to eventually demolishing the structure altogether.

The asbestos project comes after at least one public input meeting on the project.

Plans for the site, upon the demolition of the former school, have not yet been announced.
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The RFP is scheduled to expire on February 13.

​By Garry Boulard

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