Bring on Abatement, State Says of Deutsche Bank Building

Eliot Brown — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 22:05:13 -0400

The ever-troubled Deutsche Bank building at Ground Zero seems to be moving a bit closer to deconstruction, as the state announced today that it has approved an abatement plan for the tower at 130 Liberty Street.

After a fire at the building killed two firefighters this summer, the deconstruction of the damaged tower was put on hold while officials sorted through the high-profile mess. On top of being strongly associated with the fatal fire and a couple other attention-grabbing accidents at the site, one of the subcontractors on the job, John Galt, was tainted by scandal and mob ties, as the Times revealed, and was booted off the deconstruction team.

The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation then selected a new general contractor last month, LVI Services, Inc., which plans to mostly remove asbestos before dismantling the building.

Press release below

Abatement plan approved for 130 liberty street

Today, the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) announced that it has received approval for the amended plan governing the abatement of 130 Liberty Street. This approved plan will permit LVI Services, Inc., the new subcontractor at 130 Liberty Street, to proceed with the abatement of the building.

Among the key features in the amended plan is the decision to decouple the abatement and deconstruction phases of the project. The building will be now be almost entirely abated first and then deconstructed. The approved plan also contains safety enhancements, including the installation of chemical fire suppression systems in certain areas of the decontamination units and the fire hardening of all decontamination chambers.

“Today, we are one step closer towards the revitalization of Lower Manhattan,” said LMDC Chairman Avi Schick. “The regulatory approval of these modifications to the plans governing the 130 Liberty Street project is a critical milestone that will enable us to fulfill our commitment to complete the abatement and deconstruction safely and expeditiously during 2008.”

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said: “Completing the deconstruction of 130 Liberty Street is essential to rebuilding at the World Trade Center site and to the continuing revitalization of Lower Manhattan, so this is good news for all who live, work and visit Downtown. I also want to recognize the hard work of LMDC Chairman Avi Schick, who has remained committed to ensuring the safety of our community and resolving this matter as quickly as possible.”

“Today, we accepted LMDC’s revised plans to decontaminate its building at 130 Liberty,” said Alan J. Steinberg, EPA Regional Administrator. “I am extremely proud of the efforts of my staff and our regulatory partners in making sure this building comes down in a manner that protects both the workers and the surrounding community.”

“LMDC’s amended plan incorporates critical safety requirements that will protect workers, first responders and the surrounding community,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Edward Skyler. “Along with our partners in State and Federal government, we want to complete work at 130 Liberty Street as quickly as possible, and we all agree that safety must be the primary concern, which this plan recognizes.”

Copies of the amended plans are posted and available on the LMDC website at www.renewnyc.com.

The following agencies provided input and direction and signed off on the approved documents: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Department of Labor, New York State Department of Health, New York City Department of Environmental Protection, New York City Department of Buildings, New York City Department of Transportation, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Citywide Office of Occupational Safety and Health in the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, New York City Office of Emergency Management, New York City Fire Department and the New York City Police Department.

Observer » Bring on Abatement, State Says of Deutsche Bank Building

Bring on Abatement, State Says of Deutsche Bank Building