Council committee seeks $480,000 stabilization work at 1500 West Galbraith after structural and contamination review

Lede — Members of the North College Hill City Council's committees discussed a contractor proposal and multiple engineering reports on the former municipal building at 1500 West Galbraith, and agreed to seek stabilization work to address asbestos, mold and water infiltration so the city keeps future options open.

Nut graf — The city administrator and an independent, state-licensed engineer said the building is structurally sound, but requires hazardous-material abatement, cleaning of HVAC systems, window and roof repairs and other work to stop further deterioration. Council staff say roughly $480,000 in ARPA funds has been encumbered to start stabilization and that the recommended scope is to achieve a “white box” condition suitable for future build-out, not to complete a full renovation or new construction.

Body — Christian Hedger and other staff circulated and discussed three prior consultant reports and a recent site review by Bill Knight, a registered structural engineer and commercial building inspector, who told the city the structure remains sound. Knight’s letter and the Burgess & Niple reports were reviewed alongside a draft AIA contract and a contractor quote from RWB for remediation and stabilization work.

The RWB draft proposal cited hazardous‑materials abatement (asbestos), mold remediation, contaminated‑waste removal, interior clean‑outs (including HVAC duct cleaning or replacement where required), roof repair/replacement (noting the West Wing separately) and replacement of failing doors and windows. RWB’s current draft price for that stabilization work appears in the documents as approximately $743,308; city staff said an encumbered purchase order of about $480,000 from ARPA remains available and that the documents will be tightened (for example, clarifying insulation scope) before a final contract is presented.

City administration told the committee RWB is nationally ranked for asbestos abatement and that its proposed approach includes obtaining final clearance documentation and certificates-of-occupancy after remediation; the draft AIA contract provided in the packet spells out contractor obligations, payment terms and required code compliance. Staff said if remediation proceeds and no additional unexpected conditions are found, RWB expects to produce the environmental clearances needed before anyone re‑occupies the building.

Council members and staff discussed the trade-offs between demolition and stabilization. Staff and the city’s code official explained that partially demolishing one wing while keeping another is not a simple option: the building’s mechanical/electrical/plumbing systems and parcel configurations tie the structure together, and demolition would require removal of foundations, associated utilities and special handling and disposal for contaminated material — which can raise demolition costs substantially. Staff also pointed to ancillary operational impacts: Public Works equipment and an existing impound/tow area are tied to the site, and there is no immediate alternative storage or operational site identified.

Beyond the remediation PO and ARPA encumbrance, staff reported a recent $100,000 award from Hamilton County CDBG for related city projects; they said those CDBG funds and other grant opportunities may be used for future work but that ARPA timing and encumbrance rules shaped the present recommendation to stabilize now.

Ending — Staff recommended the council form or charge an ad hoc committee to consider long-term uses, possible sales or redevelopment of the site once stabilization and environmental clearances are complete. City administration said it would clarify the AIA draft (insulation/removal specifics, HVAC cleaning detail), circulate competing contractor quotes on request, and return the revised contract and any outstanding questions to the next council agenda for a formal decision.