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Residents say demolition dust forced months-long displacement, urge Emeryville oversight
Summary
Multiple residents of 6221 Hollis told Emeryville council that demolition by a nearby developer left their building contaminated with lead and asbestos, that independent and developer testing exceeded safety limits, and that families have been displaced and billed for rent; they called for stronger tenant protections and city oversight.
Several Emeryville residents used public comment time to report hazardous lead and asbestos contamination at 6221 Hollis related to adjacent demolition and to urge the City Council to step up oversight of developer cleanup and tenant protections.
Bruce Bollinger, an architect and longtime resident, said multiple tests of common areas detected lead and asbestos well above safe levels and described the current cleanup as inadequate: "The contamination of lead dust and asbestos were so great ... the cleanup is not a cleanup. This is a disaster," he said.
James Elleker (who identified himself as James Elleker and said he runs James Elliker Photography) told the council he and his 10‑year‑old daughter were displaced since July after independent testing and developer testing indicated dangerous lead levels. He said Wareham Development later acknowledged exceedances and that his family has been charged more than $6,400 in rent for the period their unit was uninhabitable. "No family should ever be forced to choose between their health and their housing," he said, calling on the city to strengthen tenant protections during construction projects and hold developers accountable.
A third resident, who identified herself as Wendy, said she had repeatedly measured dust and asked the city for oversight and transparency about testing and blood-test results.
City staff did not present a detailed technical response during public comment; councilmembers and staff acknowledged the seriousness of the residents' accounts and asked staff to follow up. The comments were made during the meeting's regular public-comment period; residents said they can provide testing and blood-test documentation to city staff.
Next steps indicated by the council included staff follow-up and potential enforcement or oversight conversations with the building owner and developer. Residents asked the city to require clearer cleanup protocols and to consider tenant protections for displaced residents while remediation continues.
