MANSFIELD — R&D Excavating included contingency costs for unexpected surprises when it successfully bid $4 million for the demolition of former Westinghouse properties in Mansfield a few months ago.
But the number of surprises found on just a small section of the property, the former Electrolux building on the north side of Fifth Street, has already surprised Richland County Land Bank manager Amy Hamrick.
Hamrick said officials with the Crestline company have not yet discussed change orders due to the discoveries, including sewer lines and huge underground concrete tanks with thick walls full of rebar.
“I think if we find too much more that may change,” Hamrick said Wednesday afternoon during a Land Bank board meeting.
“They found a lot of unexpected stuff. They had prepared and put a contingency in for unexpected and unknown, but I think we’re getting to the limit of what they thought,” Hamrick said.
Demolition and remediation has not started yet at the 13-acre concrete slab across the street. Asbestos removal continues at the former “A” building at 200 Fifth St.
Work continued Wednesday afternoon on the former Electrolux site, according to Hamrick, as the project rolls on to remove one of the longest-standing industrial eyesores in the city.
“They have now found 10 tanks, three of which are 30 to 35 feet deep. The cement walls are two to three feet thick. They’re finding these are old foundations throughout the entire site,” she said.
“The foundations are running down about six feet. And then when they get to the bottom, they’re sitting on a bed of concrete that’s five feet wide. So an upside down T,” Hamrick said.
She said the largest pit appeared to have been an underground water treatment plant tank.
“A lot of things that we had not expected,” Hamrick told board members.
Tony Vero, a board member and Richland County commissioner, said, “This is the small property. Can you imagine what (might be) under the 14 acres of concrete (across the street)?”
Hamrick said the sixth floor of the “A” building is now free of asbestos. That work, being done by Erie Environmental of Sandusky, continues on the fifth floor, the stairways and the elevator shafts, she said.
She said there was no timeline for when the asbestos abatement may be complete and the demolition of the actual building may begin.
The State of Ohio is providing $3 million toward the project. Richland County commissioners and Mansfield City Council have both approved spending $500,00 each on the effort. Both local entities are using federal funds obtained through the American Rescue Plan Act.
Also on Wednesday, the Land Bank board:
— Voted to officially accept the deed for the former Ocie Hill Neighborhood Center at 455 Bowman St. on the city’s north side. The Land Bank was notified Friday that the state had awarded $2 million toward the demolition of the building.
— Approved various agreements related to the preservation of a historic “entry way” to the former “A” building. The agreement is among the city, the Land Bank, Richland County Historical Society, Mansfield’s Historic Preservation Commission, Downtown Mansfield Inc. and the Ohio State Historic Preservation Office.
— Agreed to delay demolition of the historic “Daisy Thomas House” at 89 Wood St., which local officials have said is the first home in Richland County built and owned by African-American residents. Vero said there is still hope among local groups that the building, which seems stabilized, may still be able to be renovated.
“My thoughts are if the building can make it through the winter, let’s just kind of hold on to it,” Vero said.
The next Land Bank board meeting is scheduled Dec. 7.
