Construction work on the historic Palace Hotel has been suspended by the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health due to concerns regarding asbestos and lead contamination at the site.
“We want to protect the employees,” said Cal/OSHA spokesman Peter Melton, who also said that the work will not continue until a licensed asbestos contractor has been hired by the building’s owner, Marin County real estate agent Eladia Laines.
Restoration of the Palace Hotel, which was purchased in 1990 by Laines and her former partners, has been stalled numerous times. The hotel is nearly 60,000 sq. ft. and takes up almost an entire block. Its vacant status and large size have negated efforts by the City Council to improve the downtown Ukiah scene.
In 2009, Laines announced her intentions to build shops and condominiums into the three-story building, but no investing partners have been acquired. Two years ago, the City Council threatened to seize and possibly demolish the hotel, mandating that Laines begin regular renovations. She has been ordered to provide status updates to the council.
Asbestos, once a popular material in manufacturing and building, has been banned for wide-spread use since the ’70s because of its harmful properties, which can lead to numerous respiratory health problems, including mesothelioma. Asbestos is still found in many structures built prior to the ban, such as the 122-year-old Palace Hotel. Because of the mineral’s tendency to become airborne and easily inhaled, handling of asbestos must be done by a trained professional who follows all protocols and procedures for safe, lawful abatement.