Discovery of chemicals in Thatcher St. warehouse halts demolition

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Microbursts from last week did significant damage to several buildings on Thatcher Street in Albany. Clean up efforts on Thatcher Street began on Friday, however, the Blake Equipment Branch building is being demolished after it was too badly damaged.

The building took damage to its top, which caused the roof to collapse. The demolition process was supposed to be completed sooner, however, two types of chemicals were found in the building that have the potential to be dangerous if combined. This discovery has slowed down the demolition process, which is now expected to end this weekend.

Richard LaJoy, Director of Buildings and Regulatory Compliance for the City of Albany, said chlorine and another chemical were found in the warehouse.

"The chemicals were brought to our attention by the business owners," he said. " They let us know they had several pallets of some chlorine and another type of chemical that are separated, but we needed to make sure they stayed separate so they didn't co-mingle because it could become a potential hazard."

LaJoy says the demolition process Tuesday was done with extra precautions in order to keep those taking down the building safe as well as the surrounding businesses.

"Everyone is taking extra precautions so that everyone is safe and everything goes smoothly," he said. " Everything has been safe. Nothing has been co-mingled; they were separated within the building. We're just doing our best to make sure we are doing everything we can safely to get it out of the building."

Ted Danz, owner of Family Danz Heating and Cooling, a business in the area of the demolition, said it was a surprise that the building was being demolished after the storm.

"I can't believe it, that building has been there probably 80 to 100 years, and this storm finally took it out," he said.

Danz, however, is confident that the chemicals found in the demolition will not harm him or his business.

"The people that are doing the demolition are doing it to industry standards to keep it from contaminating," he said. "This side is mainly industrial, but the other side is mainly residential."

The Blake Equipment Branch is a groundwater product and service company. Its employees are now moving to another branch located in Oneonta.