southpawboston
02-27-2007, 03:43 PM
we visited a co-op playgroup in our neighborhood and we were all set to fill out an application for a spot for our DD1. the space is rented from a church, in a building attached to the church. just before we filled out the $35 check which is the required application fee (yes, this is the city!!!), my eye caught something disturbing: all the heating pipes running along the ceiling had exposed asbestos!!! :eek: at first, i wasn't sure, so i kept examining it. it had all the signs-- cracked casing exposing what looks like corrugated cardboard wrapped around the pipes. the worst part was that there was a section in a corner of the playspace just above a climbing fort, where kids could actually reach out and touch it!!! :mad:
i motioned to DW to put the check back in her wallet, and pointed discreetly to the pipes. DW nodded, knowing exactly what i was seeing, since just last year we had to have the asbestos in our basement abated... not an easy, nor fun, nor inexpensive undertaking! we politely left without filling out the application.
DW called the co-op and asked if they knew anything about it. they said that "we were curious about it as well, but the church super hasn't gotten back to us".
this is scary. i don't like the thought of kids being exposed to a known carcinogen. it is a CLEAR violation of city code to have ANY exposed asbestos, regardless of if there are children around!!!
we called back again, and asked for the number for the church super. he hasn't returned our calls.
we would like to give them the benefit of the doubt, but to be perfectly honest, if they don't have the decency to get back to us in a timely manner and put our minds at rest (not for us, but for all the kids there!!!), we're tempted to call the city inspector on them. the inspector WILL come promptly and if the inspector finds the asbestos to be real, he can close the co-op on the spot and require the church to fix it within 30 days. keep in mind that such an action could end up dissolving the co-op, which many parents may depend on and have their work days scheduled around. the church may not renew their lease if they think the co-op "ratted" them out. there are a lot of bad politics in this town when it comes to property matters, believe me!
WWYD?
i motioned to DW to put the check back in her wallet, and pointed discreetly to the pipes. DW nodded, knowing exactly what i was seeing, since just last year we had to have the asbestos in our basement abated... not an easy, nor fun, nor inexpensive undertaking! we politely left without filling out the application.
DW called the co-op and asked if they knew anything about it. they said that "we were curious about it as well, but the church super hasn't gotten back to us".
this is scary. i don't like the thought of kids being exposed to a known carcinogen. it is a CLEAR violation of city code to have ANY exposed asbestos, regardless of if there are children around!!!
we called back again, and asked for the number for the church super. he hasn't returned our calls.
we would like to give them the benefit of the doubt, but to be perfectly honest, if they don't have the decency to get back to us in a timely manner and put our minds at rest (not for us, but for all the kids there!!!), we're tempted to call the city inspector on them. the inspector WILL come promptly and if the inspector finds the asbestos to be real, he can close the co-op on the spot and require the church to fix it within 30 days. keep in mind that such an action could end up dissolving the co-op, which many parents may depend on and have their work days scheduled around. the church may not renew their lease if they think the co-op "ratted" them out. there are a lot of bad politics in this town when it comes to property matters, believe me!
WWYD?