Repurposing Vacant LA Landmark Will Likely Involve Removing Hazardous Materials

Recently, multiple media outlets have discussed possible plans that the City of Los Angeles may have for the historic Lincoln Heights Jail. The almost 230,000 square foot building, originally constructed in the early 1930s, has not been used as a jail since the 1960s. Since then, the Art Deco structure has been used as a movie set and as home to an arts foundation, but in recent years has sat vacant and in need of repairs. 

According to several articles, possible uses for the historic building include repurposing it for use as a hotel, lofts, offices, or as a manufacturing facility. Regardless of the final choice, the old building likely contains a number of potentially hazardous materials that will need to be addressed.

“Since the Lincoln Heights Jail was built back in the 1930s, there is an excellent chance that it includes a myriad of exposure risks for those workers tasked with repurposing the structure and for future building occupants if these hazards are not properly removed,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Garden Grove facility. “These could include building materials, dusts and airborne hazards. Exposure risks may include lead from lead-based paints and pipes, asbestos-containing materials, PCBs from caulks and electrical fixtures, mold from water damage, and other microbial concerns from bat guano and bird droppings.”

California companies and individuals involved with repurposing, remodeling, renovating and demolishing old or abandoned buildings that may contain indoor environmental hazards can turn to the laboratory experts at LA Testing. LA Testing offers a comprehensive array of analytical services to address air quality, material, chemical and microbial concerns. They also offer a wide range of consumer test kits and all of the sampling supplies needed to submit samples.

To learn more about indoor environmental sampling or other property, indoor air quality (IAQ), occupational, health and safety issues, please visit www.LATesting.com, email  info@LATesting.com  or call (800) 755-1794. For access and more information about consumer test kits, please visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.  

About LA Testing

LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, NVLAP, CDC ELITE, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple lab.

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