Lebanon School District solicits bids for asbestos abatement at Lebanon Catholic

Update Sept. 9 – Bids were posted ranging from $301,412.20 to $738,041.00. The district will review bids at a future meeting.

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Lebanon School District is soliciting bids for asbestos abatement at the former Lebanon Catholic property.

The asbestos abatement project was put out to bid on Aug. 14, with a week left until submissions close. The project description says that work must be completed by Dec. 12.

Spotts, Stevens and McCoy is acting as owner’s representative for the district on the project. Spotts, Stevens and McCoy received earlier this year a $77,000 contract to survey the property for asbestos, lead-based paint, and mercury, and then provide bidding phase and construction phase oversight and administrative services.

The bid documents describe asbestos abatement in the former Lebanon Catholic School building as well as the historic Donaghmore Mansion at the rear of the property and a caretaker’s house. The project also includes the removal of all mercury containing light tubes and other debris from the structures.

The presence of asbestos at the site – unsurprising for their age – has been known by the district since a 2020 building study, when the district explored a purchase after the property was first put up for sale by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg.

Earlier this year, the district voted to acquire the 13.28-acre property at 1400 Chestnut St. for $5.25 million. The late Lebanon attorney George Christianson spoke out against the district’s purchase of the property in May and said that demolition costs for the three buildings on the tract would be around $250,000, even if no asbestos were found.

Read More: Lebanon school board OKs $5.25 million purchase of Lebanon Catholic property

Separately, concern has been raised about the planned demolition of the Donaghmore Mansion, which was home of storied World War II officer Captain Alexander M. Patch III.

Lebanon School District superintendent Nicole Malinoski previously said the district intends to demolish the existing buildings and use the land “for future educational and administrative offices” at some point in the future.