Asbestos Found During Work On Mill Run Facility

Monday night’s work session meeting for Bristol Borough’s Council started with a visit from Bob White from the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority (RDA.)

White, director of the RDA, spoke in reference to the ongoing Mill Run project. The five-story 77,000-square-foot former medical facility on Wilson Avenue is currently owned by a company that plans to redevelop the building into a mixed-use assisted care facility with other medical offices.

According to White, when work was going on to gut the facility, asbestos was discovered in the basement and in the tile binding of the building. Someone reportedly anonymously contacted the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to report the asbestos and the project was put on hold until the mess was cleaned up.

White informed council and the public that grant applications for cleanup will be filed tomorrow and the work to abate the asbestos will begin quickly.

“There’s no asbestos in that building that is going to come out and attack anybody,” White said. He noted that the problem within the building is tucked away and in no danger of spreading in the air or buildings around Mill Run.

Mike Hollister, the attorney for the project, was also at the meeting to report that the proper licenses have been applied for. The building will eventually become an assisted living facility, among other medical services, and requires the associated licenses to do so lawfully. Hollister mentioned that by lining up the licenses early, the building will be ready to accept occupants when the building is finished if all goes according to plan.

Last year, the council, school board and county approved granting the facility Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance. The assistance will help limit the taxes paid on the building over the next 10 years.