Finding asbestos, lead paint raises cost of City Hall work
Video technician Ed Nartatez on Tuesday readied his video camera for Wednesday’s blessing ceremony in the newly renovated Honolulu City Council chambers. Among the changes, a new, lighter-colored carpet was installed, and the curtains were changed.
The price tag for refurbishing City Council chambers at Honolulu Hale is $428,000, more than three times the $141,000 figure that officials initially said it would cost.
Council members return to the chambers for their regularly scheduled monthly meeting Wednesday, more than six months later than they had expected after the project started March 10. City officials had said in April the project was to take 45 days. The Council met elsewhere in the ensuing months.
The original work was to consist of painting, installation of new carpet and repair/renovation of seating.
But the discovery of asbestos and lead paint in a large, historic third-floor room cost an additional $167,000 for removal, said Laura Figueira, executive assistant to Council Chairman Ernie Martin.
Asbestos was used commonly in old-style tile flooring and generally is not a health problem, city officials said. The only time it is dangerous is when it crumbles. Workers have been wearing protective gear during the work.
The cleanup cost includes lead paint and asbestos remediation, drywall and concrete leveling, plastering, and replacement of baseboards, Figueira said.
Additional items included demolition ($29,000), moving and storage ($6,200), drapery ($49,500), upgraded audiovisual equipment ($12,400), a new city seal ($5,000), electronic wiring ($12,000), new furniture and refinishing of furniture ($4,500) and insect control ($1,300), Figueira said.
Money for the improvements is coming from three different years’ capital improvement budgets.
City Hall veterans said no renovations were made to the chambers in at least four decades. The building was placed on the Hawaii Register of Historic Places in 1975 and the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
The chambers were part of the original building dedicated in 1929, according to a pamphlet commemorating the building’s 50th anniversary in 1979.
Land for the California-Spanish-style building was purchased from several owners for $243,791 in 1925. The Territorial Legislature approved $750,000 for construction in 1927. Ground was broken Aug. 14, 1928.
Martin, in a statement, said, "This has been a very challenging time for the Council and its staff due to the almost nomadic existence we have had to endure over the work period."
During its time away from Honolulu Hale, the Council used the Mission Memorial Auditorium next door as well as meeting space at the University of Hawaii at West Oahu, Kapolei Hale and Windward Community College.
