Elizabeth Zavitz (left) and Dora Dubose listen during Thursday's meeting. At right, Evelyn Carr talks about her concerns over the Metrolina Warehouse project.

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

About a dozen West Side residents met again Thursday night, Oct. 30, to discuss concerns about asbestos and plans for redeveloping the Metrolina Warehouse, at Sloan and Depot Streets. It was the third neighborhood meeting on the issue. The group made no decision to support or oppose the developer’s proposal to clean up the site, nor did residents take a position on the overall plan for developing offices, townhomes and shops at the old mill.

Residents said they hope to organize a future meeting with an environmental expert so members can learn more about the potential health effects of cleaning up the site’s so-called “Mystery Hill,” where asbestos has been encapsulated. They also talked about doing a survey to understand neighbors’ feelings about the project. And they talked about planning another meeting with the developer, GreenHawk Partners, of Raleigh.

GreenHawk has proposed building a mixed-use development on the site, which is currently a warehouse and was formerly both an asbestos mill and a cotton mill.

The Rev. Dora Dubose chaired the meeting. At the outset, she told those in attendance she hoped they could reach a consensus on the development and asbestos removal plans. The group met on Sept. 18 with developer Brian Goray, of GreenHawk, and his asbestos removal expert – at Mr. Goray’s request. They met again on Oct. 3. Neither meeting produced a statement or consensus on the project.

Ms. Dubose said, “We still have no decision about whether we wanted to leave it as is – the asbestos – or have it removed.”

Elizabeth Wilson said later in the meeting she had talked with an environmental expert in Charlotte whom the group could invite to a future meeting. “If the asbestos is removed, we’re concerned about the safety,” Ms. Wilson said.

As they did at the Sept. 18 and Oct. 3 meetings, residents spent much of the meeting recounting their own and family members’ health problems. Many believe that illnesses and deaths have come as result of living near or working at the asbestos mill once on the site.

Some talked about walking through the neighborhood and playing in the fluffy white material that they now know was asbestos. “It was a miracle material,” Ms. Dubose said. “But it’s highly toxic. … We didn’t know. But now we know, and we have to move forward.”

Like previous meetings, Thursday’s gathering brought out deeply held suspicions. Ms. Dubose said a town official had once told her that there was no asbestos on the site.

Evelyn Carr, who is Ms. Wilson’s mother, talked about losing her husband and father to cancer that she believes was caused by asbestos. She thinks town officials don’t care about the situation. “What really bothers me is the town has no concern about it. If they did I think they’d be here,” she said.

Asked if any town officials had been invited to Thursday’s meeting, organizers said no. Town Planner Parviz Moosavi was there, but only because he read an announcement of the meeting on DavidsonNews.net, he said.

Members of the group agreed they would invite Mayor John Woods and town commissioners to a future meeting.

Ms. Dubose tried several times Thursday to turn discussion toward residents’ opinions about the asbestos and the redevelopment plan. She and Mr. Moosavi both told the group the developer would like to input from residents as he decides how to proceed.

As the group discussed planning another meeting with an expert, Shirley Parsons asked, “How many answers to have to have before you can see if it (removing the asbestos) can be done?”

Mrs. Carr was the only person to state a strong opinion at the meeting. She rather the asbestos remained. “If they do get something built over there, it’s gonna go airborne. Me (I say) leave it there, or it’s gonna kill us all,” Mrs. Carr said.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

Oct. 7, 2008, “West Side worry: Is Mystery Hill an asbestos danger?”

Oct. 3, 2008, “Residents plan meeting about asbestos at old mill.”

July 25, 2008, “Would warehouse project link West Side, downtown?”

June 20, 2008, “Developer eyes warehouse for mixed-use project.”

ON THE TOWN WEBSITE

The Davidson town website has a page about the possible Linden Mill redevelopment, with maps and other documents, including the environmental assessment. CLICK HERE>