TEXARKANA, Texas -- As the first visible signs of the renovation at the Hotel Grim are appearing, public records shed some light on the toxic material abatement about to begin at the iconic building in downtown Texarkana, Texas, just steps from the Arkansas line.
The $25 million Hotel Grim project will restore portions of the building, including the grand lobby and the Palm Court Room, and convert the former hotel room floors into modern apartments. On completion, which officials said they expected to be completed in late 2020, the property will contain 93 rental apartments in a mix of efficiencies, one- and two-bedroom units.
Texarkana Fence last week began constructing a chain-link security fence around the hotel, taking the first concrete step toward a top-to-bottom renovation that will result in apartments and office/retail space. And Cohen-Esrey Development Group, the developer serving as general contractor for the project, has filed notification with Texas environmental regulation agencies asbestos abatement is beginning.
Leander, Texas-based Building Abatement Demolition Co. will remove asbestos, lead and mold toxins from the hotel. The abatement stage of the project will involve hauling in portable water and electricity sources, as well as temporary offices. No streets will be closed during the work.
Named after Texarkana banking, railroad and timber magnate William Rhoads Grim, the hotel opened in 1925. The construction cost was nearly $1 million, and the 250-room hotel was luxuriously appointed in marble and other elegant decor. The hotel served the many train passengers who in the course of their travels spent a night or longer in Texarkana. The hotel closed in 1990.
According to a required notification filed with the Texas Department of State Health Services, Building Abatement Demolition Co.'s work was scheduled to begin Thursday and is expected to be completed by May 22, 2020.
In the document, the work is described as "full containment with regulated areas, negative air enclosures, wet methods, PPE, ACM and LBP waste labeling and manifested for proper transport and disposal of pipe, floor tile and mastic, roof mastic, duct mastic and transite."
PPE stands for personal protective equipment, ACM refers to asbestos-containing material, and LBP refers to lead-based paint.
Wet methods prevent asbestos particles from going into the air. Negative air enclosures are those, normally made of plastic sheeting, used to control the flow and volume of air within a structure during abatement processes. They are meant to prevent any contaminants from escaping to where they could cause people harm.
NW News on 10/20/2019