Tenants living in Tucson House, the long-standing affordable housing high-rise undergoing a multi-year rehabilitation, say they are being exposed to asbestos-laden dust as crews perform demolition and other renovation work. Residents described repeated cleaning, coughing and worry about long-term health consequences as contractors remove hazardous materials inside the building. Renovations at the complex began in March as part of a city-led effort to address known safety issues; the project is expected to run through 2028.
A reporter stands outside the Tucson House high‑rise, where tenants say asbestos‑laden dust from ongoing renovations has made them feel unsafe and sick.
Michael Gutierrez, who said he has lived at Tucson House for months, described symptoms and daily steps he has taken since work began. "I'm having them sweep my floor twice, three times a day, all the dust on there from the asbestos," Gutierrez said, recounting a routine of constant cleaning to try to remove dust he believes is tied to the demolition. He said his health and peace of mind have suffered: "I was sweeping up every day, and I'm waking up coughing," Gutierrez said, adding, "I don't want to die of cancer, knowing that this could be a cause. I don't think anybody should be here while they're doing this demolition."
Gutierrez is not the only resident to raise those concerns. Other tenants reported similar problems, saying the dust is pervasive and that several people in the building have become ill as work continues. "There's a lot of people tired of it. We're getting sick. It's taking years to fix this. It's really sad," Gutierrez said, reflecting a broader frustration on the floors of the high-rise. He also said the material appears to be widespread inside apartments: "It's over in the air, it's on the ground, it's in the rooms, it's everywhere."
Postal service operations were also affected while construction was underway. The United States Postal Service confirmed it had temporarily paused deliveries to Tucson House after a potential safety issue was reported. In a statement explaining the interruption, postal officials said they "briefly paused delivery out of an abundance of caution while local postal leadership worked with building management to confirm that the mail delivery area could be accessed safely and to determine whether any adjustments were needed." The Postal Service added that it would continue to adjust service if safety or access conditions changed and provided a customer information number for residents with questions.
City officials referred questions about asbestos handling and removal to the construction managers overseeing the rehabilitation. Gorman & Company, the firm managing the project, acknowledged the presence of asbestos-containing materials and said crews are removing those materials. The company emphasized it is coordinating with environmental consultants "every day to make sure hazardous materials are being removed safely," and stressed a commitment to resident safety. "Gorman & Company is committed to protecting the health and safety of Tucson House residents, employees, contractors, and visitors throughout the building’s renovation," the statement said.
Gorman & Company provided details about the contractors and monitoring in place. The company said that "asbestos-containing materials are being removed by a licensed environmental-abatement contractor with more than 40 years of experience." It also named Terracon as an independent environmental consulting firm providing daily oversight whenever abatement work is underway. According to the company, Terracon's responsibilities include monitoring air quality outside work areas, inspecting containment systems, confirming that required negative air pressure is maintained, and verifying that workers follow appropriate safety procedures.
The construction manager outlined the procedures used before reopening any work area. Abatement activities are conducted within "sealed, barricaded, and clearly marked areas," and a site is not released for further construction or future occupancy until Terracon conducts both a visual inspection and air-clearance testing to confirm it meets applicable standards. The company added that any additional suspect materials found during construction are tested before they are disturbed, a step intended to prevent unexpected release of hazardous materials.
Renovations at Tucson House, launched to address structural and safety concerns in the aging property, are expected to continue through 2028. Meanwhile, residents like Gutierrez say they are coping with ongoing dust and health worries while managers and consultants carry out abatement and oversight procedures. The construction management team maintains the work is being performed by licensed professionals under daily environmental supervision, and that air monitoring and clearance testing are part of the process to ensure areas are safe before being reoccupied.
Local reporting and city documents show the Tucson House work is a roughly $200 million rehabilitation funded by a mix of public, private and nonprofit sources, including a $50 million Choice Neighborhoods Implementation grant awarded to Tucson in July 2023; city officials have said private investors will provide the largest share (about 53%) and the city has committed smaller amounts, including $5 million in general funds.
City planning documents say the project will reposition Tucson House from traditional public housing to a voucher-based Housing Choice Voucher model after renovation; those documents also show the redevelopment will result in 48 fewer on-site units, with replacement affordable units planned at three nearby developments (the Bum Steer Family Apartments, Amazon Apartments and Stone/Speedway) as part of the broader neighborhood plan.
The city’s Housing and Community Development office has told local media that residents are being offered a choice to remain in their apartments during construction or to relocate temporarily to other city housing while renovations are underway.