Mold discovery closes state building on Third Street

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Mold discovery closes state building on Third Street

The Sacramento Bee, Sacramento,CA*

By Bill Lindelof - blindelof@...

Thursday, March 6, 2008

http://www.sacbee.com/749/story/765243.html

About 350 employees of the California Department of Housing and

Community Development were told to stay home Thursday as a

precaution because mold has been found in the downtown Sacramento

building where they work.

The headquarters for Housing and Community Development at 1800 Third

St. was closed Thursday because construction work being done for

another tenant in the privately owned building uncovered mold, said

a department official.

" We don't know what kind of mold it is, " said Elliott Mandell, the

department's chief deputy. " Rather than put our employees at risk,

we have closed the building to our employees. We have told them not

to report to work while the testing goes on. "

He did not know how long the employees will be out. Employees can

check for updates on the department Web site at

http://www.hcd.ca.gov/.

Department analysts and others employed in the building work on

affordable housing, inspection of mobile home parks and other duties.

" We are working to get this resolved as quickly as possible, "

Mandell said.

The four-story structure is the old Diggs building.