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NYC officials: asbestos discovered in Gracie Mansion roof

FILE - In this Oct. 7, 2013 file photo, the exterior of Gracie Mansion in New York City is shown. Workers repairing Gracie Mansion’s roof found asbestos, which will need to be removed, adding $250 thousand to the $3.4 million needed to fix the roof. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File) FILE - In this Oct. 7, 2013 file photo, the exterior of Gracie Mansion in New York City is shown. Workers repairing Gracie Mansion’s roof found asbestos, which will need to be removed, adding $250 thousand to the $3.4 million needed to fix the roof. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

By Associated Press April 9, 2015 1 min read

NEW YORK (AP) – Asbestos has been discovered in Gracie Mansion’s roof.

Officials tell The Associated Press that workers replacing the roof at New York City’s official mayoral residence found pockets of the cancer-causing materials last month.

The workers will begin removing the asbestos later this month.

Officials do not believe the work poses any health risk to Mayor Bill de Blasio and his family. They will remain in the home during the renovation.

Officials say the asbestos removal will cost about $250,000. The replacement of the mansion’s 30-year-old roof will cost an additional $3.4 million.

The home, which was built in 1799, underwent an extensive renovation under de Blasio’s predecessor, Michael Bloomberg.

Bloomberg never lived in the home. The de Blasio family moved in last July.