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August 01, 2013
Atlantic City, New Jersey - The resident association for a condominium development in the New Jersey resort town of Atlantic City is urging its residents to leave while the apartment complex next door is being demolished. The main reason for the concern? Asbestos, says association officials.
According to an article in the Press of Atlantic City, demolition began this week on the old apartment complex next to the Roosevelt Beach Condominiums, situated at the 3800 block of the famed Atlantic City boardwalk. And though the city’s fire chief has assured the condo residents that all precautions are being taken to ensure their safety, residents aren’t convinced that everything is being done to protect them during the demolition.
“As an association, we have done whatever we could to protect our residents,” said Joel Kaplan, president of the condo association. “Our pool has been closed for approximately two weeks (since plans for demolition began), and we have urged residents to leave.” He added that residents are most concerned about asbestos exposure caused by airborne fibers being carried through the wind to their building. Inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause a variety of diseases, including mesothelioma cancer.
Tal Kramer, attorney for the association, notes that he also reached out to Atlantic City officials in mid July to verify what was being done to protect Roosevelt Beach residents but did not receive a reply. However, Kramer was told by workers involved in the demolition that the building is structurally unsafe and that the asbestos inside cannot be removed before the demolition. Instead, workers will spray any asbestos materials with water so that they can control the spread of asbestos fibers during the project.
“We are not experts, but we would like a little more response from the city to ensure the plan to protect the condo association covered all bases,” Kramer told the media.
Kaplan verified that the contractor did indeed offer to put up residents in a hotel during the demolition if there was a concern. At least one resident took them up on their offer.
It is expected that the project will be complete by the end of this week.
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