Delivered to 15,000 Plainfield "doorsteps" Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Monday, January 8, 2007

Illegal basement apartment fire raises questions

This morning's Courier has a story on a fire at 127 and 129 Johnston Avenue which left 13 people homeless because all four apartments in the building were declared uninhabitable until further notice.

Basement apartments -- as the late Jocelyn Pringley told PT many times -- are illegal in Plainfield.

So, we have a couple of questions seeking answers--

  • Is this a legal 4-family structure?
  • Was the owner/landlord issued a Certificate of Compliance for the basement apartment?
  • When was its last Fire Safety inspection and was the illegal basement apartment noted?
As PT asked in light of the Council's repeal of the Safe Homes initiative (see "HEADS-IN-SAND DEPT."), who is going to accept responbility when the -- inevitable -- fatality occurs. Yesterday's fire is just a warning. Is anybody listening?


View today's CLIPS here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

ARCHIVED POSTS OF PLAINFIELD TODAY FROM 11/03/2005 THROUGH 12/31/2006 ARE AT
http://plainfieldtoday.blogspot.com/

0 comments: