9600 Condominium in Margate, 'Jewel of the Jersey Shore.'
Meeting with building managers will answer questions
This story has been revised from its original form. See section in italics.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
MARGATE Questions abound following the collapse of a 17-story high-rise condominium complex in Surfside, Florida, and Downbeach municipalities and condominium associations are working to alleviate fears that a similar scenario could happen here.
Conditions experienced yearly at oceanfront high-rise complexes on Absecon Island are similar to the Surfside building, including age, maintenance, storms, periodic flooding and subsidence.
All three Downbeach towns are contacting building managers to suggest they have their buildings inspected and file reports with the municipalities.
Sharon Ianoale, who manages 9600 Condominium in Margate, is seeking answers to the questions surrounding a potential building collapse by enlisting the support of a structural engineer and insurance representative during a meeting to be held at the high-rise's community room 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 13.
New Jersey has no 40-year rule like in Florida, so when the Margate Building Department suggested we have our building evaluated to put peoples' minds to rest, we did one last Thursday, Ianoale said. We found no major concerns, just a few small things that will be addressed.
Ianoale has invited building managers from high-rises across Absecon Island to attend the meeting to learn what they can do to prevent such a tragedy.
We all have the same questions, and the media gave out about 12 different reasons why it happened, but buildings don't just collapse, she said. A thorough investigation will reveal why that building came down.
Ianoale said things happen in buildings all the time, but building managers do their best to make repairs and keep up with maintenance issues.
There are things a 40-year old building has that need to be addressed, she said, such as cast iron pipes that have a limited lifespan that break and need to be replaced. We just have to deal with it.
Over the last 15 years, 9600 has spent more than $20 million to maintain the building, she said.
I'm not concerned about our building because it's well maintained, but we do have a lot of questions and want to put everyone's mind to rest, she said.
So far, she has received confirmations that representatives of Sunset Harbor and 5000 Boardwalk in Ventnor and The Plaza and Bella in Atlantic City would be attending the meeting. Structural Engineer Allen Roth, president of Joseph Callaghan, Inc. of Philadelphia and an insurance representative will be in attendance to share information and answer questions.
According to Margate Building Inspector Jim Galantino, a letter was sent last week to the city's high-rise condominium associations, requesting they get an inspection and reports prepared by licensed engineers be sent to the city for recordkeeping.
The buildings here were built at the same time as the building in Florida, Galantino reported to the Board of Commissioners Thursday, July 1.
He said the city was taking a pro-active approach to ensure the buildings are safe.
Galantino said although his office conducts regular rental inspections that check for smoke and CO detectors, there are no provisions in city ordinances requiring structural inspections or hydrology reports.
I don't have the expertise to do structural inspections, he said. That would have to be done by a structural engineer.
He said the city requesting reports be filed in the Building Department is a prudent move, but that the issue of requiring periodic structural inspections needs to be studied further.
Ventnor Commissioner Lance Landgraf said it is likely Ventnor would follow Margate's lead in requesting reports be filed with the Building Department.
Our inspector conducts walk-throughs twice a year and looks at things like leaks and lintel beams, he said. If the inspector finds any problems, he could request a structural engineering study be conducted.
Landgraf said a report is expected soon from Vassar Square condominium association, which conducted an inspection of the building's facade and parking garage in mid-May, before the Surfside collapse.
According to Melanie Lorenz, of Camco Management, the company that manages Vassar Square, engineers from O&S Associates inspected 224 balconies from ropes tethered to the top of the building.
"Rather than use a drone or binoculars from the ground, this is by far the best way to do inspections," Lorenz said.
The 5000 Boardwalk condominium also had an inspection completed following a winter break of a fire hydrant that spilled water onto the street, he said.
Longport Code Enforcement Officer Bruce Funk said the borough has no inspection regulations, other than rental inspections, and whenever renovations are done to units, the borough's Uniform Construction Code officer inspects the work, he said. But structural inspections are not required by the municipality.
He said Longport would also send a letter to beachfront high-rise condominium associations recommending they consider having a structural engineer inspect their buildings and file reports with the borough.
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