Gottheimer visits Brookside Terrace, calls for HUD to address fire codes
Public Safety. This week U.S. Rep Gottheimer visited residents at Brookside Terrace after calling on HUD to address safety issues regarding fire codes.
Newton /
| 15 Oct 2019 | 10:50
U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer views damage that remains from the December 2018 fire in Brookside Terrace apartments. (
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Brookside Terrace residents speak to U.S. Josh Gottheimer. (
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On Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ 5) visited the Brookside Terrace Apartments in Newton, after repeatedly calling on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to check on progress to correct fire code issues and ongoing delays reported by tenants, following the December 2018 fire that ripped through the apartment complex.
Since the fire, Gottheimer has repeatedly written to HUD, requesting records, plans on past and current involvement, inspections since the fire, and plans to resolve residual issues. HUD has finally confirmed to Gottheimer that an inspection will be taking place.
"The tenants here are still encountering maintenance delays and issues with their living conditions. The fire occurred nearly a year ago, I’ve visited the apartments before, and I see how frustrating it is for the residents there. I’m sincerely hoping and pushing for an update from Brookside and from HUD, and for full inspections to finally take place,” said Gottheimer. “During my visit today I saw the conditions first hand and there’s still plenty of work to be done.”