Gas Leak Repairs Leave Brick Senior Apartments Without Heat

BRICK, NJ — A natural gas leak in an apartment at the Chambers Bridge Residence has left a number of residents of the more than 160-unit complex in the cold, after pressure issues forced the shutdown of heating units in all of the building's apartments, officials said.

The gas leak happened late Jan. 25, according to Joanne Bergin, Brick Township business administrator. Brick Township firefighters and personnel with the Office of Emergency Management responded and the gas was turned off to the building, she said.

The investigation found the amount of pressure being delivered to the heating units in each apartment was causing a release because of excess pressure, Bergin said. As a result, step-down regulators must be replaced in all of the apartments, she said.

Chambers Bridge Residences is privately owned by National Church Residences, which purchased the property in 2018 and provides housing for low-income seniors and people with disabilities and handicaps.

A resident who contacted Patch said they were told during a meeting Friday afternoon that step-down regulators on the heating units in every apartment were the wrong ones for the application, which is why they all have to be replaced.

The resident, who asked to not be named for fear of retribution, said they have been told to go to the building's communal areas, which have heat. The lack of heat in the apartments has led to temperatures in the 50s during the day and dropping into the 40s during the night. Some have gone to stay with family members, but the resident said that is not an option for every resident.

Bergin said it was unclear when the wrong regulators were installed but said it happened during routine maintenance, which does not require permits.

Space heaters are not permitted to be provided to the residents; under New Jersey's administrative code, space heaters in apartment buildings (or other multiple-family dwellings) have to be permanently installed in such a way to prevent a fire hazard.

Todd Hutchins, director of public relations at National Church Residences, said in a statement Thursday morning that their property staff and the corporate team have been working with Brick Township officials, New Jersey Natural Gas, the fire department and the HVAC repair company to determine the steps "to ensure this issue is fixed correctly as soon as possible."

"At National Church Residences, the safety and security of our staff and residents at Chambers Bridge is of great importance to us. During this very difficult and challenging time, we continue to focus on keeping residents informed about the status of the repairs and checking on their wellbeing," he said.

None of the residents have asked to be relocated, he said, and none of the residents or staff have reported injuries or needed medical care as a result of the heating situation.

The Red Cross and other local organizations in Brick have been contacted about relocating residents if needed in the coming days, he said.

An emergency repair plan submitted by a mechanical engineer hired by Chambers Bridge Residence was approved Wednesday by Brick Township Construction Official Daniel Newman, Bergin said.

While the repairs are expected to start immediately, "with more than 160 units and the need for parts and installation, the restoration is expected to take some time," Bergin said.

Residents who have disabilities will have their heating units repaired first, she said, and as the contractor makes adjustments to each unit via the installation of a step-down regulator, the contractor will certify the work to NJNG.

The resident said they have not been given a firm estimate, only that it could be days or weeks before all of the apartments have heat again.

Outdoor temperatures are forecast to hover in the 28- to 45-degree range for the next week.

Note: This article has been updated with comment from National Church Residences.