(Click on images to ENLARGE) Several apartments were destroyed and up to 20 people displaced when a fire broke out this morning at 9:00AM in Lakewood, at a High Point Apartments building (472 Prospect Street).
Police safely evacuated all residents in the building as well as from the neighboring building. Of the 16 units, six were almost completely gutted and two more sustained serious smoke and water damage. All the units were affected, according to the fire department.
Red Cross was on scene to help the 15 to 20 people displaced by the fire.
(For those not familiar with the High Point Development, the area is well known for its high crime rate, and drug busts.)
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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5 Responses
these apartments are a terrible area. Residents living in sorrunding area suffer much from these menace to our town.
Edited by Site Moderation Panel.
Good morning, gentlemen.
I have no where else to turn but to you and I am sure you will be able to help.
I leave on Murray Street, immediately behind the Highpoint Condominium complex. Let me break it down to you this way:
– April 2006: Man shot and killed on Murray Street
– June 2006: Meeting held with then Captain Smith and then Mayor Lichtenstein who said they would do all they can. Captain Smith acknowledges that there is a tremendously high rate of gang violence and drug related activity in that area and is primarily due to “absentee landlords”. Additionally Mayor Lichtenstein was asked to look into installing additional street lights in the area as it is very dark at night, leading to much suspicious activity etc.
– October 2006: Synagogue on Williams Street vandalized, cars in parking lot broken in to, one car stolen and dropped off a few block away.
– Police department contacted once again. Mayor Lichtenstein has been contacted numerous times regarding installing aforementioned street lights but to date we haven’t seen much.
– December 2006: Letters are sent to our community stating that 10 “Drug Free Zone” signs will be erected at the Highpoint Condominiums complex and that certain landlords are interested in changing the face of the high crime.
– January 13-15 2007: Gunshots heard at Highpoint Condominium complex.
In summation: Are our children any safer? NO.
Is there a greater police presence? PERHAPS.
Can more be done? I BELIVE SO.
Dear editors – You guys have proven time and again that your publication makes waves and gets things done! We, the resident of Williams, Elaine, and Murray Streets ask for your help.
We don’t know who else to turn to…
Thanks in advance.
did you move there before or after the area was like this? In halacha it makes a big difference.
Out of curiousity…was there such a tremendous shift in the quality of the neighborhood since you moved in. or was this already the situation when you moved in…..if the latter is true then (although you have our utmost sympathy) you cant blame the city officials for your poor choice…I realize that the area is probably much more affordable but” don’t move to Nevada and complain about the heat”…Yes, it is the job of the Lkwd police dept to protect its citizens but to expect them the suddenly devote all their energy to “your ” crime ridden neighborhood is rather unreasonable no?It is obviously a difficult situation and cetrainly not the the place a ben torah shoud choose as his home! Again – we wish you most hatzlacho .
move to westgate…………………………………………………………………………..