Brenwood Park Senior Apartments: Disaster Waiting to Happen?
Monday, February 2, 2009 at 12:36PM A PERSONAL STORY
My parents have lived in their two-story, northern-suburb home for more than 35 years, and now that they’re getting up there in age -- and experiencing some health problems -- my brother and I thought it was time to start looking for a senior living arrangement for them in hopes of making their lives a little easier.
A stair-less apartment in a senior community with activities, "location," and most importantly, safety, topped our list of “must-haves.”
With my family in Franklin and his in Silver Lake (Kenosha County) we decided to focus our search in the Franklin-Oak Creek-Greendale area.
The Brenwood Park Senior Apartments on Loomis Road and Forest Park made our Top Three List. However, recalling a conversation I had with former Franklin Alderman and Mayoral candidate, Basil Ryan last March, I needed to do some further research.
On background, I met with Mayoral candidate Ryan in late-March to have him sign a “tax pledge” similar to the one signed by his election opponent Mayor Tom Taylor.
Somehow in our conversation on “all things Franklin,” the former Franklin Alderman suggested that I take a look at the land on the eastern exposure of the Brenwood Apartments, and try to imagine how the fire department would fight a fire or evacuate residents from that particular side of the building, considering it is bounded by a large, marshy area, unsuitable for vehicular traffic, left alone a multi-ton piece of fire-fighting equipment.
A short time after that conversation I drove to the Brenwood Apartments to see for myself what this area looked like, and in fact, it is bounded on the east by marshy, swamp-like terrain.
After this, I contacted District 1 Alderman, Steve Olson to get his take on this situation. On April 10, 2008, I dropped a quick email to him asking:
Steve,
Are the Brenwood Senior Apts. and Foresthill Highlands in your District?
Fred
Olson’s reply: “I’m proud to say they are.”
I responded to that with another email, asking:
Has there ever been any concern or discussion regarding the safety of the residents in these buildings in event of a major fire? Sounds like a stupid question, but hear me out.
The reason I ask, is that in my conversations with Basil Ryan regarding the "pledge," he brought up the fact that the eastern exposure of Brenwood, and the western exposure of the Highlands, are bordered by swap and marsh, and that could make it very difficult to fight a fire on those sides of these buildings, let alone evacuate residents.
I'm obviously no fire professional, but it seems Ryan [is] right. The evacuation problem appears to be especially difficult for Brenwood's east-facing residents on the second and third floors.
Seeing this unfold on TV yesterday [this link no is no longer available], triggered my memory on what Ryan had said to me prior to the election.
Looking at Google Earth satellite images of these properties, illustrates Ryan's point.Click here to see the satellite photo.
Fred
After a couple more emails back and forth, I was assured – and I’m paraphrasing – by Alderman Olson that the terrain, and the building’s height, were all taken into consideration. In fact, the City had purchased a new fire truck because of the height of this building.
With that explanation, I was satisfied that the City had things "handled," and I didn’t give it another thought until now.
But now, as my brother and I were considering Brenwood Park for my parents, I thought I should do a little independent research.
CONTINUED…
My first call was to Franklin Fire Chief James Martins. During a lengthy conversation with the Chief, here’s some of what I learned about Brenwood Park:
The building is equipped with a fire protection sprinkler system. I discovered later – on a FEMA website – that schools, office buildings, factories, and other commercial buildings have benefited from fire protection sprinkler systems for over a century to, protect investments in buildings and machinery. Textile mills in New England began using sprinkler systems over 100 years ago following a series of devastating fires.
I asked the Chief about evacuating the elderly from the upper floors on the eastern exposure of the building, and would they be able to get a “ladder truck” up along side the building to evacuate residents?
Paraphrasing again, the Chief pointed to the fire protection fire sprinkler system, and because of that, and the fire doors in the building, evacuating residents from that side of the building was unlikely.
I mentioned to Chief Martinsthat in my estimation, the approximately 15-20’ gravel path along side the eastern exposure of Brenwood (see satellite photo), wasn’t wide enough to allow a fire truck to drive along the path to either fight a fire, or rescue residents. I also asked that even if it could, is there enough room for the truck to drop its stabilizing “pads”?
The Chief conceded, probably not, and I pressed further, asking could FFD evacuate residents using hand-held ladders? As I recall the answer was yes, but it would be difficult. In either case, the Chief again pointed to the sprinkler system and fire doors to buy fire-fighters enough time to evacuate residents by other means.
Now, because of the fact that Chief Martins is not a politician, I feel I can trust him and believe he was nothing but completely honest with me in his answers to my questions and concerns. But but, because we’re talking about my parents, I wanted second opinion.
Long story—short, I spoke with someone in a fire prevention agency in State government, who essentially confirmed what the Chief told me, with the exception that FFD would probably not -- based on my description of the gravel path and its location -- place a fire truck up-close to a burning building, and that a manually evacuating residents by hand-held ladder would be very difficult and dangerous.
So from my perspective, the bottom line would appear to be that Brenwood Park Senior Apartments is as fire safe as government would have it, and that maybe, the particular piece of land it was constructed on -- with its nearby marshland -- wasn’t the most ideal choice to for a seniors apartment complex.
On the other hand, does real life trump "theory" and government building codes?
- In photos: “USA Senior Apartment Complex Fire Rescue”
- Residents hospitalized after fire in senior apartments
- Senior Apartment Fire Still Under Investigation
- Fire evacuates Wright Senior Apartments
- Seniors Rescued From Mich. Apartment Fire
- Seniors evacuated in East Peoria apartment fire
Mom and Dad will not be signing a lease with Brenwood Park Senior Apartments.
Reader Comments (8)
Great piece, Fred.
I, too, have been concerned about how the senior citizens could evacuate Brenwood Park from the eastern side when there doesn't seem to be many options available for fire units.
Alderman Olson's comments about the senior facility is also rather interesting. He most likely grabs a huge majority of votes from Brenwood Park, since Casper Green usually endorses him in campaigns. Furthermore, sources have told me that Olson's mother is a resident in the facility, giving him constant access to the senior citizens before and after an election cycle.
What struck me as odd was when you mentioned that Olson told you Franklin purchased a new fire truck solely because Brenwood Park was constructed. It left me scratching my head because I've been hearing for the longest time that it was Northwestern Mutual that forced the city to get the additional truck, and that the Carma Labs President (and Franklin resident) purchased this truck for the city as a gift.
This building is new enough to have a complete indoor sprinkler system. If this is so, I wouldn't have as much concern about external access by rescue, as any fire would be well contained and standard evacuation routes inside the complex should be available.
Mike, Brenwood has a fire protection sprinkler system and fire doors, and as I wrote, "is as fire safe as government would have it..."
My point is: when it comes to Brenwood Senior Apartments, my common sense trumps State and city building codes, and I wouldn't want my parents living there.
Greg, don't be too upset with Alderman Olson, like most politicians, he sometimes has trouble keeping his "nuances" straight
Oh, I'm not angry Fred! Just a bit puzzled, that's all.
Fred
I am confused too. Who was on the planning commission when Brenwood was built?
Sounds like more time and effort was put into looking into the planning and placement of the best Target in Wisconsin.
But not the safe placement of Brenwood, a senior living community.
As for Olson, it sounds Greg's sources must think he would put his mother in harms way!
One more thing...
Greg, this is what I’ve learned about the fire truck issue since first posting this.
A new fire truck was purchased by taxpayers after final building approvals, and after construction began on Brenwood Senior Apartments.
You’re correct when you note that family-owned Carma Labs purchased a “tanker” truck and donated it to the City.
Also, I understand there is more to this and I would suggest you ask your alderman about the back-story on this “tanker” truck.
Remember “grasshopper”; when it comes to politicians, it’s always about “nuance,” or “spin.”
A couple of more things you won't want to hear Greg.
If you go back through the records you might see that:
1) Your Alderman did bring up the exact issue of fighting a fire on the eastern exposure at both the plan commission and then to the common council.
2) In the final vote for approval, the vote was 5 to 1 for approval with, Steve Olson being the only one to vote no.
3) Then Fire Chief Bublitz presented a written report saying the exposure didn’t present a problem.
4) The ladder truck was purchased as a result of Clare Meadows being built and the increasing number of steep pitched roofs.
That's what I found out.