badassmafuka Posted May 9 Report Share Posted May 9 W. Orange keeps JT's Complex shut Fire officials deem sprawling building unsafe, leaving tenant businesses locked outFriday, May 09, 2003BY KASI ADDISON Star-Ledger Staff Cars entered the vacant parking lot of JT's Complex in West Orange yesterday morning as dozens of people arrived to work out, open their businesses or keep play-date appointments. The building, however, was dark and locked, with a sign from the fire department proclaiming it unsafe. Since Friday, when police began investigating allegations of sexual assault at Club Cherri, which is part of JT's Complex at 200 Pleasant Valley Way, the business people who lease space in the building and the customers who rely on those services have seen their lives and livelihoods affected. At least 10 businesses have been closed. The sprawling complex, owned by Jerry Turco Sr., offers health and fitness facilities, rollerblading, skateboarding, rock climbing, and catering all under one roof. A computer school, beauty salon and nutrition store also operate there. Rick Stone of West Orange was among the parents who arrived shortly before 9 a.m. with toddlers in tow, preparing to enter Gymboree Play and Music. For the past year, Stone and his 22-month-old son have attended twice-weekly play sessions there. "I had no idea they had closed the place," he said. "It's always been open and it looked clean and well run. We've had no problems." But township officials have found a host of problems, such as blocked fire exits that authorities say could potentially be deadly. Fire inspectors have issued more than 54 code violations -- several of which they classified as imminent hazards -- against Turco since last Friday. Because Turco has been cited for imminent fire hazards -- blocked or locked exits and disabled or blocked fire sprinklers -- more than six times in the past two years, fire officials are authorized to close the complex for up to 60 days, Township Attorney Richard Trenk said. Officials have ordered a closure effective May 26, through the end of July, he said. Turco's problems began around 11 p.m. last Friday, when police raided Club Cherri's weekly teen night and allegedly found a deejay and assistant manager having sex with a 14-year-old and 15-year-old in a back room. The deejay, Matthew Calderone, 24, of Union has been charged with witness tampering and several counts of sexual assault both in Essex and Union counties. Paulo Bertolo, 22, of Newark, the club's assistant manager, also has been charged with sexual assault. Both men remain in police custody. Trenk said that when authorities raided the club, they were unable to get in because of blocked and locked fire exits. The club was cited and immediately shut down. Fire inspectors allowed the entire complex to reopen briefly Monday, but then shut it down again that night after township officials inspected the building again and issued a series of building, fire and health code violations against Turco, who they said had a history of such violations. The problems were found in a number of businesses in the complex, officials said. Among the problems: construction without proper permits, inadequate chlorine levels in the health club's pools, noncertified lifeguards, and dishwashers that weren't hot enough to sanitize dishes and utensils. Turco is facing fines of up to $110,000. At 7 a.m. yesterday, fire officials, accompanied by Trenk and two of Turco's attorneys, reinspected the building. Turco has said that since Friday's raid, he has had contractors working to remedy the violations in the hopes of reopening the building. "The goal is to get the businesses reopened as soon as possible," said John Watkins II, one of the lawyers. After about 20 minutes inside, Trenk, West Orange Fire Chief Dennis Boyle and Deputy Fire Chief Peter Smeraldo emerged, issued two more violations and ordered that the building remain closed. At the same time, a representative from the state Department of Community Affairs' Carnival-Amusement Ride Safety Program also closed the JT Play Zone's carousel, rock-climbing wall and jungle gym yesterday morning because safety permits for the rides had expired in January 2001. Boyle said that while some violations had been addressed, Turco was cited yesterday for two imminent-hazard violations, including one visible from the parking lot: a large green plant blocking a health club exit. "At this time, (the club) will remain closed," Boyle said. "The owner is making a serious attempt and wants to get the building open. But he seems to be missing the safety issues." Through it all, store owner Lisa Pak stood in the rain, waiting for fire officials to escort her into the building so she could pack up her business. Pak, who owns Healing Alternatives, a massage and skin care salon, has leased her workspace from Turco for nearly three years. She said she has complained about a number of problems including heating and noise from the nightclub. She is looking for a new location. "I am only working in doctors' offices from now on," she said. Dominic Frio, a chiropractor who has maintained an office in JT's Complex for the past two years, said he couldn't understand why his business has been affected. "This is a big shock," he said. "If Cherri's is the problem, why would the other businesses be forced to suffer?" Frio said that over the past week, he has fielded numerous calls from patients asking him about their appointments. "What do I tell them? We still don't know when it is going to reopen," he said. Trenk said that while the township realizes the closure is affecting a number of people, it is for everyone's safety. "When the fire officials find an imminent hazard, that is for everyone," he said. "The township will do anything to cooperate with individual business, but it cannot allow there to be people in harm's way." Boyle said that while he realizes businesses and customers are being inconvenienced by the closure, safety must come first. "Until we can ensure the safety of everyone, it is our obligation to keep it closed," Boyle said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pyrrosdimas Posted May 9 Report Share Posted May 9 Who gives a shit about this stupid drama? Anyone have a life outside of this chidlish BS??? This is so fucking pathetic!!!Get on with your lives people!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badassmafuka Posted May 9 Author Report Share Posted May 9 Originally posted by pyrrosdimas Who gives a shit about this stupid drama? Anyone have a life outside of this chidlish BS??? This is so fucking pathetic!!!Get on with your lives people!!! ok there tough guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkutlass Posted May 9 Report Share Posted May 9 "Who gives a shit about this stupid drama? Anyone have a life outside of this chidlish BS??? This is so fucking pathetic!!!Get on with your lives people!!!" what r u a perv too????????? oh and by the way u want to know what's pathetic, pathetic is a 22 and a 24 yr guys hitting way younger girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pyrrosdimas Posted May 9 Report Share Posted May 9 Are some of you guys gay? Do you like soap operas? You must if you like all this drama and think everyone else gives a shit about aobut hourly updates from you. There are other things going on out in the workd. Oh, I forgot, your world is what goes on within a 5 mile radius of Club Cherri... Go to the city. Do something different. Talk about something else. JESUS CHRIST!!!!And I'm the tough guy? Look at your screen name...Get... a... life... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkutlass Posted May 10 Report Share Posted May 10 NEVER BEEN TO CHERRI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xtreem Posted May 10 Report Share Posted May 10 From my reading the article the place would have been closed down anyway since the owner had so many violations and he seems like a piece of garbage.They closed his whole complex down not just the club so it was only a matter of time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foodidoo Posted May 10 Report Share Posted May 10 I smell lots of lawsuits. In the wake of all things bad atleast Chris Choopa has the Vip Section Of Temptations Memorial Day Weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djmikeloikith Posted May 10 Report Share Posted May 10 place went down hill after i left. :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xtreem Posted May 10 Report Share Posted May 10 Originally posted by djmikeloikith place went down hill after i left. :laugh: Mike, After you left I went a few times to Cherri and it sounded like they were playing a Louie Devito CD's. LULA I DON'T SEE YOU...................... I CAN SEE YOU LULA........WE CAN SEE YOU HERE FROM THE DJ BOOTH.............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluboy Posted May 10 Report Share Posted May 10 Matty Con the 1 and 2's in cellbock 304(p.s. well at least he had a very active sex life with lots of virgins) :laugh: :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluboy Posted May 12 Report Share Posted May 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommyarmani Posted May 12 Report Share Posted May 12 Funny thing is that his arrest is front page news, but if it goes to court & he is vindicated, it would never be mentioned in the papers.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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