Kent Avenue Synagogue: What a Shame
How f’d up is the situation with the makeshift synagogue on Kent Avenue in South Williamsburg? Very. It’s been almost a year since the 17,000-square-foot building was thrown up in a kind of urban barn-raising (200 people working in shifts 24 hours a day for 20 days) during which one worker was seriously injured and…
How f’d up is the situation with the makeshift synagogue on Kent Avenue in South Williamsburg? Very. It’s been almost a year since the 17,000-square-foot building was thrown up in a kind of urban barn-raising (200 people working in shifts 24 hours a day for 20 days) during which one worker was seriously injured and a Stop Work Order was issued. Despite the less-than-exemplary track record during construction, the congregation was able to wrangle a Temporary Place of Assembly permit for 10 dates in September and October of last year, which is when this video was made. (Irony of all ironies: the synagogue is next door to a fire station.) Since last fall, the owner (which is listed on DOB filings as Congregation Kahal Adath Krasna of 1623 44th Street) has not lifted a finger to finish the exterior of the building and has been denying access to buildings inspectors who have received numerous tips that it’s being used illegally as a school. The building has yet to receive a Certificate of Occupancy. Our question is who’s running interference for the synagogue? Is the political clout of the Hasidim so great that they can just skate by for a year in clear violation of fire safety and buildings department regulations with no consequences?
Sin-A-Gog Outrage: This Is Getting Ridiculous [Brownstoner]
Synagogue Needs Some Skin, Baby! [Brownstoner]
GMAP P*Shark DOB
the Hasidim bring the crime rates -down.
The Hasidim create fine communities.
The saved Brooklyn in the 70s and 80s – like it or not.
The Hassidic community has enormous clout.
They have bought and paid for councilman Yatsky and other pols -or maybe they just rent.
In any event, they call the shots.
On the other hand they have to wear those hot black robes all the time so it has its downside.
Wow… Imagine if this was a mosque-congregation taking on an identical order of events. Then, after the completion of the illegal mosque, a video surfacing w/ an interior shot of the same thousands in celebration and prayer whilst blatantly disregarding the laws of the powers that be. I personally have read articles in the non-mainstream news outlets that speak to the illegal policing and harassment of “other†houses of worship; sticking them with fines and lockouts based solely off our (as a country) biases towards certain faiths. What a sad un-balanced world we live in.
I think the DOB’s test should consist for ANY* building should be simply to hold a lit match to the surface of a building facade (*because I can see it coming: NOT JUST FOR RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS – AND NO I’M NOT BEING ANTI-SEMITIC).
It would be a pretty straightforward pass/fail system.
what they said.
That palce looks really unsafe.
As part of my job I frequently look at the secular portion of religious institutions as sites to rent during the week. I’d estimate that about 8 out of 10 of the newer churches and synagogues are operating without a Place of Assembly Permit or even a Temporary C of O.
Why obey those annoying city, state and federal laws when you have GOD’s law behind you?
That’s what any insane religious wackjob group would say.
are you surprised? this is nothing new
the politicians need the orthodox community. you can’t get elected in this district without them and this is one of the costs of doing business.