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
Form and Content joined at hip with this building.
Anyway, one hopes the minor local politicians as well as the mayor and city council people will slam DOB on this one and god-willing DOB will paper that building with violations till the weight of the violations cause the building to collapse, when no one is there.
Maybe if folks are so exercised by this poorly designed and perhaps illegal building, they should just call the NYFD several times to see if an inspection by NYFD causes it to either be shut down or maybe it is built so poorly that the NYFD will spray paint on the building one of those florescent squares with diagonals which represent that building is unsafe for firemen to enter if a fire came. That is a general kiss of death on a building but may first require DOB to show its toothless anger and start to violate this building.
Maybe if folks are so exercised by this poorly designed and perhaps illegal building, they should just call the NYFD several times to see if an inspection by NYFD causes it to either be shut down or maybe it is built so poorly that the NYFD will spray paint on the building one of those florescent squares with diagonals which represent that building is unsafe for firemen to enter if a fire came. That is a general kiss of death on a building but may first require DOB to show its toothless anger and start to violate this building.
Form and Content joined at hip with this building.
Anyway, one hopes the minor local politicians as well as the mayor and city council people will slam DOB on this one and god-willing DOB will paper that building with violations till the weight of the violations cause the building to collapse, when no one is there.
I give it 6 months and it will be a loft conversion.
Aptsandlofts.com will market it as “hasid-chic†and “a short walk away from the Bedford ave nightlifeâ€
Form and Content joined at hip with this building.
Anyway, one hopes the minor local politicians as well as the mayor and city council people will slam DOB on this one and god-willing DOB will paper that building with violations till the weight of the violations cause the building to collapse, when no one is there.
Question – and this is a serious one – why do they put those bars on their windows. I too tried to ask someone while walking in W’burg not too long ago, and my question wasn’t well received.
I understand having bars on the ground floor, but on the fourth when the only person that could break in would be Spiderman doesn’t make sense.
I assume it is for some religious reason. Can someone please explain?
Freddy is the only one to speak the truth today. Everyone else is just spewing hate.
“It looks like krap on the outside, but if it had Bosch appliances and Fresh Direct storage on the inside, you bitches would be over there in a heartbeat bidding above ask.”
Oops, there it is!!