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
So is it fair that a individual in the Bronx loses his house, his land and is fined $30,000 for housing violations for doing work without a permit but developers and the politically connected get a free ride over the law?
AnnaBea, it can make me uncomfortable to point out bad things done by any one group–in this case, the Hasidim–because the ire raised by the group’s actions soon attracts racists who attack the group and not the actions. However, using “racism” or “anti-semitism” as a weapon against people in the community with legitimate complaints is really annoying. This is the 21st century in New York City. I’m okay with religious groups, but I believe our default position should be that this is a secular society and secular laws must take precedence. I really hate it when New York becomes as creepy as some southern town in letting religion take precedence over modern civil society. America needs an Attaturk to modernize us and emphasize the secular.
Brownstoner – Sorry to single you out. Actually its a good post and i think its good you do post about people that violate these laws.
and AnnaBea, you must have just tuned in cuz we’ve been calling out developers (and architects) of all races and creeds for the past two years.
AnnaBea, the problem is that the DOB/City IS cracking down. Everyone, from homeowners to contractors to architects, has been getting slapped around for the past couple of years with the most ridiculous fines for everything. It’s like a cash cow for them.
So it really infuriates people when one group is singled out as being BEYOND the law, above the law, besides the law, whatever. If the city is gonna crack down, they better be fair about it or whoever gets away with this kind of disgrace is gonna stand out.
And that place doesn’t look like that because of lack of funds. It looks like that because of lack of law enforcement. What is up, DOB? Seriously?
Jeffrey Buss of Smith, Buss & Jacobs LLP, lead attorney for Aaron Teitelbaum (one of the brothers)
“This is a dispute between individuals who claim to be elected to the board of directors, over control of the board of directors and its assets — Congregation Yetev D’Lev Satmar Inc.,” Jeffrey Buss of Smith, Buss & Jacobs LLP, lead attorney for Aaron’s camp, said in an interview. “That religious corporation has approximately $500 million dollars worth of assets, at least.”
Keep you bloomers on AnnaBea, people are just blogging.
Who are you the Ms Manners of Brownstoner? go shove it.
wow the amount of racism and ignorance on this thread is scary. If the hasidim in williamsburg had so much money as some of you seem to think, why wouldn’t they finish this building? Why would they build something so craptastic? Do you think its some sort of plot to anger the neighboring hipsters? please.
I agree they shouldn’t be allowed to break the law, but neither should anyone else. Considering how many other people violates these types of laws i don’t see why so many people on this thread feel a need to single out hasidim (including brownstoner). I mean if the DOB/City isn’t cracking down on developers building in excess of zoning and FAR, creating unsafe work conditions, and damaging nearby property why would the city/dob start going after houses of worship? The point is this is a general problem that is all over NYC but this thread seems to be all about bashing one group. That’s just racism.
“That’s because they wouldn’t want you.”
I don’t want them to want me.
You have to give them that. at least the hasidim don’t try to convert you and save your soul. They don’t give a shit if you go to hell. I like that.