https://ny.curbed.com/2017/6/21/1584542 ... gue-damage
Much of Lower East Side’s historic Beth Hamedrash Hagodol synagogue is ‘beyond repair’
The DOB has already approved demolition plans for the building
BY AMY PLITT@CURBEDNY JUN 21, 2017, 9:36AM EDT
What’s next for the historic Beth Hamedrash Hagodol Synagogue? Sadly, after a fire tore through the 19th-century structure, it appears that the only way to move forward at the site is to tear it down. The Department of Buildings already approved demolition plans for the landmark building, but a meeting of Manhattan Community Board 3’s landmarks subcommittee shed a bit more light on the extent of the damage.
According to Bowery Boogie, engineers from the firm Zimmerman Architects provided an update on the state of the building, inasmuch as they could assess it—apparently, it’s in such bad shape that neither that firm, nor inspectors from the DOB, could get inside to get a fuller picture of the damage.
But based on their assessment, this is how bad things are: many parts of the structure, including the roof and the wall facing Broome Street, are in such bad shape as to be beyond repair; there are other parts that can be saved, though they’re still in bad shape and would require extensive work. Many parts are also unstable and unsafe at the moment.
That also puts redevelopment plans for the site in jeopardy; Greenbaum allegedly was working on a plan to sell the building’s air rights and eventually restore the synagogue, while also adding housing and a community center to the site.
Given the state of the building, CB3 gave its okay to demolition; according to Bowery Boogie, the plans will go before the Landmarks Preservation Commission sometime next month. The synagogue is one of Manhattan’s earliest landmarks, having received that designation in 1967. The CB subcommittee did, however, recommend trying to save as much of the building as possible, according to the Lo-Down.
But given the site’s history—redevelopment plans have been bandied about in some form or another for years—there was, unsurprisingly, some pushback at last night’s meeting. According to Bowery Boogie, some attendees pointed fingers at Greenbaum for a lack of transparency about the building and any potential redevelopment plans.
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https://ny.curbed.com/2017/7/11/1595410 ... -east-side
Lower East Side’s fire-ravaged Beth Hamedrash Hagadol will be partially demolished with Landmarks approval
The Commission will likely hire someone to monitor the demolition to preserve the integrity of the site
BY TANAY WARERKAR JUL 11, 2017, 3:30PM EDT
An aerial view of the destroyed synagogue. Via Howard Zimmerman Architects/Landmarks Preservation Commission.
The city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission closely debated the fate of the Lower East Side’s Beth Hamedrash Hagodol Synagogue, most of which burnt down in a fire in May (allegedly arson), at a meeting on Tuesday.
The owners of the synagogue site are working with the local nonprofit group, the Chinatown Planning Council (the owners of the two sites adjacent to the synagogue) to redevelop the site, potentially by bringing a developer on board. They were seeking permissions from the Landmarks Commission to demolish most of the existing structure, and incorporate parts of the remaining structure into either a memorial or a new synagogue building.
The plans are all preliminary in nature, and just days after the fire destroyed the property, the owners were originally scheduled to meet with staff members of the LPC to hammer out a plan to redevelop the deteriorating synagogue.
The city’s Department of Buildings hasn’t yet issued a demolition notice on the property because they are working with the owners and the LPC on the next best steps. The immediate concern detailed by structural engineers representing both the owners of the property and the LPC is that large portions of the building, and rubble on the site need to be demolished and removed respectively, to ensure the safety of the overall site.
The LPC had two issues before them on Tuesday concerning Beth Hamedrash: approving a partial or full demolition of site, and debating whether the site still merited a landmarks designation if most of the building had been destroyed.
For the most part, the Commission agreed with the assessment of the engineers: portions of the building had to be removed to secure the site. For the matter concerning the landmark status, the Commission decided to postpone that discussion until engineers could assess the site post-demolition.
Because of the robust discussion and variety of opinions—at one point the commissioners debated on the definitions of disassembling the site versus demolishing it—a formal decision on this application was postponed until later in the day.
And while most commissioners were in agreement, a notable voice of dissent was Michael Devonshire. He wasn’t convinced that demolition was necessary and hoped that the owners would think about stabilizing the existing structure, and rebuilding instead of demolishing the 132-year-old synagogue.
Several preservation groups echoed these sentiments in the public testimony section of the meeting including the Historic Districts Council and the Society for the Architecture of the City. Both groups argued that the owners of the synagogue should have filed a hardship application with the city when they knew they were struggling instead of proposing to demolish the site.
Mark Silberman, the general counsel for the Commission argued that the owners had in fact filed a hardship application, but after working with the LPC and the DOB, it was decided that a demolition application was the way to go.
What the Commission did agree on was to have a Commission-approved engineer or monitor look over the entire demolition process of the synagogue to ensure that the structure isn’t destroyed completely, and to ensure that Commission can still discuss the integrity of this New York City landmark sometime in the future.
Commissioner Michael Goldblum went a step further to suggest that parts of the rubble be labeled and preserved for potential future use in a new building or a memorial. Earlier, Manhattan’s Community Board 3 had also approved a partial demolition of the site.
The Commission is still working to iron out the final language of their decision and we will update this post as soon as we learn more.
Lower East Side’s fire-ravaged Beth Hamedrash Hagadol will be partially demolished with Landmarks approval
The Commission will likely hire someone to monitor the demolition to preserve the integrity of the site
BY TANAY WARERKAR JUL 11, 2017, 3:30PM EDT
An aerial view of the destroyed synagogue. Via Howard Zimmerman Architects/Landmarks Preservation Commission.
The city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission closely debated the fate of the Lower East Side’s Beth Hamedrash Hagodol Synagogue, most of which burnt down in a fire in May (allegedly arson), at a meeting on Tuesday.
The owners of the synagogue site are working with the local nonprofit group, the Chinatown Planning Council (the owners of the two sites adjacent to the synagogue) to redevelop the site, potentially by bringing a developer on board. They were seeking permissions from the Landmarks Commission to demolish most of the existing structure, and incorporate parts of the remaining structure into either a memorial or a new synagogue building.
The plans are all preliminary in nature, and just days after the fire destroyed the property, the owners were originally scheduled to meet with staff members of the LPC to hammer out a plan to redevelop the deteriorating synagogue.
The city’s Department of Buildings hasn’t yet issued a demolition notice on the property because they are working with the owners and the LPC on the next best steps. The immediate concern detailed by structural engineers representing both the owners of the property and the LPC is that large portions of the building, and rubble on the site need to be demolished and removed respectively, to ensure the safety of the overall site.
The LPC had two issues before them on Tuesday concerning Beth Hamedrash: approving a partial or full demolition of site, and debating whether the site still merited a landmarks designation if most of the building had been destroyed.
For the most part, the Commission agreed with the assessment of the engineers: portions of the building had to be removed to secure the site. For the matter concerning the landmark status, the Commission decided to postpone that discussion until engineers could assess the site post-demolition.
Because of the robust discussion and variety of opinions—at one point the commissioners debated on the definitions of disassembling the site versus demolishing it—a formal decision on this application was postponed until later in the day.
And while most commissioners were in agreement, a notable voice of dissent was Michael Devonshire. He wasn’t convinced that demolition was necessary and hoped that the owners would think about stabilizing the existing structure, and rebuilding instead of demolishing the 132-year-old synagogue.
Several preservation groups echoed these sentiments in the public testimony section of the meeting including the Historic Districts Council and the Society for the Architecture of the City. Both groups argued that the owners of the synagogue should have filed a hardship application with the city when they knew they were struggling instead of proposing to demolish the site.
Mark Silberman, the general counsel for the Commission argued that the owners had in fact filed a hardship application, but after working with the LPC and the DOB, it was decided that a demolition application was the way to go.
What the Commission did agree on was to have a Commission-approved engineer or monitor look over the entire demolition process of the synagogue to ensure that the structure isn’t destroyed completely, and to ensure that Commission can still discuss the integrity of this New York City landmark sometime in the future.
Commissioner Michael Goldblum went a step further to suggest that parts of the rubble be labeled and preserved for potential future use in a new building or a memorial. Earlier, Manhattan’s Community Board 3 had also approved a partial demolition of the site.
The Commission is still working to iron out the final language of their decision and we will update this post as soon as we learn more.
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- Screen_Shot_2017_07_11_at_3.09.05_PM.jpg (126.35 KiB) געזען 3667 מאל
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Fire-Ravaged Beth Hamedrash Hagadol will be Redeveloped into Senior Housing
Cherish the old photos. The fire-ravaged Beth Hamedrash Hagadol as it once was is finished. Demolition is on the precipice – the job was approved by the city and Landmarks Preservation Commission. Thereafter, plans are afoot for redevelopment of the property into an extension of the senior housing next door.
Not completely a surprise. Rabbi Greenbaum and the Chinese-American Planning Council (senior building at 40 Norfolk Street next door) “embarked on a collaboration” – purportedly before the blaze destroyed the 167-year-old synagogue – to create a development atop Beth Hamedrash that would serve the Jewish and Chinese communities alike. The house of worship would be rehabilitated through the sale of its air rights (estimated pre-fire at some $12 million), and there would be affordable housing and community space. The plans were first revealed to the community back in June during the CB3 Landmarks subcommittee meeting approve the demolition.
Seems the subsequent fire didn’t really deter the partnership.
The LPC approved the demolition, albeit partial, of Beth Hamedrash Hagadol back in July. Most of the existing structure will fall, and the remainder incorporated into the proposed development as memorial or new synagogue building.
The community will have input on the application next week (September 13) during the CB3 Land Use subcommittee meeting.
Proposed mixed use development by Chinatown Planning Council Housing Development Fund Company including significant additional affordable senior housing on parking lot adjoining Hong Ning senior residence at 50 Norfolk St incorporating 60 Norfolk St, (Beth Hamedrash Hagadol Synagogue remaining structure).
Beth Hamedrash Hagadol fell victim to arson; 14-year-old David Diaz allegedly set it ablaze on May 14. He was arrested days after the massive fire and charged with third-degree arson. A day later, though, the minor was reportedly released into parental custody without any charges. Two pals who were with him during the burn job – he allegedly lit a curtain on fire – were considered “witnesses,” according to NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill at the time
Cherish the old photos. The fire-ravaged Beth Hamedrash Hagadol as it once was is finished. Demolition is on the precipice – the job was approved by the city and Landmarks Preservation Commission. Thereafter, plans are afoot for redevelopment of the property into an extension of the senior housing next door.
Not completely a surprise. Rabbi Greenbaum and the Chinese-American Planning Council (senior building at 40 Norfolk Street next door) “embarked on a collaboration” – purportedly before the blaze destroyed the 167-year-old synagogue – to create a development atop Beth Hamedrash that would serve the Jewish and Chinese communities alike. The house of worship would be rehabilitated through the sale of its air rights (estimated pre-fire at some $12 million), and there would be affordable housing and community space. The plans were first revealed to the community back in June during the CB3 Landmarks subcommittee meeting approve the demolition.
Seems the subsequent fire didn’t really deter the partnership.
The LPC approved the demolition, albeit partial, of Beth Hamedrash Hagadol back in July. Most of the existing structure will fall, and the remainder incorporated into the proposed development as memorial or new synagogue building.
The community will have input on the application next week (September 13) during the CB3 Land Use subcommittee meeting.
Proposed mixed use development by Chinatown Planning Council Housing Development Fund Company including significant additional affordable senior housing on parking lot adjoining Hong Ning senior residence at 50 Norfolk St incorporating 60 Norfolk St, (Beth Hamedrash Hagadol Synagogue remaining structure).
Beth Hamedrash Hagadol fell victim to arson; 14-year-old David Diaz allegedly set it ablaze on May 14. He was arrested days after the massive fire and charged with third-degree arson. A day later, though, the minor was reportedly released into parental custody without any charges. Two pals who were with him during the burn job – he allegedly lit a curtain on fire – were considered “witnesses,” according to NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill at the time
Historic New York City synagogue wall collapse leaves 1 construction worker dead, 1 injured
One construction worker was killed and another was injured after a wall collapsed at the site of a former historic synagogue in downtown New York City on Monday.
"They were on the surface, not totally buried," Michael Ajello, assistant chief of the FDNY, told reporters. "It was within five or 10 minutes that they were extricated and removed from the scene."
The building was once home to the Beth Hamedrash Hagodol congregation, and was landmarked by the Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1967 because of its "special character, special historical and aesthetic interest and value as part of the development, heritage and cultural characteristics of New York City."
One construction worker was killed and another was injured after a wall collapsed at the site of a former historic synagogue in downtown New York City on Monday.
"They were on the surface, not totally buried," Michael Ajello, assistant chief of the FDNY, told reporters. "It was within five or 10 minutes that they were extricated and removed from the scene."
The building was once home to the Beth Hamedrash Hagodol congregation, and was landmarked by the Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1967 because of its "special character, special historical and aesthetic interest and value as part of the development, heritage and cultural characteristics of New York City."
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יציב פתגם האט געשריבן:Historic New York City synagogue wall collapse leaves 1 construction worker dead, 1 injured
One construction worker was killed and another was injured after a wall collapsed at the site of a former historic synagogue in downtown New York City on Monday.
"They were on the surface, not totally buried," Michael Ajello, assistant chief of the FDNY, told reporters. "It was within five or 10 minutes that they were extricated and removed from the scene."
The building was once home to the Beth Hamedrash Hagodol congregation, and was landmarked by the Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1967 because of its "special character, special historical and aesthetic interest and value as part of the development, heritage and cultural characteristics of New York City."
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