Borough Park synagogue’s surprising demolition leaves community confused
City officials say that Department of Buildings workers arrived at the demolition site and construction crews promptly left before the DOB issued a full stop work order on the demolition.
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A synagogue in Borough Park has been demolished after standing for over a century, and residents are now left with questions on if the demolition had proper permits and why it took place.
Congregation Anshei Lubawitz stood for 111 years before being torn down this weekend. In 2017, the site was bought for $3.1 million with a plan to convert it into condos with a first-floor temple.
Construction of those condos was stopped by a judge after 15 congregation members argued in court that they weren’t informed of the sale until after it took place.
"What makes it even more painful is the way it was torn down in direct violation of court order and law,” said Yaacov Bherman, a public relations liaison for Chabad headquarters, who says this was done incorrectly.
Asher Gluck is a member of the synagogue board that was in support of the transformation project in 2017.
He says that the outrage “is just a hype being done by the adversaries to stop this beautiful project."
City officials say that Department of Buildings workers arrived at the demolition site and construction crews promptly left before the DOB issued a full stop work order on the demolition.
Inspectors from the DOB returned to the site on Monday to continue their investigation.
News 12 has reached out to Waterfront Management and is awaiting a response.
