Press conference to save the Congregation Mezritch Synagogue, the East Village’s last surviving ‘tenement synagogue,’ was a tremendous success
 Congregants, preservationists, elected officials, community groups, and Jewish organizations showed support for preserving the endangered Congregation Mezritch Synagouge at an August 14 press conference.
Yesterday’s press conference to save the Congregation Mezritch Synagogue, the East Village’s last surviving ‘tenement synagogue,’ was a tremendous success. Scores of people turned out in support; special thanks go to City Council Member Rosie Mendez, the United Jewish Council of the East Side, the Lower East Side Conservancy, the Historic Districts Council, members of Congregation Mezritch who support preserving the building, and most especially the East Village Community Coalition (EVCC), both for organizing yesterday’s press conference and for spearheading the drive to save the building.
Pictures and a press release from yesterday’s press conference. Media coverage included: New York Times, the Associated Press, the New York Sun, the New York Post, AM NY, Preservation Magazine, Urbanite, and Curbed.
There is some progress to report. While there is an application for demolition permits for the synagogue, no permits have yet been issued by the Department of Buildings. In response to the public outcry, the developer who was supposed to replace the 1910 synagogue with an apartment building containing a new synagogue in the base yesterday announced that they are “as of now...no longer affiliated with this project.”
And the Landmarks Preservation Commission is reviewing the proposal by GVSHP and EVCC to landmark the property.
But the building is still far from saved.
GVSHP is working with our allies in this effort to find alternatives for preserving this precious historic site.
We need your help to keep the momentum going!
HOW TO HELP:
Write to the Landmarks Preservation Commission, urging they consider landmark designation of Congregation Mezritch Synagogue as soon as possible.
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