Chabad of the Upper West Side is planning to expand into some Upper West Side brownstones, but it could come at the expense of some residents who say they're simply being forced out of their homes. NY1's Rebecca Spitz filed the following report.

Video – Chabad Expansion Riles Some Manhattan Residents

Chabad of the Upper West Side is planning to expand into some Upper West Side brownstones, but it could come at the expense of some residents who say they’re simply being forced out of their homes. NY1’s Rebecca Spitz filed the following report.

NEW YORK, NY [NY1] — One wouldn’t look twice at the brownstones on West 86th Street if they weren’t in the middle of a neighborhood controversy.

The tenants who live inside will likely have to leave because the buildings’ new owner, a prominent Jewish organization, doesn’t want to use them for apartments anymore.

Chabad of the Upper West Side plans to put its preschool and synagogue there instead.

“I have nothing against religion or any group expanding. In order to survive, you have to expand,” said Upper West Side resident Robert Sands. “The problem is they’ve found themselves in a situation which is really inappropriate. It’s inappropriate to do the expansion here at this location.”

Sands has lived in a rent stabilized apartment in the neighborhood for 28 years. He says Chabad’s expansion is inappropriate not only because the buildings are landmarked, but when Chabad moves in, Sands and his neighbors will have to move out and no one knows where.

“It’s hard to plan one’s life when you have this sword hanging over one’s head,” said Sands.

Chabad is asking the Landmarks Preservation Commission to approve a rooftop addition and another in the rear yard. That part isn’t sitting well with people on West 87th Street whose homes would abut Chabad.

“The effect of what’s going in here will greatly damage our life experience and the quality of life,” said Upper West Side resident Eric Wynne.

City Councilwoman Gale Brewer, who represents the area, says she isn’t coming down on anyone’s side just yet.

“You have the stakeholders of the tenants, the stakeholders of the people who live on the back side of a changed building on West 87th Street and you have the stakeholders of the Chabad,” said Brewer. “So it’s quite a challenging situation.”

Anxious tenants say they haven’t been given any details, including a timeline.

Hank Sheinkopf, a spokesperson for Chabad, says the group has, in fact, done community outreach including making offers to help the tenants relocate.

“Frankly, the Chabad of the Upper West Side has gone out of its way to work with community leaders and others to come up with a plan that is much less severe than other projects that have occurred,” said Sheinkopf.

“Even though they say they’re communicating with us, it’s not true,” said Upper West Side resident Doris Mirescu.

The local community board has already voted against the project, but what matters now is what the city thinks. The Landmarks Preservation Commission is expected to take up the issue again in the next few weeks.

4 Comments

  • Two aspects to this case

    B“H

    There seem to be two issues here:

    1) Adding architectural additions to the property, AND

    2) Evicting tenants who were contracted by the previous owners of the property.
    I cannot comment on the first one, as I do not know what the proposed designs of the architectural additions are, and have no way of knowing whether it’s really true that they will ”compromise the quality of life here“ as that one guy says. I suspect, however, that he’s more worried about ”compromising the quality of his property value” because he hoped the block would remain purely residential, and even, perhaps, shul-free!

    As for the second one, however, the residents being evicted should complain to the former owners. It is very, very standard for a sales contract to state that a property will be delivered vacant, but only if that is stipulated there on purpose. In this case, the former owners probably gave Chabad of the W.S. a better price on the property, but Chabad then had to do the dirty work of making the property vacant for its own use.

    But unless the old tenants have some kind of extraordinary clause in their leases, when the property changes hands, all bets are off on honoring the old leases. It’s a tough situation for them, but this is part of what one risks when they rent; it could happen anywhere, and has nothing to do with the fact that the new owner is a shul, a church, a law office, a physician’s office, etc., etc., etc.

  • a chabad of the westsider

    commenting on number 1: the plans are to RESTORE the original facade; the back will be no more built out than many of the other homes; and the rear of the building will actually be a beautiful space, that will be pleasant to look at. People on the West Side are automatically apposed to change. Even if it means improving the area, they are afraid. Chabad has been renting for the last 20 years and it’s time that they have their own building. The shul is bursting at the seams, they turn away dozens of kids each year because there’s no space in the acclaimed preschool. This building will bring increased respect and visibility from the community and will only make this already BH fantastic organization even stronger and able to do much, much more.

  • a neighborhood resident

    wa waw wa!!! Boohoo! The last time I looked This is still a free country anyone can buy or sell a property to anyone else! The last time I looked tenants don’t have life time leases. Suck it up. that’s life You will have to find another place to live! As for the additions the chabad house wants they have a right to do what they want with a property I am sure they thought about this very carefully they have to deal with NYC politics & Iy”h they will be Matzliach it’s good for them & a non story get over it!!!!!!!