Historic copper door returns to synagogue-turned condos on 6th Street

[EVG photo]

On Saturday, workers placed the refurbished front door back on the former Congregation Mezritch Synagogue at 415 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue... the door is made of red oak and faced with copper on its outside. The New York Times noted last December that the door "is being returned to its original state, though some wooden panels are being replaced by glass."


[Photo by Michael Hirsch]


[MH]

Here's a photo of the door as it looked in April 2014...


[Photo by Bobby Williams]

A worker told EVG Facebook friend Michael Hirsch that this main entrance will no longer be used... that the entrance to the building will be on the right-hand side...



...right by the newly arrived Prince tag...



The worker also claimed that the congregation will no longer have a presence in the building, which, if true, comes as a surprise.

As previously reported, the synagogue — active here since 1910 — had fallen on hard times, "with a dwindling membership and few resources to maintain the building," as the Times noted. Previous plans called for the demolition of the building. Those plans never materialized, and a new developer, East River Partners, emerged and proposed the current arrangement.

Also, for background via the Times:

As part of the current agreement, the developers are providing at least $20,000 annually to the congregation for the next 198 years, in addition to a $600,000 payment up front. East River is also giving the synagogue a $180,000 “fit-out allowance” for the synagogue to design and rebuild the sanctuary and other spaces, like offices or meeting spaces in the basement.

So, if the synagogue isn't going to have a presence here, what's the money going for... and who has it? Of course, the worker could have simply been confused (or misspoke), meaning that the whole structure will no longer house the synagogue.

The three residences (two units will have the original stained-glass windows) will range in price from $2.95 million to $4.4 million.

The building's slogan is "History reimagined … For modern living."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Plan to add condos to historic East Sixth Street synagogue back on

Play spot the potential penthouse atop the East Village synagogue

A final look inside the Anshei Meseritz synagogue on East Sixth Street

Stained-glass windows removed ahead of condo conversion at Congregation Mezritch Synagogue

Condos at former East 6th Street synagogue will start at just under $3 million

Sidewalk bridge comes down as condo conversion continues at former East 6th Street synagogue

History reimagined with $4.4 million penthouse at former 6th Street synagogue

A final look inside the Anshei Meseritz synagogue on East Sixth Street

On Tuesday, we had an update on the condo conversion at the Anshei Meseritz synagogue at 415 E. Sixth St. The sight of discarded prayer books outside angered several readers... However, workers on the scene assured neighbors that the books have been (and will be) properly disposed of... (As for the books in the photo? "A miscommunication.")

A neighbor also saw the interior...



As noted, the landmarked building was in disrepair and the congregation's population had dwindled. Synagogue leaders reportedly signed a 99-year lease with East River Partners worth some $1.2 million. The renovations include a penthouse addition and an elevator. The synagogue will reportedly retain space on the ground floor and basement for their use.

Condo conversion picking up at former East 6th Street synagogue

The condo conversion continues at the landmarked Congregation Mezritch Synagogue on East Sixth Street between First Avenue and Avenue A ... construction signage arrived last week, though various crews and contractors have been on the scene dating to the spring...



A reader also noted a few pieces of broken furniture (left in front of the neighboring building) a rusted dumpster with a hole ...





... and discarded prayer books ...



The DOB approved the interior demolition in June. On July 29, the DOB disapproved the following:

CHANGE OF USE, OCCUPANCY, AND EGRESS FROM THE EXISTING CELLAR, 1ST, 2ND & 3RD FLOOR, AND CREATE NEW 4TH FLOOR & 5TH FLOOR, OVER EXISTING ROOF, AS PER PLANS FILED.

As previously noted, the historic building was in bad shape and the congregation has apparently dwindled. Synagogue leaders reportedly signed a 99-year lease with East River Partners worth some $1.2 million. The renovations include a penthouse addition and an elevator. The synagogue will reportedly retain space on the ground floor and basement for their use.

Rabbi Paul (Pesach) Ackerman, the popular longtime rabbi of the synagogue, died in June from complications of pneumonia, The Villager reported. He was 84.

Per this article:

In his final days, Ackerman was instrumental in working out a development deal for the badly deteriorating synagogue building that will revitalize the landmarked structure and also guarantee that space will be reserved there for the synagogue for the next 99 years.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Plan to add condos to historic East Sixth Street synagogue back on

Play spot the potential penthouse atop the East Village synagogue

It takes an Army to empty a synagogue

Workers have been emptying the Congregation Mezritch Synagogue on East Sixth Street between First Avenue and Avenue A ahead of its conversion to condos...

And today, EVG reader Creature notes the truck on scene to help haul away what's left inside...







Any ideas where it might be going?

Workers spotted clearing out East Sixth Street synagogue awaiting condofication

Last we heard, there were still plans afoot to convert the Congregation Mezritch Synagogue at 415 E. Sixth St. into condos. The historic building in the new landmark district is in bad shape and the congregation has apparently dwindled.

Last month, CB3's Landmarks Subcommittee heard a proposal about the renovations, which include a penthouse addition and an elevator. Synagogue leaders reportedly signed a 99-year lease with East River Partners worth some $1.2 million.

The committee tabled the discussion for another meeting, as DNAinfo's Serena Solomon reported. (The proposal was set to go before the Landmarks Preservation Commission on April 9. We never heard what transpired at that meeting.)

There still aren't any permits on file with the city related to the latest project. Meanwhile, several readers have noted activity here between First Avenue and Avenue A... this afternoon, EVG reader Stephanie spotted workers removing items from the synagogue...



Yesterday, a resident complained to the city that: "ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTION RENOVATION BEING PERFORMED WITHOUT VALID PERMIT."

According to the DOB, when an inspector arrived for a second visit, "ACCESS DENIED BY MALE AT GROUND LEVEL ENTRANCE DOOR."



Previously on EV Grieve:
Play spot the potential penthouse atop the East Village synagogue

Play spot the potential penthouse atop the East Village synagogue

As you know, there are plans afoot to convert the Congregation Mezritch Synagogue at 415 E. Sixth St. into condos. Why? The historic building in the new landmark district is in bad shape and the congregation has dwindled.

On Wednesday night, CB3's Landmarks Subcommittee heard a proposal about the renovations, which include a penthouse addition and an elevator. (The Synagogue would use space in the upgraded basement's community facility.) Synagogue leaders reportedly signed a 99-year lease with East River Partners worth some $1.2 million.

However, to fit within the guidelines of the newish Lower East Side/East Village Historic District, the rooftop addition (penthouse!) can't be visible from the street.

DNAinfo'a Serena Solomon covered the meeting, and reports that architect Joseph Pell Lombardi said that the addition will not be visible from the street. To prove this, he installed a mock-up with orange cones and stuff showing where the penthouse would be setback from the rest of the building.

Per DNAinfo:

"There is a mock-up in place — a bright orange mark — and I would welcome any of you to take a look at," Lombardi said ... Wednesday night, where he spoke in an effort to earn the board's thumbs-up for the addition.

"It's up there now on top of the roof… we worked hard to make sure it wasn't visible."

We took him up on his offer.

Bobby Williams stopped by to see what was what.

Here is the view from East Sixth Street...



Then Bobby walked about 20 feet to the south onto the Village View property... where the addition was clearly visible from the grounds... and likely even more so from any of the Village View apartments...



For the record, Serena's photos showed the same thing.

Meanwhile, the committee tabled the discussion for another meeting.

Previously.