Demolitions Begins On Lower East Side Synagogue After Fire

LOWER EAST SIDE, NY — The historic Beth Hamedrash Hagadol synagogue is being demolished this week, months after a devastating fire damaged the vacant building.

The landmarked synagogue, which was 169-years-old, was damaged in a raging fire in May that took nearly five hours and hundreds of firefighters to extinguish. No one was injured in the fire, which destroyed most of the interior of the vacant house of worship. The fire was believed to be started by teenage boys who had snuck into the abandoned building, police said.

Now, months later, demolition crews are beginning to remove the battered remains of the building, located at 60 Norfolk St. The city granted a permit for significant alterations on the building, including removing the most dangerous rubble, earlier this week.

The blaze damaged the framework supporting the roof beyond repair, according to an architectural review of the building. In addition, the the building's masonry locations were too unstable for safe use and there are "significant structural instabilities" in the stair tower.

The synagogue, which was originally build as a Baptist church in 1850, had been vacant since 2007, when the dwindling congregation moved to a nearby place of worship. The Landmarks Preservation Commission has asked that parts of the facade be preserved during the demolition process. It's unclear what will become of the space, but the neighboring senior residence at 50 Norfolk St. has proposed expanding affordable housing options there.

Image credit: Ciara McCarthy / Patch