Van Cortlandt Jewish Center (VCJC) President Stu Harris and Board Chair Jack Kleinfeld have succeeded in boasting about their disinformation and distortion campaign that has resulted in the worst possible real estate deal available, not only for the VCJC congregation, but for the community at large as well.

 

They claim to have worked tirelessly to keep the terms of their dealings secret, and when details leaked, their concern was not that there could be legitimate criticism to their plans, but wanting to know who leaked the information. That was their priority, not whether they had the best arrangement for the center possible.

 

What has leaked is that the 33,000 square foot building that has stood as a beacon for almost 60 years in a dense urban community is being sold to a foreign developer called Innovative, with the VCJC congregation to become [partial] tenants and purportedly, the construction of market rate housing with the remaining space.

 

They have acknowledged that because of VCJC’s significantly declining Orthodox membership, that went from 700 in the past to now just under 60, they can no longer afford their property. But as their congregation continues to get older and likely shrinks further, especially since they have rejected new members, including those who have significant roots in their Center, basic logic indicates that so too, will the center’s revenue.

 

In this alignment, there is no guarantee of permanence, as leases do not have to be renewed when Innovative can market the space for more money. VCJC members who have a vote should note that this is the future their leaders have paved for the congregation.

 

When asked by a prospective developer, Chairman Kleinfeld admitted that a “condo-like” arrangement, where the congregation would own their part of the property, rather than become paying tenants, would be preferred. But when presented with opportunities to pursue that concept, he, with full approval of President Harris, once again, shut the doors and told the world that no other option could be achieved quickly enough.

 

Impatience, that’s their reasoning for making bad choices. Ironically, this is just what Kleinfeld told a nonprofit developer in 2019 when they were negotiating a more favorable deal than the one they’re currently getting. That’s why that deal fell through. Of course, had the VCJC signed that agreement at that time, right now they’d be cutting a ribbon for a new place.

 

VCJC members who will have the opportunity to vote should reject this thoughtless proposal and provide a long-lasting, more sensible arrangement for the VCJC. They should also vote for new leaders who will provide MORE information to them, not less, and not distort the realities of the plans they’re making that will affect all of us.

 

Gary Axelbank is a resident of Van Cortlandt Village.

 

Editor’s Note: Norwood News reached out to the VCJC Board of Trustees for comment. Their response can be read here. Read our latest story on the vote taken by members in May 2024 to sell the VCJC Center and to return as partial tenants here.