Today's Wall Street Journal provides more detail on the new owner of the building at 1 West 123rd Street and the legality of that controversial sale. We had a couple of posts up earlier this year on what is reported as the oldest African-American synagogue in the United States and how different factions in the congregation were in a legal battle on the ownership of the property. One group of the former temple sold (without the other group's consent) the 19th century, 10,000 square foot corner property at Mount Morris Park West to a developer a few years back and the building recently exchanged hands again for $1.85 million. As noted in the article, the new owner and his partner plan to make the house their primary residence:"Mr. Pinckney, the author of "High Cotton," a novel about growing up in a black privileged background in the Midwest, says he plans on restoring the synagogue to the "original one-family dwelling," and perhaps use the space as a salon for cultural events."
Fascinating tale.
ReplyDeleteIts just amazing how this was able to go down without the other half's consent. And I bet no one can trace the proceeds. Someone made off like a bandit and it wasn't the poor African-Hebrew Israelites. How this was allowed to go down is one of life's great mysteries. Its amazing how people can get in-between the dysfunctions & conflicts of a group and reap a huge reward.
ReplyDeleteThe interior was quite lovely. One Saturday in 2004 I attended a service there and it was a warm and welcoming congregation who took their Judaism very seriously. Oh Well, another one bites the dust and i hate saying that. Its a wake-up call (I hope) to the other congregations of the different faiths in Harlem to be careful of their internal conflicts. Although this synagogue in a way doesn't classify under predatory equity, it has some elements of it and the greed of Predatory equity is alive and bearing its fangs in communities like Harlem & Washington Heights-something I am painfully and intimately aware of.
Now I'll get down off my cross. Thanks
Does anyone have any photos of the interior? I have been curious about this building for a long time.
ReplyDeleteI would like to see most Harlem houses of worship turned into homes/apartments. And such a high-profile artistic couple is GREAT for the neighborhood. Welcome!
ReplyDeleteBob—what? Harlem churches are and always have been the soul of Harlem.
ReplyDeleteI’m going to give you the benefit of doubt here and assume you meant EMPTY Harlem houses of worship.
There's WAY too many churches in Harlem. I would also like to see some turned into homes/apts.
ReplyDeleteWho's to decide that there are way too many churches in Harlem? A church, synagogue, house of worship, whatever, is always preceded by a CONGREGATION from the COMMUNITY who need it, and who put blood, sweat, tears, and dough into building it (and maintaining it, and keeping it!). It's not like developers are throwing up churches and shuls and hoping they'll find a market. What a stupid comment.
ReplyDeleteNo, no -- I meant what I said. There are too many churches, synagogues, etc. in Harlem. They are bad neighbors, control freaks, and not interested in making the neighborhood better. They sooner these lovely buildings are converted to homes and apartments, the better.
ReplyDeleteWhat qualifies as being a "good neighbor" vs. a "bad neighbor"? The churches, synagogues, masjids, etc. and the people who build communities around them have just as legitimate a claim to the neighborhood as you, one resident, do. Do you also think community centers and schools are "bad neighbors, control freaks, and not interested in making the neighborhood better"? If you don't like having such neighbors, then move to a hotel or a housing development.
ReplyDeleteAlso, there is now only one synagogue in Harlem. Or is that one too many by your count...
ReplyDeleteBob needs to move. Quick, Fast and in a Hurry!!!1
ReplyDeleteI will never understand why people move into a neighborhood--presumably because they like it, and then become intent on totally changing it.
ReplyDeletethe churches are OUT OF CONTROL in harlem and they are the WORSE neighbors. they assume a sense of entitlement over law and their neighbors property. 3 examples
ReplyDelete1. parking. they double park and BLOCK in cars of anyone happened to be legally and lawfully parked. i have been held hostage by church goers blocking me in COUNTLESS times. a fellow neighbor got blocked in once, of course the Church has no parking monitor person or note of a phone number on the dashboard, this guy walked in the church, interrupted the service and screamed, MOVE THE DAMN BLACK CADILLAC! Why should Churches and the like be allowed to violate law? NYPD has a tacit agreement with all of them that they are allowed to violate law like this and they are not ticketed. It's not just 1 day a week. Oh hell no. It's frequently during the week, and oh hell, if they are having a revival, forget it, for 7 straight nights they will assume ownership of the public streets.
Can I have a gathering at my home and invite several dozen of my friends and their vehicles to double park freely and block in my neighbors with no fear of the NYPD or tickets? Why not?
2. BBQ'ing. It's illegal to do this wood burning BBQ'ing in Manhattan for commercial purposes, unless you are a Harlem Church. God forbid you are a vegetarian and live next door to one of these Churches in Harlem that breaks out 4 or 5 Oil Drum BBQ pits and sells BBQ ALL WEEKEND LONG. The NYPD does nothing. I too can place 5 Oil Drum BBQ's on my property in front of my Brownstone and BBQ all weekend going into business and selling food right there, sure I can do it, however the NYPD would stop me, the City would regulate me as a restaurant, and the IRS would want their Cut. Harlem Churches? Immune from this. No, I don't want to have to smell all day the smoke of BBQ, or the Pigs Feet, or the Hogmas, or the damn Chitlin's. Do you want Chitlin oder all day. BBQ order is no different than Chitlin order to many of us.
3. That Damn Mosque on 116th & Lenox. ANYONE who lives near there can testify of the times they blare their damn music and chants and crap at 4AM in the morning. WTF? They mount speakers on top of their building facing outward FORCING the neighborhood to put up with their crap....at 4-freaking-in-the-morning. If I did the same thing, placed speakers on my Brownstone and at 4AM starting playing LADY FREAKING GAGA so you can hear me blocks away, the NYPD would shut me down in an instant.
The Churches and such are the WORSE, They should be subject to ALL the same laws all of us are, they do what they want, how they want, when they want, and that's what makes them AWFUL neighbors. They are not courteous, they are not considerate, and if you think I am wrong, consider yourself Lucky that you don't live next to a Church that Blocks your legally parked car in, Blows Chitlin & BBQ smoke in your home, and blares noise at 4 in the freaking morning.
Wow, 6:37. Anger issues much?
ReplyDeleteI am not one of those people who says, “if you don't like it, leave”, but in your case dude, or dudette, I think—no, I KNOW—you are never going to be happy up here.
And next time do a little research. I you're going to live near a mosque you’re going to hear adhan at what, to you, are inconvenient hours. It’s a call to prayer. That’s the whole point. If you’re going to live near a big church you’re going to have double parking on Sundays. So don’t park there on Sunday.
Nice racist touch with the chitlins and pigs’ feet btw.
Sanou's Mum, people lived on 116th and Lenox before the Mosque showed up. It's the Mosque that has imposed itself on people already there after the fact. Care to be consistent? So you say Mosque are entitled to show up where ever they want and impose their audio nusance on the community at 4am?
ReplyDeleteNo, Harlem's historic problem has been a lack of civil order. Guiliani THANK GOD cleaned up 125th St. which used to be wall to wall merchants on the street, unlicensed, not paying taxing, selling X, Y & Z on the street and hurting the tax paying retailers with stores. That ended, thank god. Now it's time to end the illegality taking place pervasively in Harlem and stop these Churches from their entitlement of the street whenever they want.
If your car is blocked in (which can happen any day of the week, any time) by cars of a Church, the NYPD won't give them a ticket, you are just Shit Out of Luck. You can be late to an appointment or some other important matter you have to attend. It can happen any time or day of the week. These Churches and their privilege are OUT OF CONTROL. Hell, it almost makes sense to join a damn church just to get the free double parking whenever and wherever I want and never be ticketed.
Why are Churches above law and order?
Angry anonymous person, you need to accept that you don't live in a suburb. There is commercial, religious, community, and social activity all around. Why? Because the streets are shared, and don't just belong to homeowners. And if you can't accept that, then move to the suburbs.
ReplyDeleteI have lived with double parking from the churches for years and found it no problem at all, the congregation are always willing to move a car to let me out, I really don’t see the problem. What I do hear in these posts is a legitimate concern of churches flouting the law that others are held to and that can be frustrating, but that frustration should be tempered by the fact that the churches and local culture where here a long time before the new arrivals. Also keep in mind the churches are an enormous positive influence on many individuals in the community and have turned around the lives of many troubled individuals, in short, they do a lot of good.
ReplyDeleteNB--the mosque on 116 a nd Lenox has been there since the early 50s.
ReplyDeleteGreg – I don’t think it’s a question of moving – and in a hurry. It’s a question of being fair and a good neighbor.
ReplyDeleteLet me give you a parallel that you might appreciate. In front of the ACP building, a group of drummers bang their drums from mid-afternoon till 10:00 every night. Every. Night. Is this part of the ‘culture?’ Sure. Is it part of the ‘community?’ Maybe. Is it illegal? Yes. Is it unfair to homeowners to have their windows rattle because of this noise? Definitely. But … we’re supposed to give bad behavior a pass because it’s part of the culture or community?
If I went to the ACP plaza and started blasting Beethoven on a boom box, how acceptable would that be? Or went into churches handing out atheist pamphlets? Not at all – that’s not acceptable behavior, regardless of ‘culture’ or ‘community.’ All many of us want from Harlem is the same consideration and courtesy to which everyone is entitled – be considerate, understand that noise is real, and don’t break the law.
I'm with Bob!
ReplyDeleteIt’s illegal to drum in public until 10 pm? On a non-residential street? Have residents complained? Or is it a tourist draw for businesses . .
ReplyDeleteThe drummers’ circle in Marcus Garvey was relocated because residents complained. That seems equitable.
I’m all for law and order but not for imposing MY way of life on others who have been there longer than I. Check out where you’re going. . .you wouldn’t move to Little Italy and then get all bent out of shape because the Festival of San Gennaro was loud noisy and smelly, would you?
One person’s noise is another’s music.
One person's music is another person's noise when inconsiderate people FORCE you to hear it. And, yes, playing for money on the street is illegal. And, yes, residents have complained.
ReplyDeleteAnd as for people being there longer ... I don't think you can be grandfathered into illegal or inconsiderate behavior. Do you? If you REALLY think that, give me your address and I'll have the drummers relocated under YOUR window.
I'm also with Bob. Rules should be followed by everyone, regardless of "seniority". And it certainly isn't the churches that are cleaning up the neighborhood. It's the new people coming in, willing to take a chance, and invest their hard earned money.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the offer, Bob but I don’t think they’d fit. Sidewalk pretty full with the crack dealers and craps players.
ReplyDeleteThe crack dealers and craps players have probably been there for a long time. Let's grandfather them in too.
ReplyDeleteAlready have.
ReplyDeleteLet's face it. Harlem's most recent history, that is 1970s onward, is hardly a culture worth fighting for. It is when most of the destruction chaos and crime happened.
ReplyDeleteRecently, I was assaulted at the 125 St subway station. Middle of the day. Luckily a local stepped in before it got out of hand. And there were police in the station to report it to. But the guy was pretty bold, and came right back into the arms of the police. Wasn't even embarrassed to say he assaulted me. The guy was dressed nicely, in a jacket and tie. First time I've ever been assaulted, or know anyone who was assaulted in NYC is the 13 years I've been here. I've also recently moved to Harlem. I'm not going to let this incident bother me or scare me from the neighborhood. But I'm embarrassed to tell my friends or family, for fear they won't want to visit, or they'll say, "that's what you get for moving to Harlem".
On hindsight I agree, the churches should have to obey the same laws as everyone else as that is only fair. However the churches should be recognized as a valuable part of Harlem’s culture and not be demonized. They have provided a positive influence through Harlem’s most difficult times and continue to provide a valuable service to the community. For those who may not be church goers, there are many volunteer opportunities that serve as a vehicle to become familiar with one of the more positive sides of Harlem’s culture.
ReplyDeleteWestsider, you don't sound like you're Black. Well I am a long time Harlem resident, and I am Black, and you speak of the Churches in such Monolithic endearing terms, you clearly don't know what's up (on a Black level).
ReplyDeleteYou speak so glowingly and universally about the Churches. One of the best known is James David Manning chief pastor at the ATLAH World Missionary Church on 123rd Street & Lenox. The man is a LUNATIC, no one disputes this, including you Westsider. The Black Church in Harlem has been one of the leading forces to NOT get behind acknowledging or doing anything about the HIV/AIDS Crisis in the Black Community. The lack of faith-based leadership support for HIV prevention policies and programs in the African-American community has been historical and thoroughly documented, published, and written about for decades now.
Harlem Churches have done a great job stopping gentrification with this silly law about not selling alcohol within so many feet of them, who wants to open a restaurant when the biggest profit center can't be there?
The Black Church in Harlem has done as much damage to people as good. Scandals are common, even Rev. Butts of the great Abassynia has been documented and proven to be a SLUM LORD. Here, the very pinnacle and ultimate of the Harlem Black Church.
November 26, 2006 NY Post — It’s the building from hell – with a man of God at the helm. Furious residents of a six-story Harlem apartment building plagued by mice, roaches, flooding and continually broken elevators are demanding answers from the Rev. Calvin Butts, who has been involved in the building ownership for nearly 20 years. The building has racked up 120 city violations for everything from peeling paint to vermin, according to city Housing Preservation and Development records. It has 13 open Department of Buildings violations. Butts’ involvement in the building began in 1987, when it was purchased by the non-profit Reverend C.T. Walker Housing Development Funds Corp. Butts was an original board member and is named on the deed. In 2002 tax records, he is listed as president. (ended)
Westsider, at the very top (Abyssinia and Rev Butts) the Black Church has been a mess, a scandal, and I can inundate you with facts about Church based crimes, scandals, you name it.
It's hilarious for me to read people like you speak so glowingly and wonderfully about the Churches in Harlem, when you're grossly uninformed. The Churches, well they ain't so great, positive, or valuable. A lot of them have been a mess, top to bottom, they've done as much damage as they've done good.
Yours is a one-sided, naive, glowing speech that's far far far from the truth. These Churches should have to deal with all the civic laws we all have to, including parking.
Most Harlem Black people know how scandal ridden and a mess most of these Churches are.
And don't forget about the Harlem Church real estate scandals...
ReplyDelete"The city's sale of confiscated houses was intended to improve the community by placing property in the hands of people who would live in them and maintain them. In many cases, the city would even pay to completely renovate a property before selling it (by lottery) below market value.[97] The program was soon beset by scandal—buyers were acquiring houses from the city, then making deals with churches or other charities in which they would inflate the appraised values of the properties and the church or charity would take out federally guaranteed 203(k) mortgage and buy it. The original buyer would realize a profit and the church or charity would default on the mortgage (presumably getting some kind of kickback from the developer).[98][99]" -wikipedia
Anon at 9:42 PM, You seem to have a lot of anger towards the churches and focus on the negatives, I can only imagine why. A very few are nut jobs, even hate mongers, but the ministers and congregations I have met over the years are extremely nice, kind, decent, honorable people and certainly do not deserve to be demonized. If there is any part of Harlem culture that needs to be recognized as valuable it is the churches.
ReplyDeletevery interesting debate on churches. i have been in harlem for more than 10 years and before me my father lived here in the 1960s--i have a deep respect for harlem's culture. however, i do agree that churches get too many special privileges and that there are tons of them in harlem. i agree that some religious organizations do provide much needed services to the neediest members of our community but it's very easy to find numerous cases of corruption among church elders. i don't understand why religious organizations are perceived as synonymous with good works. it would be lovely if the synagogue could have remained and been restored but right now it's just a blight. besides, darryl pinkney is a writer of lovely sensibility. perhaps he really will start a salon a la a'lelia walker during the harlem renaissance. that would be a great asset to the community and much better than condominiums or an unused, dilapidated synagogue presided over haphazardly by a warring congregation. i wish at least part of it could have been turned into a museum though. maybe mr. pinkney and his partner will consider that. two men, no matter how many books they have, can't really need 10,000 sq feet.
ReplyDeleteJust to add a bit to Westsider's take on this:
ReplyDeleteWhether you respect the churches or think they have had a negative impact, it makes sense to hold them to account and enforce the rule of law.
Applying a uniform standard for law enforcement (as well as increased monitoring by tax authorities) would start to chip away at the culture of impunity and corruption at the top, and would likewise reduce the number of conflicts and resentments simmering between parishioners and community members.
Moreover, such a shift would hopefully allow members of these institutions to focus on good works, and local residents to more readily acknowledge their positive role.
Pete,
ReplyDeleteHarlem used to be a different world from downtown in so many ways, now these two worlds are merging and Harlem is changing fast. One of those changes has to be equal law enforcement for all and respect for the law by all.
anon at 9:42 - why do you attack westsider but not Sanou‘s Mum who is the one most vocally defending the churches? does she also not know "what's up (on a black level)" to use your words?
ReplyDeleteAnon 2:21. Oh thanks!
ReplyDeletePeace out . .
sorry sanou's mum-it wasnt meant as any attack on you! i just was curious why this poster was attacking someone who had a similar perspective as yours but not you. my guess is because he's decided you are black and this other person isnt and somehow that means their opinion is invalid.
ReplyDeleteYeah, and?
ReplyDeleteBtw, you can't buy a Cote d'Ivoire (or Ghana) World Cup shirt anywhere on 116 or 125. C'mon vendors! Enough with Michael Jackson!
yeah and...im just not sure why white people's opinions dont matter on this blog and in harlem in general. it's as if you cross over 110th street and you're supposed to just shut up about everything and be happy no one calls you a cockroach in front of your kid.
ReplyDeleteThese were interesting comments to read and I am glad there was a discussion about Harlem churches. There is way too much exceptionalism associated with Harlem and frankly the word "community" is used ad nauseum; the more appropriate term would be status quo.
ReplyDeleteThe bottom line = EVERYONE abides by the law. End of story. The city can't pick and choose what congregations in what neighborhoods should and shouldn't follow them. Period. What's the big confusion about that?
ReplyDeleteThe only explanation for the double standard that I can possibly think of is that since the city is very much to blame for having allowed the destruction of Harlem in its height of blithe to occur by sheer neglect, it may be a compensation or reparation of some sorts. By the stretch of the imagination, this is the best I could come up with. Otherwise, I'm completely stumped.
Houses of Worship must abide by the law as other citizens. Most do and some regretably do not. Many starving New Yorkers get their meals from churches and many communites benefit form having them. The temple on 1 West 123rd Street was not a warring congregation as posted by Anonymous 6-17-10. The temple, founded by the late Rabbi W.A. Matthew, was not an "unused, dilapidated synagogue presided over haphazardly by a warring congregation". They were and remain a proud peaceful group and that is precisely what nine people saw when they decided to infiltrate the congregation and steal the temple and sell it. The proceeds of the sale are supposed to be held in an escrow account so, at least on the face of it, the nine thieves have not benefited financially. The Attorney General's Office determines when or if the money is released.
ReplyDelete1 West 123rd remains a beautiful building despite the destruction brought on the building by the first buyer, identified in city records as 31 Mount Morris Park LLC. Greg and Sanou's Mum have it right. The issue is how a group of bandits used the court system to steal. Fortunately the world knows what happened. Property owners must protect what you own because it could happen to anyone and does happen to people's homes, brownstones and yes synagogues. Oh and when you have a moment check out or rent the movie "The Angel Levine" it starred Harry Belafonte and the late Zero Mostel and shows (although only a couple of minutes)beautiful exterior and interior scenes of the synagogue. The synagogue was in such a condition at the time of the 2007 illegal sale. A salon? I don't think so.
Anon 8.41
ReplyDeleteThanks for your insight.
Wow the truth comes out once again in the safety of the internet. Too many churches-convert them to
ReplyDeletecondos? Typical of people moving to Harlem. Its not enough that you bastards want to force long time Harlem residents out but now you are going after the churches? The constant pressure that houses of worship are under( constant offers to buy,real estate deals taking their air rights, "accidental" construction damage-,fires etc.)are just the thing to speed up the removal of blacks and hispanics from Harlem. While most Harlem churches do have a sense of entitlement(like most whites) they do provide service to Harlem. Hopefully after years of not helping,being ripped off by real estate agents bent on gentrifying Harlem, maybe the time is right to form a new coalition of houses of worship to really help the residents of Harlem. Basically is pick your poison - do you want to be removed from your community by careless outsiders or attempt to correct the mindset of churches who for years have taken advantage of its community. Right now the project and churches are the only thing slowing down the wholesale destruction of Harlem. Wow and you wonder why some people call you devils.