Single-family home planned for synagogue site on Main Street

Changes have once again been made to the plan for the Chabad Jewish Community Center, which now includes a 3,500-square-foot home on the Main Street property.

The plan once called for a 4,500-square-foot social hall next to a 10,550-square-foot building that will house a synagogue and preschool classrooms. But that has been changed, and a new land-use application was filed in City Hall earlier this month, according to Alan Richman, a planning consultant working with the JCC.

The new application seeks approval for the single-family home to house rabbi Mendel Mintz and his family as part of the second phase of the construction project.

The new plan needs approval from the city Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council. The JCC already has received conceptual approval from the city Historic Preservation Commission, which is required because Main Street is located in a historic district.

Richman said there are no dates set for the land-use hearings but he expects the approval process to occur over the winter.

Richman said the previously planned social hall is not necessary because after setting the floor plan for the community center, it was determined that space could be dedicated for that type of use in the sanctuary.

“The house is very much needed,” he said. “I think this will actually work better.”

Richman said the home would be designed so that Mintz, or whomever is the rabbi in the future, can host events on the ground floor. Richman also added that it would be beneficial for the rabbi to live on site to deal with any problems that arise. continue...