Thursday, June 22, 2006
Yeshiva plan draws fierce opposition
Midwood resident are furious over a yeshiva's plan to build a second school on a street they charge has already been overrun by yeshiva-related traffic.
Rabbi Meir Gutfreund wants to build a 250-seat yeshiva high school less than a block down Elmwood Ave. from the Cheder School, a yeshiva opened in 2002 that has been praised by academics but bashed by neighbors.
"The traffic is terrible during the day and there's no peace at night," said Morton Pupko, president of the Kensington-Flatbush Preservation Association. "It's terrible."
Opponents insist that it isn't the yeshiva they're against, but the 17 proposed variances that would allow the school to rise three stories and to run right up to the sidewalk.
Gutfreund's plans for the new school building also require an exemption from providing new parking spaces, according to an application filed with the Board of Standards and Appeals.
Gutfreund's lawyer Eric Palatnik said the Cheder School draws traffic because it houses pre-K through ninth-grade students, who typically get rides from parents or school buses.
The proposed yeshiva would take in high school-aged students, who would walk or take trains, said Palatnik.
"They've established a successful school in this community and there needs to be a secondary school and the most logical place for it is down the street," Palatnik said.
The issue has become so contentious that some opponents have accused supporters of the yeshiva of falsely claiming that a community board meeting was canceled to deter foes from showing up.
http://www.nydailynews.com/boroughs/story/428344p-361205c.html
Midwood resident are furious over a yeshiva's plan to build a second school on a street they charge has already been overrun by yeshiva-related traffic.
Rabbi Meir Gutfreund wants to build a 250-seat yeshiva high school less than a block down Elmwood Ave. from the Cheder School, a yeshiva opened in 2002 that has been praised by academics but bashed by neighbors.
"The traffic is terrible during the day and there's no peace at night," said Morton Pupko, president of the Kensington-Flatbush Preservation Association. "It's terrible."
Opponents insist that it isn't the yeshiva they're against, but the 17 proposed variances that would allow the school to rise three stories and to run right up to the sidewalk.
Gutfreund's plans for the new school building also require an exemption from providing new parking spaces, according to an application filed with the Board of Standards and Appeals.
Gutfreund's lawyer Eric Palatnik said the Cheder School draws traffic because it houses pre-K through ninth-grade students, who typically get rides from parents or school buses.
The proposed yeshiva would take in high school-aged students, who would walk or take trains, said Palatnik.
"They've established a successful school in this community and there needs to be a secondary school and the most logical place for it is down the street," Palatnik said.
The issue has become so contentious that some opponents have accused supporters of the yeshiva of falsely claiming that a community board meeting was canceled to deter foes from showing up.
http://www.nydailynews.com/boroughs/story/428344p-361205c.html
Comments:
As a former resident of the neighborhood, I can tell you that it is not the Yeshiva that is the problem, it is the Illegal catering hall which creates major traffic and hogs up all of the parking at night when people are trying to come home and eat a meal. The frum residents of the neighborhood don't trust this mafia chevra to do right by them.
If the Cheder Business operation would promise to close down the catering hall, and keep it closed, perhaps the opposition to the mesivta building building would fade away
If the Cheder Business operation would promise to close down the catering hall, and keep it closed, perhaps the opposition to the mesivta building building would fade away
Comment Credit ---This article posted by 
: June 22, 2006 4:35 PM
: June 22, 2006 4:35 PM
The new mesifta is also going to house 70-80 beis medrash/kollel men, many of whom will live on the premises. the new yeshiva will have a beis medrash that will be in session until 10 pm and the students will be free to do what ever they can. imagine a building taller and almost as wide as the present Cheder building with garbage from over 200 students who will be eating 3 meals a day, 7 days a week plus no bicycle storage plus no parking for staff or students. No front yard, no year yard, no side yards. It it pretty scary and does not belong on a quiet side street!
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : June 24, 2006 10:01 PM
: June 24, 2006 10:01 PM
As someone who has lived in the area for the last 34 years, and has seen how much the neighberhood has improved with the building of The Cheder I do not understand the opposition to this. Should Yeshivas have to build buildings in areas where parents are afraid to let their children walk? Why is a Yeshiva causing some of the people on Elmwood such angst? I would love if a Yeshiva would build next to my house, even with all the issues that come with it. It is overall a big benefit for the area.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : June 27, 2006 11:34 AM
: June 27, 2006 11:34 AM
as a resident of Elmwood Ave. I am embarressed by the actions of the Cheder. They call themselves Bnai Torah but the words chillul hashem does not count. The wedding hall is killing the neighborhood just so that the yeshiva can pull in a million dollars in income.how do you think the goyim feel about not being able to leave their hmes at night because of no parking, what about the stench of the garbage that is left outside to rot in the sun. Now they want t build another huge building with a possible second hall in the basement. shame on them for even thinking about it
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : July 04, 2006 10:46 AM
: July 04, 2006 10:46 AM
1) Are you just plain jealous that the Yeshiva has another income from the hall? Tuition does not cover even the basic costs of running a school. The wedding hall improved the neighborhood by making it a safe place to walk at night. I remember Elmwood as the dumping grounds for stolen cars and where you could pick up cocaine. Since the Yeshiva has moved in the situation has only changed for the better.
2) Why blame the goyim - when it is our good friends - "the frummer yidin" who are fighting this?
3) The Cheder has commited that there will be no hall in this second building. I think if people will approach the Yeshiva in a fair mentchliche way they could work out the garbage problem, and parking for the bikes.
4) All in all this Yeshiva has improved the area. Shame on the people who oppose a Makom Torah just because they are jealous of a successful Yeshiva.
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2) Why blame the goyim - when it is our good friends - "the frummer yidin" who are fighting this?
3) The Cheder has commited that there will be no hall in this second building. I think if people will approach the Yeshiva in a fair mentchliche way they could work out the garbage problem, and parking for the bikes.
4) All in all this Yeshiva has improved the area. Shame on the people who oppose a Makom Torah just because they are jealous of a successful Yeshiva.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : July 04, 2006 1:14 PM
: July 04, 2006 1:14 PM
