Wednesday, October 08, 2014
Controversial Bloomingburg homes going on sale
Homes from Shalom Lamm’s controversial Chestnut Ridge development are now for sale.
A full-page ad in Tuesday’s Times Herald-Record proclaimed the first phase of the 396-home development in the small eastern Sullivan County Village of Bloomingburg is available for purchase.
It comes just a week after approximately 200 votes were cast in a referendum to dissolve the village into the Town of Mamakating. The referendum was sparked by a petition from village residents opposed to the apparently Hasidic development. Many feel the village would be overwhelmed by the development, which could more than quadruple the village population of some 400 residents. Since so many voter registrations in Bloomingburg were challenged – particularly by Lamm opponents – all of the dissolution votes were sealed until the registrations are investigated.
Lamm said only 48 of the townhouses are near completion and will be available for sale starting at $299,000. The construction of the remaining homes is held up by a moratorium on development in the village. A 90-day extension of the moratorium was just approved by the village Board of Trustees – motivated by anti-Semitism, Lamm said in a $25 million lawsuit against Bloomingburg and Mamakating officials, who strongly deny the charges.
The ad promotes various amenities near the development, including a synagogue, a post-marriage learning center, so-called “spas” and “public and private schools for boys and girls.” Lamm has proposed a private girls school that was turned down by the Bloomingburg planning board, prompting a lawsuit and charges of bigotry by Lamm. The school is now under review by the Mamakating board. Next to the list of the amenities in the ad is a large symbol labeling the neighborhood as an “Equal Housing Opportunity.” Under that it says the development “does not discriminate on the basis of religion or any other prohibited status.”
Lamm said the development was always meant for anyone interested in a home and that it was never specifically built for the Hasidic Jewish community. He said inquiries have come from a cross-section of people, but he did say a majority of the interest has come from Hasidim.
The rising cost of homes in Brooklyn – where there are large Hasidic communities - is why building a development in the village was appealing to Lamm.
“If we’re an attractive alternative for the Hasidic community, or any other community, that’s great,” Lamm said.
There are many in the village, as well in the Town of Mamakating, who believe the development is specifically meant for Hasidim. Holly Roche, president of the Rural Community Coalition, which opposes Lamm’s development, was skeptical it was open to everyone.
“Do I think he has the development of Chestnut Ridge with fair housing in his heart and mind?” Roche said. “I do not.”
Lamm, though, doesn’t feel it is necessary to respond to those who doubt him.
“Not every person who has a preconceived notion based on bigotry requires answering,” Lamm said.
http://www.recordonline.com/article/20141007/NEWS/141009526
A full-page ad in Tuesday’s Times Herald-Record proclaimed the first phase of the 396-home development in the small eastern Sullivan County Village of Bloomingburg is available for purchase.
It comes just a week after approximately 200 votes were cast in a referendum to dissolve the village into the Town of Mamakating. The referendum was sparked by a petition from village residents opposed to the apparently Hasidic development. Many feel the village would be overwhelmed by the development, which could more than quadruple the village population of some 400 residents. Since so many voter registrations in Bloomingburg were challenged – particularly by Lamm opponents – all of the dissolution votes were sealed until the registrations are investigated.
Lamm said only 48 of the townhouses are near completion and will be available for sale starting at $299,000. The construction of the remaining homes is held up by a moratorium on development in the village. A 90-day extension of the moratorium was just approved by the village Board of Trustees – motivated by anti-Semitism, Lamm said in a $25 million lawsuit against Bloomingburg and Mamakating officials, who strongly deny the charges.
The ad promotes various amenities near the development, including a synagogue, a post-marriage learning center, so-called “spas” and “public and private schools for boys and girls.” Lamm has proposed a private girls school that was turned down by the Bloomingburg planning board, prompting a lawsuit and charges of bigotry by Lamm. The school is now under review by the Mamakating board. Next to the list of the amenities in the ad is a large symbol labeling the neighborhood as an “Equal Housing Opportunity.” Under that it says the development “does not discriminate on the basis of religion or any other prohibited status.”
Lamm said the development was always meant for anyone interested in a home and that it was never specifically built for the Hasidic Jewish community. He said inquiries have come from a cross-section of people, but he did say a majority of the interest has come from Hasidim.
The rising cost of homes in Brooklyn – where there are large Hasidic communities - is why building a development in the village was appealing to Lamm.
“If we’re an attractive alternative for the Hasidic community, or any other community, that’s great,” Lamm said.
There are many in the village, as well in the Town of Mamakating, who believe the development is specifically meant for Hasidim. Holly Roche, president of the Rural Community Coalition, which opposes Lamm’s development, was skeptical it was open to everyone.
“Do I think he has the development of Chestnut Ridge with fair housing in his heart and mind?” Roche said. “I do not.”
Lamm, though, doesn’t feel it is necessary to respond to those who doubt him.
“Not every person who has a preconceived notion based on bigotry requires answering,” Lamm said.
http://www.recordonline.com/article/20141007/NEWS/141009526
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