From old to young
Published on 6 Aug 2007 at 3:45 pm.
18 Comments.
Filed under Local.
BY CATHY BUGMAN
Star-Ledger Staff
A stately North Plainfield mansion formerly used as the McCutchen Friends Home for senior citizens is to be converted into a yeshiva where young men pursue religious studies primarily within Orthodox Judaism.
A yeshiva now operating in Springfield, Union County, is under contract to purchase the elegant Queen Anne-style edifice on Rockview Avenue, said Theodore Gast, the yeshiva’s attorney from Watchung.
Terms of the sale between property owner Yearly Meeting Friends Home, a Quaker organization, and Yeshiva Tiferes Boruch have not been disclosed. But the 15,000-square-foot mansion and extra building space in the form of a nursing home addition and apartments — all sitting on 2.09 acres making up what equates to a city block — was on the market for $2,250,000, officials said.
“It’s a magnificent structure, really something to behold,” Allen Rosenberg, the real estate agent who handled the transaction for Coldwell Banker in Warren Township, said of the mansion, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Regarded as one of the country’s premier examples of Queen Anne-style architecture, the three-story mansion is surrounded by a vintage stone wall and gardens once offered for tours, Rosenberg said.
“It’s the showcase of the Washington Park historic district,” said Frank D’Amore, who lives in the district.
Representatives of the yeshiva are expected to appear before the zoning board on Aug. 29 or Sept. 5 to gain a use variance to operate on the property, which is zoned for residential houses. Eighty students would attend the school.
“We hope the sale goes through,” said Carol Stern, a Newark attorney representing Yearly Meeting Friends Home.
Meanwhile, the yeshiva is holding off on pursuing its case before the Springfield zoning board involving a school it opened in a converted split-level home. It maintains the new school on South Springfield Avenue is operating no differently from the one operating out of an Evergreen Avenue home the township approved years ago.
“It’s essentially on hold because of the anticipated move to North Plainfield,” said Bruce Pitman, the attorney representing the yeshiva on that case.
Mayor Janice Allen said she hopes the yeshiva, if it gets approval to locate there, will be open to welcome community members inside as the senior citizens home had traditionally done.
As of June 1, the property was no longer considered tax-exempt, meaning it was returned to the tax rolls with the expectation that taxes would be paid on its assessment of $1,462,600, Tax Assessor Barbara Flaherty said. Before June, it was regarded as a nonprofit, tax-exempt nursing home property, as it was and continues to be owned by the Yearly Meeting Friends Home.
The prospect of injecting new life into what little remains of a once-thriving Jewish population in the Plainfield-North Plainfield area has the Jewish community cautiously optimistic about the yeshiva’s establishment.
“This might encourage some people to move into the area,” said retired Rabbi Moshe Samber, who once led a conservative congregation in Plainfield.
“We absolutely welcome them into Somerset County,” said Orthodox Rabbi Shmaya Krinsky, spiritual leader of the Chabad Center of Southern Somerset County.
18 Comments to ‘From old to young’:
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QUESTION on 6 Aug 2007 at 10:37 pm: 1
Will this property be returned to TAX EXEMPT status if the sale goes through? What will happen the the location if it becomes a school? I wonder if the Yeshiva would be interested in the Villa Property. That would be an ideal location for a school. Any answers?
Tax attacks on 7 Aug 2007 at 11:05 am: 2
I second that first question. It seems to me that a use variance could be conditioned on having the property on the tax rolls. Let’s don’t give away the store here.
Jenny on 7 Aug 2007 at 12:46 pm: 3
I would assume that the property would revert back to being tax-exempt once the school is up and running. I believe that how the property is being used on Oct 1 of the preceding year determines the tax exempt status, so unless the Yeshiva moves very quickly and sets up by Oct 1, we’ll likely get taxes for 2008, but not any future years.
I understand the desire to collect tax revenue on the property, but I think having an active yeshiva that is exempt from taxes is much better than risking a beautiful old building being neglected by dozens of renters. I’m just glad the Friends were able to find a buyer so quickly- there’s nothing worse than seeing such a gorgeous building fall into disrepair as it stands vacant.
I’m looking forward to welcoming this new group to town, and hope they make a positive impact on the community!
ANSWER on 7 Aug 2007 at 8:55 pm: 4
Thanks for the reply Jennie. I guess it would be a better quality of life for the community as a whole. I can only imagine the illegal residences being put within the dwelling. I guess that no one was able to get to the mayor on this one. I wonder how much the going rate for townhomes would have been.
Citizen on 8 Aug 2007 at 12:57 am: 5
While keeping an open mind, has anyone considered the possible racial tensions that the school’s presence may ignite in a town that has been riddled with these issues in past few years ? Also,if someone examined the operation of yeshiva schools,they would realize their prejudice towards women and tradition of prohibiting women from their property? Do we still want this in our community ?
Jenny on 8 Aug 2007 at 9:20 am: 6
Citizen- I personally am unaware of any antisemitism in our town, but even if it did exist, how on earth would it make sense to punish the victims of their racism by trying to stop them from moving in? As far as yeshivas only teaching male students, that is their religious prerogative, whatever anyone else may think. Many Christian traditions do the exact same thing.
Misunderstood on 8 Aug 2007 at 9:25 pm: 7
Dear Jenny, I believe that you miss the point of Citizen’s post. Antisemitism is related towards hatred of Jewish people. The post refers towards the attacks on hispanics, which was problematic. I suspect that Citizen is discussing such targeted attacks causing further tensions. Basically, it will create a whole new group of victims. Finally, the culture of the Yeshiva is one of male superiority and the subservant and submissive treatment of women. If the women in that community are accepting of being relegated as sub human, that is their religious choice. Unfortunately, the behavior of all the males in the Yeshiva educational structure have the same expectation of ALL WOMEN. They are misogynists by their own teachings. While they have every right to practice their religion, women have every right to be equal and not relegated to disdain. Do a little research Jenny and find out for yourself. A nice stroll through Lakewood on the Sabbath might let you see the behavior first hand. Also, you might want to avoid such a comparison to Christian traditions. The correct analogy would be to the Jesuit traditions of the Catholic Church, although the Jesuit Preists teach equality and respect towards women and not disdain.
Citizen on 8 Aug 2007 at 9:58 pm: 8
I understand this but the point that I’m making that you’re failing to realize is the fact that for years the McCutchen Home has remained a landmark of our community. It has been used as during several community events, such as the Washington Rock Historic Tour, and if converted to a Yeshiva School, WOMEN WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE PREMISES, as with most Yeshiva Schools, which would totally take something very valuable away from a community that needs it. And Jenny, did I ever once use the word ”anti-semitic” in my comment. No I did not. What I did say was that racial tensions have existed in our community for the past few years, ( unless ur one of Mayor Allen’s liberals who like to pretend that everythings just fine) you have to be blind not to see them. And its just not the right time for neither The People of the Yeshiva or the People of North Plainfield, to have another subculture enter our community. On Top of all this, it would only make sense to have a BUSINESS OR RESIDENCE ENTER MCCUTCHEN THAT WOULD PAY PROPERTY TAXES, to help curb the property tax issue for the rest of us.
Jenny on 9 Aug 2007 at 3:05 pm: 9
I’m not going to argue about the yeshiva, reasonable people can disagree. However, I will argue that a tax-exempt group in general at McCutchen might be better for the borough than residences. Generally, towns LOSE money on every residence. When you average it out, people don’t pay enough in property taxes to cover what they consume in services. Towns make up the difference by taxing businesses, which use few town services and don’t have children in the school system. So turning McCutchen into apartments might have the end result of RAISING your taxes, since the people living there would likely cost the borough more money than they would pay in property taxes.
Anon on 10 Aug 2007 at 7:46 am: 10
Misunderstood,
I think you need to do some research on Judaism before publishing such harsh and untrue comments. While there is a separation of the sexes in religious studies under Orthodox traditions, saying that there is ”disdain” for women is far from the truth.
Referring to them as a ”subculture” reeks of anti-semitism.
It is a shame that you cannot see that the Yeshiva moving in is a positive step for this community. Back in the day, when Plainfield had a large Jewish population, it was a thriving, vibrant community with a beautiful shopping district and residential areas. After the riots, the Jews moved out. Their return should be welcomed with open arms.
As for the fact that women may not be allowed into the home, had the home been converted into multiple apartments, it would not have been open for tours either, and it would likely fall into disrepair. As a private residence or school, the owners have every right not to allow the public access to the premises.
Sally on 10 Aug 2007 at 3:26 pm: 11
As a neighbor of the McCutchen house (their gardens are directly across the street from me) I would welcome this school over a bunch of residential apartments anyday. The area is loud and busy enough. I would expect them to be quiet thoughtful neighbors.
Citizen on 11 Aug 2007 at 2:01 pm: 12
Nobody ever said the Yeshiva is moving in for sure! First they need approval from the Planning Board which is no easy task, especially in a case as controversial as this one. What it boils down to Jenny,Anon, and Sally is the fact that it plain and simple is NOT THE BEST FOR OUR COMMUNITY. Need I remind you people of the countless violence encounters which have occured in recent years between our Hispanic and African populations? All the supporters of theYeshiva are very naive in believing that everyone around town will welcome it with open arms. It’s a permanent change to our community, in the wrong direction
aNONS kEEPER on 11 Aug 2007 at 8:25 pm: 13
Anon, The comments were very Honest. This is from first hand experience with the Orthodox Community. The male is the positioned as dominant, plain and simple. Next, the Orthodox community is a very tight knit CLOSED community. The Disdain that I spoke of was towards women outside of their sub-culture. Before you get into victimization, think. There is the American culture. Within this big melting pot, there are many sub-cultures. There is Italian, Polish, Muslim, Catholic, Protestant and a whole host of other sub-cultures. (For the record, I never used the term) Now your commentary on Plainfield is Extremely Racist. Back in the day, when Plainfield had a large Jewish population, it was a thriving, vibrant community with a beautiful shopping district and residential areas. After the riots, the Jews moved out. Their return should be welcomed with open arms. I guess that this is supposed to mean that the Jewish community is cultured, wealthy and civilized and the current residents of the area are what? Finally, you then say, As for the fact that women may not be allowed into the home, had the home been converted into multiple apartments, it would not have been open for tours either, and it would likely fall into disrepair. As a private residence or school, the owners have every right not to allow the public access to the premises. I guess that by your logic, it would be closed off to the community anyway so we should just roll out the red carpet and give the Yeshiva a FREE RIDE, shut our mouths and put up with negative treatment towards women. If this is what we are to expect from your ilk, I suggest that you find another place to take from the community. Again, it is not zoned for a school. Just like the Villa, the council seems to be getting something to allow this sale to go through. I say the area is residential and Historic. If they try to scare us with condos, just laugh. The only option would be to have another nursing home or build new homes according to the current guidelines for the area. The town would have to approve the sub-division as well. Since Anon has such a regal view of himself, I suggest he reclaim Plainfield for his people and bring it back to the glory he speaks of.
Anon on 13 Aug 2007 at 3:52 pm: 14
Actually anons keeper, my point was that diversity is a GOOD THING, not vice versa. Neither Plainfield nor North Plainfield have much of a Jewish population these days. Brining them back will INCREASE diversity. So don’t call ME the racist whne it is your post that REEKS of it.
aNONS kEEPER on 14 Aug 2007 at 7:13 am: 15
Anon, you are the elitist racist. Your commentary about how Plainfield was wonderful with a large Jewish community before the riots(by African Americans) led to flight and the demise of the Queen City is disgusting and self serving. You fail to dispute any facts about the Orthodox community being CLOSED. How do you get diversity with a group that closes itself to the others within a community? The concept of diversity is when different sub-cultures interact openly and work together. What you are suggesting is no more than having a tax-free enclave within our community. I open my home and community to all. By explaining in a factual matter the problems of the Yeshiva is not racist, nor does it reek of it. Your lack of a response and attempt to declare yourself a victim of your own racism REEKS of being pathetic. Only the TRUTH will set you free. Unfortunately for you, the truth is on North Plainfield’s side.
Anon on 15 Aug 2007 at 5:36 am: 16
And if the property becomes multiple apartments, and if hispanic families move in, you will complain about that. Reality is that you and YOUR ILK will be happy with nothing other than a retirement community full of quiet aging folk. Sounds nice, but may not be a reality. Keep dreaming.
As for YOUR definition of ”diversity” - You are confusing diversity with assimilation.
Learn to debate without having to resort to name calling. It is immature. ”Only the TRUTH will set YOU free”
Anon\'s Keeper Again on 16 Aug 2007 at 4:42 pm: 17
Dear Anoon, you have been defeated in the realm of logic. You fail to refute any of the facts presented. You again show your RACISM by threatening that hispanic families will move in, as if they have no right to live here. We have many hispanic, middle eastern, african american, polish, irish, italian and other families here that are assimilated. I fully know what diversity is. Assimilation is when the new group enters the community and becomes part of it, not seperate from it as you want for the Yeshiva. I am not, nor have I ever name called. I only illustrated what your words are, those of a RACIST. It is sad that you are so. As far as apartments, that must be re-zoned and will never happen. Too bad, so sad that we will not fall prey to your extortionate threats.
Yeshiva at McCutchen North Plainfield Citizens for Community Rights on 29 Jan 2008 at 9:37 am: 18
But I’m skeptical, primarily because of the assimilation issue brought up by many of the commentators at the North Plainfield GOP site.