From Preservation Online, the online magazine of the National Trust for Historic Preservation

www.preservationonline.org

New York Synagogue's Restoration Under Way


Story by Margaret Foster / Dec. 15, 2005

A Manhattan synagogue built in 1887 by Eastern European Jews is nearing the end of its exterior restoration. This month, workers are completing work on the terra-cotta facade of the building, which has not closed during the project.

About 15 years ago, a non-sectarian group called the Eldridge Street Project formed to try to restore building, which had a leaky roof. In 1990, the group hired an architect to do a master plan for the project—an invaluable step that saved time and money.

"[The project] has moved forward on a clear and concise path," says Jill H. Gotthelf, associate at Walter Sedovic Architects, based in Irvington, N.Y.

Employing "green" building materials and methods, architects have replaced wood with salvaged timbers from barns, used lime mortar instead of a cement mixture, and installed bathroom stalls made from recycled milk bottles. The firm even tracked down a ticket window salvaged from a train station, for sale on eBay.

The interior restoration, which will restore murals, Victorian light fixtures, and stained-glass windows, is scheduled to be finished in September 2007, which is the synagogue's 120th anniversary.

While the synagogue continues to function, the Eldridge Street Project has expanded the building's use, turning it into a museum of sorts that is open for tourists and school programs.

"Everyone sees the building as a building of the community," Gotthelf says. "Everyone's very excited in the whole community."

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