Missing Certificate Halts Sale of Former Jewish Center

Despite being in a sales contract with a buyer for nearly a year and a half, the remains empty on Fulton Street due to a missing certificate.

Sy Fruchter, a past president of the Farmingdale Jewish Center, addressed the at the monthly meeting on Monday about the situation.

"We still haven't heard anything back," Fruchter said. in 2007 to merge with other local congregations to form the Farmingdale-Wantagh Jewish Center located in Wantagh. The former Jewish Center property includes two stand alone structures on 1.65 acres with separate kitchens and classrooms in 21,000 square feet of building space and 44 parking spaces.

According to Fruchter, the group has been in contract to sell the property to another religious organization since October of 2010.  This sale has been approved by both the New York State General's office and a Justice of the New York Supreme Court in March of 2011, but the buyer requested a Certificate of Occupancy for the 1948 wing of the Synagogue on the property and the 1968 addition. 

"We could not find the 1948 Certificate of Occupancy so we asked the Village for a copy," Fruchter said. The Village could not locate the certificate for the 1948 wing, so the Jewish Center supplied the architectural drawings and a 1968 Certificate of Occupancy, which covers all the lots of the property including the lots upon which the 1948 wing stands.  

Ultimately, the Village required the Jewish Center apply for a new certificate for the 1948 wing. The current building inspector visited the 1948 wing in the spring of 2011 and gave the group a list of requirements for a reissue of the certificate.

"It's all now brought up to date," Fruchter said on Monday.

Mayor George Starkie referred response over to Village Attorney Kevin Walsh, who said the group now must submit an application to the Zoning Board for the certificate.

"I have advised your attorneys that the only solution is going to the Zoning Board and having that board make a decision on the application," Walsh told Fruchter. "That is where it is at but I know their position is different."

Fruchter cited that the Jewish Center's position is that the Village administration during that time period would not have overlooked issuing this certificate and that their attorneys are arguing that the certificate was just misplaced and therefore the group should not have to submit this additional application.

"Unfortunately, the current building inspector can't just say 'it sounds like an error I am just going to re-issue one,'" Walsh said.

Realtor Howard Kaminowitz of Laffey Fine Homes was the agent for the property and it was listed for $2.4 million on MLSLI.com. For the sale to be completed, this certificate must be issued.

"Tell your attorneys this is what you want to do," Starkie said.