Synagogue Conversions

May 9, 2023

This $2.5M loft in a former East Village synagogue once belonged to photographer William Wegman

Now on the market for $2,500,000, this East Village loft at 431 East 6th Street is one of three in a building with a history that's in keeping with its colorful downtown neighborhood. Available for the first time in 40 years, the apartment, belonging to model and interior designer Maria Von Hartz, represents the latest incarnation of what was once an abandoned synagogue. The building, which is a tenancy-in-common property, was purchased in the 1980s by a group of artists who transformed the abandoned house of worship into beautiful loft homes. Among these artist-owners was celebrated photographer William Wegman of whimsical Weimaraner fame.
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August 31, 2021

Artist William Wegman’s former East Village artist’s loft is for sale for $2.75M, original mosaic included

Artist William Wegman is best known for his fantastical photos of his Weimaraner dogs, which were even turned into a series of murals at the 23rd Street F, M subway station. Early in his career, he bought the East Village building at 431 East 6th Street, a former synagogue, turning it into his studio and residence. In 1996, he sold it to poet Paola Igliori, and other owners over the years have included artist Jack Sal, curator Cay Sophie Rabinowitz, and documentary filmmaker Timothy Greenfield-Sanders. Now, the very unique space is looking for a new artist-in-residence. The main-floor duplex is being sold for $2,749,000 or along with the street-level art gallery for $5,495,000.
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October 28, 2020

Upper West Side condo tower that replaced century-old synagogue reveals new looks

New renderings of the Upper West Side condo tower that replaced one of New York City's oldest synagogues were revealed this week. In 2017, Congregation Shaare Zedek sold its synagogue at 212 West 93rd Street to developers Leyton Properties and Landsea Homes. Some local residents and preservation groups opposed the sale and pushed for the nearly 100-year-old building to be landmarked, but their efforts fell short. Now as the project nears completion, we're getting an updated preview of the 14-story mixed-use condo designed by Eran Chen's ODA New York and a peek inside its 20 luxury residences, 70 percent of which will have private outdoor space.
Details here
April 22, 2016

Live in a Swanky Former East Village Synagogue for $30K a Month

Just in time for Passover, this historic East Village synagogue turned residence has reappeared on the rental market. Known as the 8th Street Shul, there was a long battle to keep the building preserved as a synagogue after it was damaged by a fire in 1982. Ultimately, the building, at 317 East 8th Street, was turned over to real estate interests and converted into a single-family luxury home. It's been on the rental market before, asking $25,000 a month, and now it's back at a higher price.
Some of the synagogue details remain
April 5, 2015

This Lofty East Village Penthouse by Manifold Architecture Studio Used to Be a Synagogue

New York City is teeming with breathtaking penthouses–from multi-floored apartments atop soaring skyscrapers to picturesque flats inside landmarked townhouses–but few have the spiritual history of this East Village abode: The 1,600-square-foot triplex was once a local house of worship. Originally built in 1908, the the Beth Hamedrash Hagadol Anshe Ungarn synagogue was converted into a five-apartment condo in the 1980s. By the time current owners Dominique Camacho and Gary Hirschkron bought the penthouse in 2007, its design was terribly outdated, so they enlisted the team at DUMBO's Manifold Architecture Studio (MAS) to help bring it into the 21st century.
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January 22, 2015

East Village’s Historic Meseritz Synagogue Gets Ready for Restoration and Condo Conversion

At the turn of the century, the Lower East Side/East Village was home to 75 percent of the 2.5 million Ashkenazi Jews that immigrated to the U.S. They quickly established synagogues, many of which were "tenement synagogues," aptly named because they were built on the narrow lots between tenements and served the mostly-impoverished people who lived in the surrounding, overcrowded buildings. Only one of these tenement synagogues is still in operation–the Congregation Meseritz Synagogue (or Anshei Meseritz) at 515 East 6th Street. Narrowly saved from the wrecking ball in 2012, Meseritz is now undergoing a total overhaul. Real estate developer East River Partners is adding three luxury apartments, including an 11-foot-tall penthouse, to the top of the structure. Though the plan was initially contested by some neighbors and local community and preservation groups, the developer is undertaking a multimillion-dollar gut renovation of the ground floor, creating a new home out of which the congregation can worship.
More details ahead
October 10, 2014

Living on Hallowed Ground: NYC Religious Buildings Being Converted to Luxury Housing

New Yorkers know it often takes some divine intervention to land a great apartment. Luckily, with dozens of churches and synagogues now being partially or totally converted into luxury residential buildings, high-end apartment hunters can go straight to the source. As congregations grapple with changing demographics, shrinking memberships, and costly upkeep of historic buildings, many religious institutions are concluding that it makes better financial sense to sell off a portion of their development rights, relocate to a more affordable site, or even close their doors for good.
Here's a look at New York’s hottest and holiest developments