DOE To Purchase Jewish Center Of Bayside Hills?

AJune 18th letter from the citys School Construction Authority (SCA) to owners of homes adjacent to the Jewish Center of Bayside Hills indicated the Department of Education (DOE) has an interest in obtaining the soon-to-close synagogue and its surrounding property to build a new early childhood learning center.
The news came at a Bayside Hills Civic Association meeting with Mayor Michael Bloomberg during a question-and-answer session on Tuesday evening. It follows recent rumors that the Jewish Center of Bayside Hills congregation is in negotiations to merge with the Jewish Center of Bayside Oaks.
A letter to one homeowner obtained by The Queens Courier outlines the SCAs intentions for the area at and around 211-06 48th Avenue.
"The SCA is currently evaluating the potential purchase of the property owned by the Jewish Center of Bayside Hills, which adjoins your home, for construction of a new Early Childhood Center," read the SCA letter signed by Gregory P. Shaw, a principal attorney for the city department in charge of building and renovating schools. It continued: "Since your house is located within a few feet of the property line, we are contacting you to determine whether you would be interested in selling your property for inclusion within the prospective school site."
At the meeting, audience member Rick Jones addressed the question of the potential purchase to the mayor and asked what he could do about an unwanted solicitation to sell his house at 48-10 212th Street to create the proposed universal pre-kindergarten and kindergarten.
In response, Dennis Walcott, deputy mayor for policy, said he would set up a meeting for July 8 between Bayside residents and the SCA.
Walcott added that he believes the SCA is only negotiating with the Jewish center, which approached the authority about selling.
President of the Jewish Center of Bayside Oaks, Erika Potasinski, declined to comment on the proposed congregation merger when contacted by The Queens Courier this week. However Rabbi Hy Levine, the Rabbi Emeritus of the Bay Terrace Jewish Center, has confirmed the talks are ongoing.
Rabbi Yossi Blesofsky of the Chabad of North East Queens told The Queens Courier, "The details of the merger have not been finalized as yet, but sadly this move represents the wave of the future."
Calls placed to Rabbi Murray Stadtmaur of the Jewish Center of Bayside Hills were not returned at press time.