Forest Hills Jewish Center (QP)
Oct. 4, 2019 By Allie Griffin
The Forest Hills Jewish Center’s ambitious plan to redevelop the site is on hold, as its business partner is no longer part of the deal.
The initial plans to build a 10-story mixed use building are now up in the air. However, the Jewish center still plans on redeveloping the site — and demolishing its existing building — but is now looking for a new partner.
The building at 106-06 Queens Blvd, which houses a synagogue, classrooms and other services, was supposed to be demolished this year if the original plan had gone through. In its place, a 120-foot-tall building would have been constructed with space for the Jewish center as well as additional commercial and residential space.
The previous developer would have paid for construction of the new building in exchange for the land, but now the center is looking for a new developer with a new proposal after the original plans didn’t work out.
“We’re in the process of issuing a RFP [request for proposal] for a development company,” said Executive Director of the Center Deborah Gregor.
She said the new redevelopment plan for the center would depend on the proposals they get. Whether or not it will be similar to the original plan conceived in 2018 depends on what is being pitched.
“We’ll see what the developers come up with,” Gregor said. “Our only priority is to continue to provide services, to have all of the services that we do provide here in a new facility.”
There is no firm deadline to find a new partner as of yet, Gregor said. The Jewish center has been planning to redevelop the site for 20 years, she previously told the Queens Post.
Gregor said that the Forest Hills Jewish Center will not close, even during construction.
“Whatever happens our first priority is not to close for one day,” Gregor said.
The Queens Chronicle was the first to report that the company the Jewish center was talking to would no longer be its partner on the project.
