BROOKLYN — At least seven historic Brooklyn synagogues and one church are being considered for listing on the New York State Register of Historic Places.

As reported by the Historic Districts Council (HDC) this week, the synagogues are among several buildings, districts and sites that will be discussed at the Sept. 15 meeting of the the New York State Review Board for Historic Preservation, which meets quarterly to evaluate and vote on the nominated sites.

According to Simeon Bankoff, executive director of the HDC, the following Brooklyn sites are among those under consideration:

• Ocean Parkway Jewish Center, 550 Ocean Parkway, Parkville.

• Shaari Zedek (Congregation Ahavath Achim) Synagogue (currently in use as St. Leonard’s Church), 767 Putnam Ave., Bedford-Stuyvesant.

• Kol Israel Synagogue, 603 St. John’s Place, Crown Heights.

• Kingsway Jewish Center, 1485 E. 29th St., Marine Park.

• Jewish Center of Kings Highway, 1202-1218 Avenue P, Ocean Parkway.

• Young Israel of Flatbush, 1012 Avenue I, Midwood.

• Temple Beth-El of Boro Park, 4802 15th Ave., Boro Park.

Following is a summary from the HDC of the process whereby buildings get placed on the State Register: The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), a gubernatorial agency, is contacted by a property owner, member of the public or another governmental agency to determine whether a site or area is eligible for inclusion on the state and national registers. The SHPO assesses the site based on the following criteria:

• It is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of local or national history; or

• It is associated with the lives of persons significant to our history; or

• It embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or represents the work of a master, or possess high artistic values, or represents a significant distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or

• It has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history.

In addition, with some specific exceptions, the site being assessed must be over 50 years old.

After a site or area is determined eligible, the next step is for the sponsor to submit a full nomination form that includes a narrative history, detailed architectural descriptions of contributing features, historic and contemporary photos and an overall statement of significance.

The sponsor typically works closely with SHPO staff to assemble this nomination, and while many people and organizations hire professional consultants to fil out these forms, just as many advocates write them themselves.

The SHPO then reaches out to affected property owners and holds community information meetings to explain the many benefits and very few restrictions of being listed on the registers.

Essentially, being listed on the registers opens the door to several voluntary preservation incentives while imposing no restrictions on private development.

If the State Review Board votes to accept the nomination, the property is placed on the state register and then sent down to Washington to be considered by the Keeper of the National Register for inclusion. Typically, if a property is listed on the state register, it subsequently gets included on the national register.

Those Wishing to Show Support

Those wishing to support the designations may write to the Historic Preservation Field Services Bureau, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation, Peebles Island, P.O. Box 189, Waterford, NY 12188-0189.

Letters must be received by Monday, Sept. 14, to be considered.

Emails are also welcome. They may be sent to Kathy.Howe@oprhp.state.ny. us.

For more information on these and other upcoming nominations, please visit nysparks.state.ny.us/shpo/register/nominations.htm.

— Linda Collins
Brooklyn Daily Eagle

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