749 Yeshiva Dormitory Being Sold; Construction Begins

By COLlive reporter

Iggud Talmidei Hakvutza, a non profit organization founded by 770 Alumni and Yungerleit, is in contract to buy the dormitory building at 749 Eastern Parkway which serves the Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch.

The sale from the United Lubavitch Yeshiva administration is set to become final with the approval of the Attorney General of New York, a spokesperson for the Iggud told COLlive.

The Iggud Talmidei Hakvutza is a group of businessmen in Crown Heights, who have formed a group to make changes for the betterment of the Yeshiva as well as the community, after they noticed many areas which needed improvement.

“The Yeshiva has been downsizing, accepting less and less bochurim every year. There have been no new hires in many years,” the source told COLlive. “We want to reshape the way the Yeshiva functions. We also wanted to see changes in the neighborhood, so we have stepped up to make it happen,” he said.

Since the Iggud has become involved, they have arranged for various dormitories to be set up around Crown Heights, with 200 beds in total available for students, and have been involved in the day-to-day care of the students.

The dormitory building at 749, across the street from Lubavitch World Headquarters – 770 Eastern Parkway has been “neglected for years,” he said. “There has been no hanholah oversight, no enforcement of rules, and bills have gone unpaid.”

There was a time when bochurim themselves were raising money to pay for the electricity and other expenses, he said. This is in addition to the many fines from the Department of Buildings and the Fire Department, for many violations which have been in the deteriorating building for years.

The Iggud will purchase the building from United Lubavitch Yeshiva for $3 million, and they will be spending an additional $3 million in legal fees, remedying the violations, and doing major renovations. They will be holding a fundraiser in the near future to help defray the cost of the project, which is expected to take 1 – 2 years.

Even while still in contract, the Iggud has already begun the much-needed repairs to the building, due to the safety hazards which currently exist and the requirements of the Dept of Buildings. The building has New York City Landmark status, making it even more complex to accomplish the work.

The day-to-day operation of the building, even after the sale is final, will not change, the Iggud stresses.

“The building will remain a dormitory for the bochurim of Tomchei Temimim,” they said.