A Chabad House in Connecticut says the City of Hartford denied them the right to use a building for religious purposes, though Baptists and Catholics used the building for more than 80 years.
Chabad Chevra, the outpost at the University of Hartford, bought a house from the American Baptists Churches of Connecticut.
Two months after buying the house, a city zoning officer served it with a cease-and-desist order, Rabbi Yossi Kulek says.
He was ordered to stop using the building for religious purposes, based on an inspection that took place a month before Chabad Chevra bought the property.
Chabad says it tried to reduce its religious use of the building but Hartford demanded that it stop all religious practices and have denied its appeal, Courthouse News Service reported.
Michael DePrimo of Hamden who is representing Chabad calls the actions anti-Semitic.
Hartford violated its rights by “preferring other religious institutions over the plaintiffs’ proposed religious institution and sect … [and] discriminating against the Jewish community in general and the plaintiff’s proposed university student religious use in particular,” the lawsuit said.
They are seeking a declaratory judgment that the city’s actions are unconstitutional, damages, and an injunction allowing them to practice their religion in the Chabad House.
In Seattle, Bends Friends, a Wrecking yard in a Residential area,was given 60 days to vacate the property, his Mercedes repair business If They went over Time alloted, he was fined $10,000 a day,untill it was completed. Anywhere you go,and plan buying property,Consult a Lawyer,or Proffessional Real Estate Person.The previous two Religions,may have bought it ,and told it wasnt zoned for Religion.So,they sold it,but didnt tell you why they were vacating? . Albert Goldstein
Hi Jeffrey,
Perhaps you know business (although apparently not writing). But you clearly don’t know law. I’m not saying Chabad is clearly in the right here, and I’m sure that the journalism has skewed the story substantially; however, even without knowing all the facts, it would seem that Chabad at least has a prima facie claim against the city under RLUIPA. Which you’ve probably never hear of, have you?
Anybody who has bought a house knows that you get it inspected, talk to the insurers, talk the the town’s inspections board, licensing board, etc. If Chabad didn’t do this, then they’re just out of luck. Maybe another religious organization did use it before Chabad, but that means nothing. They might have been grandfathered in. The zoning laws may have changed in the past few years. DO YOUR HOMEWORK. This keeps happening with Chabad in Connecticut and everywhere else. Litchfield, Chabad of the Shoreline, now Hartford. There’s no antisemitism involved. There’s just Chabad trying to play fast and loose with… Read more »
As a Jew,who knows business,its not Anti-semitism,if you didnt bring a Lawyer to investgate the building and its zoning laws.It would be cheaper,500-600 dollars to have a Attorney look at it,before buying the Property. .Sholom, Jeffrey Tobias
I saw this in Seattle,and Attornies should be used,before just buying a building.Cities can change zoning laws anytime,if its good for the city.Always,hire a Attorney,so he can approach,appropriate people.