Synagogue Completes Land Purchases for Planned Project

The Greenwich Reform Synagogue (GRS) is moving a step forward with its plans to build a temple and related facilities with the purchases of two additional parcels of land in Cos Cob.

According to records filed with the Greenwich Town Clerk and the Greenwich Tax Assessor's offices, the synagogue purchased 22 Osee Pl. from Randy Caravella for $1,420,500 on April 11. Officially, according to the documents, the purchaser is Thomas Heagney, who is listed as a trustee. Heagney is the Greenwich lawyer who has been representing the synagogue in its quest for a property boundary realignment to create a 2.2 acre parcel on which to build its new facility.

According to an email sent to neighbors by synagogue board President Robert Birnbaum, "GRS now owns 22 Osee Place and the expanded 92 Orchard Street, which absorbed a parcel of 96 Orchard Street, for a total of 2.2 acres." 

Last fall, the synagogue leadership announced that the congregation planned "to create a new center for worship, schooling, and our community"  on the land.

In addition to the Osee Place property purchase, GRS also closed on a portion of property owned by Caravella's parents at 96 Orchard St. for $192,000, according to town records. Judith and Louis Caravella also received $1 for granting an easement to their property, according to records. Louis Caravella is the former Greenwich tax collector.

The synagogue paid $900,000 for the 92 Orchard St., according to records filed Oct. 2 in the Greenwich Tax Assessor's office.

According to the RFP (request for proposals) sent to architects that is posted on the synagogue's website, the congregation has budgeted at least $5.7 million for the project that is to include a 20,000 square foot facility with space for worship, classrooms, offices and meeting rooms, and parking for 100 cars.

In part, the RFP reads:

"Our new facility will be approximately 20,000 square feet of usable space above ground and require parking for about 100 cars.  The sanctuary will be roughly 2,500 square feet, plus a social hall of similar size that can be combined with the sanctuary, plus a chapel, a warming kitchen, approximately ten classrooms that can serve both as religious school and preschool classrooms, a board room, four offices, ample storage space throughout, and any areas necessary to fulfill our mission of serving our member families and the community (mechanical/storage space is not included in that rough estimate).  We want to design a cost-effective facility with possible future expansion in mind.  Flexibility will be an essential requirement.  Please keep in mind that, although the sanctuary is a focal point, it is only approximately one-eighth of our required floor area.  The social hall and the administrative area will also each be about one-eighth of the area of the synagogue.  The rest of the space will be for classrooms and meeting space. We are budgeting between $5.7 and $6.2 million, inclusive of landscaping/parking but exclusive of land costs."

Last week, the Philadelphia-based firm of Mark B. Thompson & Associates announced it was hired as the architects for the GRS project. Thompson, who is a former Greenwich resident, also has worked on building projects at the Perrot Memorial Library in Old Greenwich, Eagle Hill School and Greenwich Country Day School, First Presbyterian Church and the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich.

According to Birnbaum's email to neighbors, "Mark was selected because of his track record in working effectively with all stakeholders in a project, especially neighbors.  Speaking for GRS, we will try to do the right thing in our design with or without neighbor dialogue, but the chances of getting it right and minimizing disruptions will be much better if we have your input."

Even though the scope of the plan was outlined in the architect's RFP, Birnbaum also wrote to neighbors, " No determination has yet been made as to the building’s size or the number of parking spaces. We know there are concerns over matters such as lighting, drainage, and views, and we’d like discuss ideas on how to potentially mitigate these issues."

A group of neighbors has filed a lawsuit challenging the Planning and Zoning Commission's decision to allow the property boundary realignment which is pending in state Superior Court in Stamford.

Since selling its 11-acre land on Stanwich Road to the Stanwich School last year, GRS has been renting classroom space on that site from Stanwich, and worshipping at the First Congregational Church in Old Greenwich.