Towson Chabad Demolition Order Stands; So Does Building: Report

TOWSON, MD — The Towson Chabad and its Aigburth neighbors are at a standstill after a court ordered the Jewish center's demolition, and the building still stands. The property at 14 Aigburth Road has been the subject of several planning and zoning cases over the past several years.

Then, a Baltimore County Circuit Court judge in 2017 ordered the building torn down for violating setback covenants, an order that was to have been completed by March 1, 2018, the Towson Times reported, noting that court filings in the past week could provide a turn in the case.

The building is owned by Friends of Lubavitch, an Orthodox organization associated with community outreach, particularly near college campuses and those who may have drifted from or never actively practiced Judaism, according to Baltimore County court filings.

When Friends of Lubavitch purchased the residence in 2008, it was a three-bedroom home of about 2,200 square feet, according to Baltimore County, which said since then an additional 6,000 to 7,000 square feet have been added. It operates as the Chabad Jewish Center at Towson and Goucher; the organization's website states it is located at 14 Aigburth Road.

Rabbi Mendy Rivkin, who lives in the house, told the Jewish Times that he was "as honest as he could be to get my permit" for what he told the county would be an addition to the house.

The Aigburth Manor Association and owner of 16 Aigburth Road Robin Zoll filed suit against Friends of Lubavitch in June 2016, the Jewish Times reported, for creating a community center in a residential space and not adhering to required setbacks.

Zoll testified that having the Chabad as her neighbor is "like living next to the Y," according to county records, which state that the value of her property has dropped from $408,000 to $341,500.

The suit filed by the community association alleges Rivkin and the Friends of Lubavitch went beyond a residential addition, installing an industrial kitchen and seating for 120 guests.

Now, the community is taking further action. Court records show that while the Friends of Lubavitch filed an appeal April 3, 2018, the community association and Zoll filed a motion for seizure of property and appointment of receiver to execute judgment on April 5, 2018.

According to the Towson Times, that means the third-party could ensure the demolition moves forward.

Image via Google street view.