The fate of the First Roumanian-American Synagogue is up in the air after its roof caved in yesterday. The synagogue, which has been in the Lower East Side for the past 150 years (the first couple decades as a church), had been vacant because there was an investigation about problems with water seepage. People in neighboring buildings have been evacuated, as damage to the back of the building is extreme. An interesting fact is that since it's not a designated landmark, it could be demolished if repairs prove too costly - the NY Times reported that it was unclear whether or not the synagogue's insurance would cover the damages. Gothamist wonders if something like this is enough for the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission to convene an emergency session. Here's the PDF to nominate a landmark.
Photograph from Brother Lawrence on Flickr
