Old Westbury Ordered to Pay $19 Million for Blocking Synagogue Construction
The village of Old Westbury, one of Long Island's affluent communities, has been ordered to pay $19 million to a local Jewish congregation after an 18-year legal battle over the construction of a synagogue. Rabbi Aaron Konikov and the Lubavitch of Old Westbury sought to build a Chabad-Lubavitch temple on a 9-acre property owned by Konikov. However, the village opposed the development, citing local regulations and concerns over traffic, parking, and noise. The dispute began in 1999 when the congregation planned a dedication ceremony for the new synagogue. In 2001, Old Westbury passed a regulation requiring houses of worship to be built on properties of at least 12 acres, effectively blocking the project. The case was taken to federal court, where US District Judge Gary Brown recently approved a settlement. The agreement allows the congregation to apply for a special-use permit by January 15, with plans for a 20,875-square-foot building.