Masonry Magazine June 1974 Page. 8
The lobby is the central circulation core at the Charles River Park Synagogue. The 5,000-square-foot building also contains a large serving kitchen and rabbi's office. Curved, fluted-block walls lend an interesting architectural treatment to the spacious area.
in 1959. Its value according to the city's assessors was $65,000 on the commercial market.
But, questioned the shul's officers, can a "commercial value" be put on a house of worship? They asked the city to reconsider the $65,000 figure. Surely, they would want to rebuild, and $65,000 would not buy a suitable new house of worship. After two years of discussion, the city would up their offer by only $5,000, claiming the building was old and obsolete.
The shul's board of directors, lead by Maurice H. Saval, a devoted and resourceful member of the congregation and successful Boston insurance executive, believed that the monetary compensation was inadequate. Reluctantly, the congregation decided to go to court.
An impressive array of experts argued for the shul. These included prosecution attorney Burke Sullivan, an eminent domain specialist; architecture professor Percival Goodman of Columbia, and engineer George Sweeney of M.I.T. A state Superior Court judge found for the plaintiffs, and awarded damages totaling $313.000. (Continued on page 30)
Surrounded by massive apartment blocks, the new Charles River Park Synagogue was commissioned as a living memorial to the former North Russell Street Shul, a half-century-old congregation. Height variations of the interlocking walls make the building sculpturally abstract and minimize the size difference between the synagogue and its neighbors.
masonry • June, 1974