The Hartford Courant reports that Chabad Lubavitch of Litchfield County has filed notice in federal court appealing a federal judge’s dismissal in February of its lawsuit. Chabad claimed it was the victim of religious discrimination when the Borough of Litchfield, the Borough’s Historic District Commission and others denied the application to build a synagogue and community center near the green on West Street in Litchfield.
Chabad has been fighting for years to expand on the 140-year old, Victorian brick home it purchased in 2006 at 85 West Street, known as the Deming House, which was rezoned from residential to commercial in 1971.
Chabad wants to remodel and add to the home, to create a synaguge, a beis medrash, a preschool, and libraries, as well as housing for Rabbi Joseph Eisenbach and his family and a guest apartment.
Litchfield and Chabad disagree on the size of the proposed project, as well as whether it would fit with the character of other buildings around the green – and the reader is invited to give his/her own interpretation to the meaning of “fit with the character.”