The township of Forestburgh in Sullivan County has been slapped with a federal discrimination lawsuit over an alleged conspiracy to block Lost Lake Resort – a sprawling development whose developer is gearing it to Jewish families. A 3.3 square mile tract of land was bought for $9.5 million by a group that planned to build 2,627 homes on it, but those plans sputtered after the town denied initial applications to begin construction. The project – if it gets done – will consist of 2,557 single family homes, 30 cottages, 40 condominiums, as well as an 18-hole golf course, among other amenities. Lawyers for the property owners, Lost Lake Holdings LLC and Michconos Mazah LLC, filed a lawsuit in federal court stating that town officials are purposely throwing sand in the gears of the development’s plans to keep Orthodox Jews from moving in. They called Forestburgh’s decision making process for the development a “sham,” noting that the same lawyers that represented township officials and the board that weighed the development’s approval. For their part, township officials say that the developers changed plans for their project from being an upscale summer vacation getaway resort to year-round dwellings. The developers’ attorneys say that this is just an excuse, as the plans for the site were at first approved by the township – until they figured out that Jews would be moving in. “In America no government may tell people where they are welcome to live and where they are not based on their religion,” attorney Ed Treene. “This has become an all-too-familiar experience for Orthodox Jews in many New York communities, and it must end.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The post DISCRIMINATION: Catskills Town Sued Over Denial of Massive Jewish Housing Development appeared first on The Yeshiva World.