Site of Proposed Holocaust Center Prompts Concerns

A plan to build a Holocaust memorial and education center at a Teaneck park faced opposition Tuesday from residents who said public land shouldn't be used for the project. 

At issue is the proposed Holocaust Memorial and Center for Tolerance Education, which supporters hope will be built in a vacant two-story carriage house at Andreas Park along the Hackensack River. 

Richard Karp, president of the Friends of the Hackensack River Greenway, said his group was not against a Holocaust memorial, but opposed locating it in the riverfront park. 

"The use of public land for construction of a privately invested building sets a precedent which could be abused in the future," Karp said in reading a letter representing the organization to council members at a meeting Tuesday night. 

The center's impact on the area's environment and limited parking around the site were among the conservation group's concerns.  

"Neighbors should not be expected to tolerate a large number of visitors and vehicles parking in front of their homes," Karp said. 

Runoff created by nonporous surfaces the project would create was also an issue, he added. 

Officials should reject the proposed education center and find another more centrally-located site, he requested, adding it could be located near a commercial district to help boost traffic for local merchants. 

Muhammad Dawud, a Teaneck resident, said he objected to using a park where people go to escape for such a remembrance to "man's inhumanity to other man."    

"I feel that it is an intrusion," he said. 

Some residents cautioned that discussion over the center could become divisive and urged more dialog. 

"We really have to be careful to separate views about a museum building in a public park from [views about] a memorial to the Holocaust," said resident Naomi Cramer, adding she saw widespread support for a memorial. 

Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin said the project remained in the early stages. 

"This issue does not need to divide the town," Hameeduddin said. "If we can all embrace it, it's something that can enhance our town." 

No public money would be used for the project and the committee behind the center includes input from various religious groups, organizers have said. Last month, the council gave initial approval allowing committee members to begin talks with the township manager, engineer and attorney. 

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