Rego Park Jewish Center
Why it's listed
Rego Park Jewish Center, at 97-30 Queens Boulevard in Queens, is a synagogue and community center completed in 1948 from designs by architect Frank Grad. Its massive stone façade steps back as it rises and is dominated by a long mosaic by A. Raymond Katz, with Jewish ritual symbols, above three entrances whose doors carry sculpted panels. Inside, the two-story sanctuary has a rear balcony, a proscenium-like arch framing the ark, and tall leaded-glass windows, also by Katz, named for the daily prayer services. A chapel, a basement social hall with a shallow dome, classrooms and a gymnasium reflect the Jewish Center movement, which combined worship with social and athletic spaces. The building was listed because it served Rego Park's growing postwar Jewish community and because it is an early example of modernist synagogue design in New York, apparently modeled on 1930s European precedents. A 1960s Youth Building to the rear does not contribute to its significance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant under Criterion A for religion and ethnic heritage as an early post-World War II modernist synagogue serving Rego Park's fast-growing Jewish population. It is also significant under Criterion C as an early example of modernism in New York synagogues, apparently modeled on Bauhaus-influenced European synagogues of the 1930s. Its mosaic and leaded-glass windows by A. Raymond Katz add to its artistic value.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 09000864, listed October 28, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 97-30 Queens Blvd., Rego Park |
|---|---|
| County | Queens |
| Listed | October 28, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09000864 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1948-1956 |
| Architect / builder | Frank Grad |
| Architectural style | Moderne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion, Other |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Continuously maintained as a synagogue since 1948; main façade, sanctuary, vestibule and chapel survive largely intact. A 1960s Youth Building addition is non-contributing. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.73026, -73.85910 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 09000864.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7309517
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.