The discovery of a tunnel under 770 Eastern Parkway, the headquarters of Lubavitch in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, United States, has been making headlines recently. The tunnel was discovered nearly three weeks ago when construction work was underway near 770. A trench was dug to lay a waterline, and workers were surprised to find what appeared to be a tunnel underground.
The tunnel allegedly extended from the Mikvah on the corner of Union Street and Kingston Ave, under the Kingston Ave women’s section of 770, where it exited into the building. The origin and purpose of the tunnel remain unclear, and it is not appropriate to assign blame or make assumptions without further investigation. The information available is based on reports and rumors, and it is important to wait for official sources to confirm the details surrounding the tunnel.
It is important to note that the discovery of the tunnel has raised concerns about the safety of the building and the potential for further damage. The building has undergone several expansions over the years, with the first annex added in 1960, and subsequent expansions taking place in the late 1960s and again in the mid-1970s. In 1988, the Rebbe personally laid the cornerstone for the renovation of the building, which continued for a number of years before halting in the late 1990s after only having made minor adjustments.
In 2020, preliminary design renderings from S. Wieder Architect revealed an expansion of the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. The religious complex spans almost one acre and will include a synagogue, prayer spaces, ritual baths, classrooms, a new library, and several outdoor areas. The existing brick buildings that flank the synagogue will be replaced by two striking structures composed of tightly spaced cementitious fins protruding from floor-to-ceiling glass walls. These buildings will surround the center structure on three sides and will contain a library, office space, administrative areas, and landscaped rooftop gardens. The property will also create an open-air plaza behind the synagogue.
It remains to be seen what further investigations will reveal about this mysterious tunnel. The discovery of the tunnel has raised many questions about its origin and purpose, and it is important to wait for official sources to confirm the details surrounding the tunnel. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.