West-Park Presbyterian Church on the corner of 86th street and Amsterdam Avenue has come up with a plan to ease the church’s money woes, but it all depends on a Tuesday meeting of the New York Presbytery. The church, which fought against a plan to landmark its building because it would limit the church’s ability to sell or lease the property, has struggled to pay for necessary repairs to the roof and other structures. Leaders have considered the building.
The land West-Park sits on is extremely valuable, although the landmark designation limits the property’s use. A parishioner told us this week that he’s worried the church, which is welcoming to gays and lesbians and has a vibrant ministry for the poor, could be sold or have to change leadership if it can’t find a away to be financially viable. The church has also become an arts center, and is currently hosting a giant puppet performance called Bread and Puppet.
Luckily, a dance company now wants to lease the church’s offices, which will provide it with cash flow. To fund improvements that would allow the dance company to move in, the congregation wants to sell Rev. Robert Brashear’s apartment on 93rd street, which is owned by the church. They expect the sale to bring in more than $1.3 million (this appears to be the listing if you’re looking for a three-bedroom). Brashear told us he welcomes the sale and is happy to move into a smaller apartment if it can save the church. Still, he’s clearly anxious about the vote. His blog, West-Park Press, makes the point clear: “It is all on the line. Shouldn’t be that way, but it is.” The Presbytery will vote on the congregation’s plan on Tuesday.
The full agenda for the meeting is here (the part about West-Park starts on page 84).
To read about the saga of West-Park and Occupy Wall Street, click here.
I have lived on the UWS for 25+ years. I could be mistaken, but I cannot remember one minute during the 25 years that there has not been a sidewalk shed around this dilapidated property and people living in refrigerator boxs on its steps. I am not clear on the regulations but am fairly certain that there is virtually no circumstances under which the DOB would permit my building for a sidewalk shed for 25 years while I neglected its exterior maintenance. I support 100% the rights of property owners to use their owned-property for any legal purpose however at some point an owner’s inability to muster the financial resources necessary to support their property must require them to step back and allow market forces to take their path. If you can’t maintain it you have to sell it.
Plus its one of the ugliest structures I ever spied. Not that it deserves to be torn down if it has historical significance and value. Not that it deserves to be torn down to put up a faceless domicile like the one it sits opposite (which at least was built to respect its surroundings- I doubt developers can be trusted to honor that anymore)
Maybe they can raise some money to buy some gating to keep the “homeless” from sleeping there.What an eyesore!
what an eyesore, i can’t stand walking under the scaffolding on 86th, i purposely avoid it if possible.
commentators do you work for the church?
the building is gorgeous and part of the historic fabric of the UWS.
The fact that the owners let it become an eyesore via neglect has no bearing on it significance and beauty.
Why is not already a landmark?
Let the church sell it, but the building needs to remain.
Remember Mount Nehoh synaguage on West 79th? replaced by a bland apt box.
Not seeing that one person has suggested tearing it down. But – It needs to be sold so it’s value can be captured and leveraged to make it beautiful again.
As good a Romanesque Revival building as we have on the UWS
Makee me think of the Brown Decades by Lewis Mumford – If you don’t like it, that’s becuase your parents liked it and your children will too
The building is in such bad shape because to the great srinkage of the congragation over the past number of years. As has happen to all houses of worship in the NYC area. It was landmarked for one and only one reason. The wealthy coop owners of the buildings dierectly next to it. The church want to use a part of its lot to build an apt building around the church. Most of the church its self would remain as it is today and they would have had the millions of $$ they need to do the needed repairs and set up a “rainy day” fund that could cover them for deacdes. But also UWS nimby won out, now the build will still there and crumble until landmarked or not something will happen to render it more structural unsound than it alreday is and DOB will have to take it down at taxpayer expense. Then the lot will be sold at auction by the city, since the church will not be able to cover the cost of the demo the city will take over ownship, and a “bigger & bader” building (by UWS standards-which means over 10feet tall) will be put up in its plac.
There are tremendous good works that go on INSIDE that church building. it is an integral part of the UWS community and our history and it will be a shame if it is lost. the issue is not just the building — yes, a beautiful one — but more importantly the INSTITUTION.
Does anyone know if such non profit institutions are exempt from fees/fines for having that sidewalk shed up for so long? ie any incentive to spend money to fix facade vs status quo ?