$2M in combined capital funding from Borough President Helen Marshall and Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley will pay for 100% of phase 1 of the reconstruction of St. Saviour's at the All Faiths Cemetery site in Middle Village.From the Times Ledger.
When the reconstruction is finished, the historic structure will be called the Richard Upjohn Educational Center and Amphitheatre, after the famed architect who designed the church in 1847.
“This is a huge victory for the people of Queens, especially for those living in Maspeth and Middle Village,” said Crowley.
I guess it's all about the architect now and no longer about our history. That's a shame. How exactly is this a "huge victory" for the people of Maspeth? Are we overstating things just a bit, Liz?
Meanwhile, the original 1.5 acre site had previously been for sale at prices up to $11M, but is now being offered for $8.5M. The lie that you can build up to 85,000 square feet of residential is still being advertised. (The developer requires a zoning change in order to do that, as previously explained.) It's also been advertised elsewhere as "perfect for a hotel or shopping mall" which is quite laughable in that location and in this market. The site is currently being used as a parking lot for dumpsters.Here are Juniper Civic members talking about the value of the land back in 2007:
Now, in the months leading up to the election, is the perfect time to call attention to the neglect of Queens history perpetrated by the Bloomberg administration. Glad everyone is back on board. The developer applied to the DOB for an excavation permit (to level the archaeologically sensitive land) but was denied yesterday.
So, when's the next rally to turn this site into a park?
71 comments:
I fail to see how this is a true victory for anyone.
On the contrary, this is a victory for the people getting big contracts from it. The diagrams show most of the original church material will not be saved.
Paid for with taxpayer money!
I have been doing some research and have found that most non-profits get part or most of their funding from the government. Some of them get 100% funding. When did this practice start?
What a disgraceful waste of taxpayer money. I would rather see the city spend the $5 million that it would take the build this dumb church building to buy the land instead and do something useful with it. Marshall and Crowley should be ashamed of themselves.
I am pleased and proud to join with the Juniper Park Civic Association and the entire Maspeth community to celebrate a victory in what has been a long, trying fight to save St. Saviour's Church.
As you know, we have encountered numerous, at times, overwhelming, obstacles as we have endeavored to protect and preserve this historic property over the course of the past two and half years. In the face of these challenges the community, led by members of the Juniper Park Civic Association, refused to be silenced and instead, thought "outside of the box". It is that creativity and industriousness that gave rise to the agreement to relocate St. Saviour's Church to All Faiths Cemetery. Although details have yet to be arranged, I am confident that this solution will preserve this important historic building and enrich the entire Maspeth community.
Rest assured, you have my continued support.
Christina Wilkinson, Chair of JPCA’s Committee to Save St. Saviour’s is relieved that the offer was made. “At this point, the church is in imminent peril and we need to get it out of harm’s way right now,” she said. On January 22, an expediting service notified property owners in the vicinity that there was a plan to demolish the church building in “5+ days”. However, it remains standing. “This church has been waiting for a miracle to save it for 2 years, and it looks like it may finally have found one,” Wilkinson stated.
My feelings were written out in the September 2008 Juniper Berry and were on the civic's website until this week when it somehow got deleted.
A Tale of Two Spaces
These quotes are from over a year ago. Circumstances change, as some people completely fail to grasp. If there is a window of opportunity to fight for the property, maybe that's a better use of time than cutting an pasting 1+ year old articles in an embarrassing attempt to smear people that don't agree with you.
WHAT A WASTE OF $$$$$$$$$$$$$. YOU JHAVE TO BE KIDDING ME , NOT ONE OF YOU EVER WENT TO THIS CHURCH FOR SERVICES, NOW TAXPAYERS $$$$
IS BEING WASTED . GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!!
QC, are you sure the land is still available? Real Estate postings are usually very inaccurate. Brokers are notorious for promising anything to lure prospects.
Anon said: "Circumstances change, as some people completely fail to grasp."
What's changed? The land is still available so go for it. I'm sure the city could find an extra $8.5 million in pork to buy the property.
BLOOMTURD IS PLANNING TO APPROVE A WASTE TRANSFER STATION RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THIS PARCEL.
Am I sure the land is still available? I guess one can never be 100% sure. But I do know there is a new sign advertising it for sale on the fence, and it's still being advertised as "for sale" online and at a lower price.
The ACRIS system also shows no sales since the one 4 years ago.
"Richard Upjohn Education Center and Amphitheater".
People are going to want to go get entertained in a cemetery? Check out the architect's drawings. A rock band playing on grave sites. Maybe I'm wrong. How many of you go to the movies that are played at Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn?
It's not going to be IN the cemetery, George. It's on the street.
In the face of these challenges the community, led by members of the Juniper Park Civic Association, refused to be silenced and instead, thought "outside of the box".
CAREFUL TONY, CAREFUL.
THE THING THAT MAKES YOU SPECIAL IS YOUR AURA OF BEING DIFFERENT FROM THE POLS.
THIS STATMENT TARNISHES THAT. IT IS SOMETHING THAT KATZ OR SHULMAN WOULD DO.
"THIS STATMENT TARNISHES THAT. IT IS SOMETHING THAT KATZ OR SHULMAN WOULD DO."
WTF are you talking about? Is that you Michael?
I'm confused...who identified the need for an amphitheater? I thought it was going to be a community center. And who thought it was a good idea to name this after Richard Upjohn? What's his connection to this area other than providing designs for the church?
Why is the borough president funding this while rejecting the community board's request for a community center in Maspeth? This was never determined to be a priority. More than half of the original site could probably be secured with that $4M.
The community asks for a park in their backyard, so instead Marshall builds a concert hall next door. Can't this woman get anything right?
This is not a victory, it's a waste of money and time. Move forward and let the money be spent on useful projects and not a pile of wood.
I’m trying to figure out 2 million $$ for just a to re-erect a frame and roof ?
Projects like this usually take a crew of 4 weeks no more then 2 months.
This includes, pouring a foundation if needed, prefabricating things, concrete, basic electric and WALLS!
$ 2 million dollars?
What are they paying $250 an hr labor per man or is this big perk for a buddy contractor ?
Were the stolen bells ever recovered ?
Nope, the bells are gone for good.
"What a disgraceful waste of taxpayer money. I would rather see the city spend the $5 million that it would take the build this dumb church building to buy the land instead and do something useful with it. Marshall and Crowley should be ashamed of themselves."
Comment by Dennis Gallagher or Christina Wilkinson
This is not a victory, it's a waste of money and time. Move forward and let the money be spent on useful projects and not a pile of wood.
Comment by Dennis Gallagher or Christina Wilkinson
"I fail to see how this is a true victory for anyone."
Of course you fail to see... and fail do anything but complain on this disgraceful blog of malcontents.
I know I didn't say any of that. (That is neither my writing style nor my vocabulary.) There are many people out there who are less than happy with what is going on here.
Anyway, rally is scheduled.
There, I guess I did something.
Have a nice weekend, Bob.
Some people just can't deal with criticism (think Bloomberg).
Will the city be operating this "cultural" center?
If so I see what motivated it !!
Forget Ozzy or some rock band playing with this no doubt city run operation.
It’s the tweed PREACHERS who receiving use of the parks and permits for amplifiers.
The city is gives them every permit possible to FORCE & shit on the public. These people/jam streets/scream/pray/shout/whatever all day long !
Pentecostal preaching’s in the Spanish language = Hitler Rally.
It must be over 120 decibels 311 & cops do NOTHING!!!
Ask anybody who lives near Knickerbocker Bushwick Park
Have a look at this
http://bushwickbk.com/forum/index.php?board=31;action=display;threadid=19706
Maspeth is a fuckin' dump! and just about everyone in Middle Village needs a good smack. DOUCHEBAGS.
Why don't they rebuild St. Savior's at the site of the burned out Maspeth Methodist Church? This way the structure would stay in Maspeth instead of Middle Village and the structure could be used as a community center and a church. Everybody wins. I though the church was a piece of Maspeth history. This center would be more accessable to the people of Maspeth and people in other communities. If the church remains in Maspeth, then and only then will it be a victory for the people of Maspeth. Liz Crowley -- are you listening? Tell your friend Helen Marshall where Maspeth is.
Why don't they rebuild St. Savior's at the site of the burned out Maspeth Methodist Church?
1. The Methodist Congregation would have to ask.
2 The Methodist Church would have to pay for the reconstruction.
3. The Methodist Congregation would use it as a church so city $ could not be used to fund it so don't bother asking Crowley of Marshall.
Hey, All Faiths is going to use the church as a chapel! And taxpayers are funding that.
The Methodist Church has insurance money and intends to rebuild. So money is not a problem.
Has anyone offered it to them?
"Hey, All Faiths is going to use the church as a chapel! And taxpayers are funding that."
Wrong, try reading and educating yourself for a change before writing inaccurate rhetoric that fits your negative agenda.
It's more about up-your-ass Maspeth
than about Upjohn!
I smell the powerful odor of mendacity and hypocrisy wafting through the corridors of corruption!
What the clubhouse hacks and their (ahem) unlikely accomplices are attempting to save is...face not the crumbs of a building.
What happened to saving the original St. Saviour's site for a park?
They've betrayed their community and are now trying to cut their loses by attempting to look like friends of the people.
Phony ass cowards (except for a few stalwart fighters)!
The Methodist Church has insurance money and intends to rebuild. So money is not a problem.
You seem to have all the answers. How much insurance money? And YES they were offered the church. No answer.
"Once funds are raised and the building reconstructed, it will serve as a meeting place for the Civic Association and a part-time chapel for the cemetery."
NY Landmarks Conservancy
"And YES they were offered the church. No answer."
Calling the number of the demolished church doesn't count...
Calling the number of the demolished church doesn't count...
you got me... shucks!
Who asked for and decided on an amphitheater? Or did you keep coming up with plans until you found one you thought the public would be ok with spending $4M of their tax money on?
Does anyone really believe that this place WON'T be used as a meeting place for the civic association? Puh-leeze.
Who will be running the place? How will they be funded? What "educational programs" will go on here? I'd like to know what my money is paying for.
"Does anyone really believe that this place WON'T be used as a meeting place for the civic association? Puh-leeze."
Too small for JPCA. Maybe police meetings or community board or other community gatherings.
Yes that would be an awful waste of tax$.
But keep coming up with more BS, it's entertaining.
Yes, that WOULD be an awful waste of tax $. The police currently travel to each neighborhood community meeting (as they should) and CB5 meets in different schools throughout the district. We don't need to construct a new building for them.
keep coming up with more BS, it's entertaining.
EXHIBIT 1 FOR WHY WE NEED TRANSPARENCY IN THE BUDGET PROCESS AND THE BPs SHOULD NOT HAVE CARTE BLANCHE TO THROW TAXPAYER MONEY AWAY.
Who asked for and decided on an amphitheater? Or did you keep coming up with plans until you found one you thought the public would be ok with spending $4M of their tax money on?
I thought you said it was a part time chapel for All Faiths. Now it's an amphitheater? Make up your mind.
Oh wait I forgot, it's both! Sort of like the Transformers.
The JCPA wants to build a $4M meeting hall for once-a-month community board meetings? I think they've flipped...
Actually, it's you saying it would be a meeting hall and chapel and then saying it would be an amphitheater and CB5 venue. Who's the Decepticon here?
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who will be running the place? How will they be funded? What "educational programs" will go on here? I'd like to know what my money is paying for.
So many questions, so little time. Anyway when you get Bloomberg to buy the original property please phone, we'll bring the church back and all of your questions will be moot.
when i get bloomberg to save the site? what about you? thank you for revealing that what was written on the jpca website about how you are still petitioning the mayor to save the original site was just to save face from criticism that you abandoned the west maspeth folk. you showed your real colors here.
"so many questions, so little time"
that's what you write when you can't answer any of them.
Flipped? Not really. Actually things are great now, things seem to be going our way, especially since late April when we got rid of a wacko blogger from Ridgewood who thinks everyone is the enemy.
"Anyway when you get Bloomberg to buy the original property please phone, we'll bring the church back and all of your questions will be moot."
"Flipped? Not really. Actually things are great now, things seem to be going our way, especially since late April when we got rid of a wacko blogger from Ridgewood who thinks everyone is the enemy."
OMG...This could only have been written by a member of the JPCA! Holy crap, I can't believe this!!!! What contemptuous people. Everyone - and I mean everyone knows it's the JPCA who thinks everyone is the enemy. How you attack that poor girl for working so hard for you. how dare she express an opinion contrary to yours? They chew people up and spit them out.
RIGHT ON BROTHER. AMEN TO THAT.
This is what happens when you work your ass off volunteering for the JPCA as:
- Editor of their magazine
- Chair of the Committee to Save St. Saviour's
- Secretary
- Webmaster
And have the nerve to express an opinion contrary to that of the president. All of a sudden all the work you did is forgotten, and they write things on blogs about you like "good riddance." What did I get in return for all of my work? A kick in the ass. I had been warned about this by others. I regret not listening.
BTW, sorry I missed the Waste Management hearing, I was at a Willets Point meeting. But the rally coming up later this month will address both issues - St. Saviour's site and the WM plan. I hope I can make the JPCA's rally as well. I am planning to take a vacation the first week in August, so please don't plan it for then.
This makes no sense. With $4M-$5M, Marshall could have purchased the Klein Farm, building and land included.
Are the MAJORITY of JPCA members in agreement with this cosmetic redux using the bones of St. Saviour's or just a small vocal contingent?
How about having a secret ballot referendum at their next public meeting?
You can't stifle historical truth
by simply "losing" some newsletter e-files!
Christina Wilkinson is the heroine of St. Saviour's and everybody knows it!
She did most of the grunt work while a few hid behind their suits and ties
claiming the credit!
PHASE ONE!!?? Ok, what the hell is the REAL pricetag on this thing? How many phases? How much more will be needed? Where will it come from? We will see nothing substantial by election day. So....why is this being announced? What is the real motive here? Do they really think we are that stupid? Shame on them!
None of my taxes should go to any church, standing or to be rebuilt. Nor should any of my taxes go to any civic association, if you want to run a organization, charge a fee and stop using my taxes. Talk about TWEEDING, who's the one in charge of this scam. Someone pockets are getting filled.
The churches are gone, deal with it.
Why did they change the name? It should be called St. Saviour's!
Because the name is connected with the history of Maspeth.
I didn't like the way the Juniper Berry wrote that this was the "last remaining landmark in our community." Middle Village has several historic places left, such as the Furmanville house, the Mt. Olivet Crematory and the Hess-Miller Funeral Home.
If they are talking about Maspeth, well, the church is no longer "remaining" in Maspeth. But it does still have Town Hall, the Maurice house and when this was written - the Methodist Church.
So that statement about the "last remaining landmark" was a bit over the top. They're overselling this project.
That's what pols and civic people do when they want to look important. They don't realize it's actually kind of an insult to the community.
Hey, in 30 years, the civic association can put in a request to have that ugly castle landmarked!
Speaking of the Berry...
Christina, you forgot to add "historian" to the list of titles you held. Your departure is the reason why JPCA reran a story they did 6 months ago as a history article in the current Berry. That's recycling stories that are a little too recent.
I thought the original movement for this property was to stop the sale to developers for multiple housing, a huge mall, box stores etc. That has not happened. Indeed, the church will now be in All Faiths Cemetary but the property is still up for grabs. Can someone please explain how the JVC saved the people who live in this area. DUH!! The problem still exists, therefore, nothing was resolved except to move the old non-used and deteriorating church somewhere else. How does this make any sense!!!!!
"All of a sudden all the work you did is forgotten, and they write things on blogs about you like "good riddance."
ON WHAT BLOG WAS THAT WRITTEN?
The land where St. Saviour's was is still on Craigslist for sale. Danrich Family homes has the listing.
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