College Point church will soon reopen

From the Times Ledger:

On the evening of June 6, 2008, a fire engulfed the steeple of the First Reformed Church of College Point, causing major damage and closing the main sanctuary.

Pastor Linda Gold said she is hopeful that now, after months of reconstruction and waiting, the congregation’s Sunday services will soon be able to return to the expansive space following a favorable report by a city Department of Buildings inspector who examined the building last Thursday.

The church had been waiting for the inspection since reconstruction work on the steeple and sanctuary was completed in July.

A vacate order the department placed on the sanctuary, shortly after the fire as a result mainly of water and smoke damage, will be removed soon, Gold said.