Preservationists are raising hell to protect the city’s historic churches as parishes in desirable areas close and developers snatch up the holy properties.
Chelsea neighbors are fighting a proposed 11-story tower above the 150-year-old French Evangelical Church, which has struggled to pay for repairs and sold its air rights to survive. Residents say the plans are “atrocious” and want the Presbytery of New York City to try a Hail Mary.
“It’s not just about the preservation of this block — it’s about all the city’s historic churches,” said Paul Groncki of the 16th Street Block Association.
“They’re an important part of the fabric of our neighborhoods, and we don’t want to see them disappear. This church will disappear if it’s encased in concrete.”
The New York Landmarks Conservancy surveyed 1,200 significant religious sites across the city and found that more than two dozen historically or architecturally important churches have been shuttered or destroyed in the past decade. And Brooklyn parishes are especially in danger, said Ann Friedman, who runs the conservancy’s Sacred Sites program.
“We are going to see a lot of development and loss,” she said. “We can’t just sit back and wring our hands.”
6 comments:
the city doesn't give a shit about hospitals so why should they care about churches.
maybe if the church had a pinkberry or a td bank it could have a chance.
If a church building doesn't have a congregation to worship God in it, just sell it and tear it down, or tear most of if it down.
If you like your church facade, you can keep your church facade Like St. Monica (Jamaica)
St. Monica's collapsed from neglect, genius.
If a church building doesn't have a congregation to worship God in it, just sell it and tear it down, or tear most of if it down.
The truth hurts....
Now if the City were to offer a tax incentive to the Developer to incorporate the existing into the new construction, i.e. the facade, that would be constructive.
NYU did that, putting a massive dorm tower behind a church entrance. Problem is that the modernism of the dorm doesn't match the gothic revival of the church.
In Europe all the churches and historical site are preserved! Is that difficult to do the same in a much richer city like NYC?
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