Landmarks Commission to Reconsider West Park Presbyterian Church Demolition Plans

The West Park Presbyterian Church is once again trying to get the Landmark Preservation Commission to okay a plan for the ancient church to be demolished and sold to a developer.

The shrinking church congregation says the cost to repair the church is far beyond its capability. But since the church in recent years has emerged as a artistic and civic asset for the neighborhood, many celebrities are opposing the move and are seeking to raise money to pay for badly needed repairs. So far, the fundraising efforts have accumulated $7 million, which the congregation claims is still not enough, and turned down the gift.

Expect a volatile hearing pitting both sides against one another when The Landmarks Preservation Commission holds a consequential hearing about whether the demolition of West Park Presbyterian Church can move forward, on Thursday, Oct. 9. It is sure to be attended by furious locals, and perhaps a few around-the-way celebrities.

The church’s own congregation had a deal to sell it to a developer for $33 million back in 2020, citing “financial hardship” stemming from onerous repair costs for the building, which dates to the late 19th century. They’ve also said that declining church attendance has made the sale necessary.

The congregation has acknowledged that the church would be transformed into market-rate housing, and has said that it would be granted 10,000 sq. ft. inside any new development on the site to maintain their services.

It is a problem that many church-owned properties are wrestling with. Many church buildings, faced with declining church going population, have been trying to sell off their aging schools and churches. On the other side of town, the New York Roman Catholic Archdiocese sold its former HQ Building on First Ave to the developer Vanbarton Group for $103 million with plans to add six more stories to the tower and build luxury apartments. That deal only involved office space, not an actual church building. And since the West Side Presbyterian Church, built in the 19th century is landmarked, it cannot be torn down without getting an exemption. Its the second time that the congregation goes before the LPC, after withdrawing an earlier demolition application; the continued occupancy of the church’s cornerstone tenant, an arts organization called The Center at West Park, had prevented them from moving forward. A couple of smaller tenants still remain on the premises, with The Center moving elsewhere in the neighborhood.

However, The Center was evicted from the church after a long-running battle in mid-July, which has all but certainly precipitated the congregation taking a second shot with the LPC.

City Council Member Gale Brewer, who is a vocal critic of the demolition plans, alerted her constituents about the upcoming hearing in her weekly newsletter: “Please attend to oppose demolition and support the cultural activities at the church!”

The planned demolition has also seen sustained opposition from some famous locals, including the actor Mark Ruffalo and the playwright and filmmaker Kenneth Lonergan (of “Manchester on the Sea” fame).

Back in August, a who’s-who of other mega-celebrities did a staged reading of the muckraking Nixon-era classic “All the President’s Men” at The Center, which promo materials described as part of “the fight to preserve one of New York City’s cherished landmarks: West Park Presbyterian Church.” They added that the church was, quote, an “intergenerational, affordable hub for the arts, community programming, and sacred gathering.” The cast included Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., Julianne Moore, Andy Cohen, and Gwyneth Paltrow, and J. Smith-Cameron.

Of course, it isn’t just celebrities and local politicos leading the charge against the demolition, as preservationists are similarly irate. Back in July, when The Center at West Park was evicted, New York Landmarks President Peg Breen cast doubt on the “financial hardship” element of the congregation’s application.

Breen noted that The Center at West Park had raised $7 million via a grassroots campaign that would have gone towards church repairs, which she claimed “would have eliminated outstanding building violations and allowed the church to take down scaffolding,” which encircles the exterior of the church.

“The church said ‘no’” to the donations, Breen clarified. “Is it hardship when somebody offers you $7 million dollars and you say ‘no’?” The church congregation disputes that $7 million would do the trick, instead pointing to a $50 million price tag on repairs. The LPC may clarify which figure is more on the money.