Multiple celecbraties rallid with city council member Gale Brewer and community activists for the preservation of the West Park Presbyterian Church in mid-June. The landmarked 123 year building is in danger of being demolished and sold to a developer and turned into luxury condos.
Congregants say they cannot afford to make the $50 million necessary to preserve and restore the structure and want the Landmarks Preservation Commission to grant it a hardship exemption. The Center at West Park (CWP), a not for profit that has been using the church in recent years, is leading the fight to save this historic building. Since the church was built in the 1890, it has been a center of activism of the civil rights movement, the anti-war movement among others. It has also been at the center of community service hosting programs like God’s Love We Deliver that provides meals to those with life-altering illnesses.
In recent years, the building located at 165 W. 86th St. at the corner of Amsterdam Ave. had turned into a non-profit community of performing arts center.
The Landmark Preservation Commission was slated to meet on Tuesday, June 13th to begin considering whether to de-landmark the historic building.
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