"The Center at West Park, a theater and arts organization evicted from the church on July 7, is doing a temporary residency at the St. Paul and St. Andrew United Methodist Church, a few blocks away. To demolish the more-than-a-century-old structure, the church must show the New York City Landmarks Commission, which rarely approves such demolitions, that it meets hardship requirements."
"The bottom line is that this application doesn't meet the city's statutory test for hardship, said Andrew Goldwyn, director of public policy for the New York Landmarks Conservancy. The building can still be used for the purpose for which it was built. Another congregation worships there now. Representatives of the church said the structure was too costly to repair and the application should be granted."
"It's true that the hardship application is a rare process, but it is a really imperative part and an essential component of the landmarks law, said Valerie Campbell, a partner at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, representing the church. We believe that if you examine our application, and there are hundreds of pages, that it's abundantly clear that the church has met these standards."
A crowd wearing 'save this landmark' buttons packed Community Board 7's Preservation Committee meeting to oppose the sale and demolition of West Park Presbyterian Church. The congregation seeks permission to demolish the landmarked 1890 church at 165 West 86th Street to enable a sale to Alchemy Properties. The building was designated a landmark in 2010 and has hosted arts groups and another congregation. The Center at West Park was evicted July 7 and is temporarily housed at St. Paul and St. Andrew United Methodist Church. The church must convince the Landmarks Commission that demolition meets strict hardship criteria. Preservation advocates say the application fails that statutory test; the church contends repairs are unaffordable and claims its extensive application shows hardship.
Read at www.amny.com
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