"If approved, the long-sought sale could increase the Presbytery's funding for social programs across the city by 350%, with the endowment providing as much as $900,000 annually to support food aid, housing, immigrant services and educational programs in underserved neighborhoods, according to church leaders. The church at 165 W. 86th St. has been a longtime local hub for activism and community service - from fighting anti-Chinese bigotry in the 19th century to serving meals to New Yorkers with AIDS."
"Opponents of the church's demolition include elected officials, community residents, performing arts groups, and celebrities such as comedian Amy Schumer and actor Mark Ruffalo. The Center at West Park, a nonprofit that has served as the building's prime tenant and manager for the past five years, has also mounted a public campaign to preserve the church and fund repairs. Representatives from the Center at West Park couldn't immediately be reached for comment."
The Presbytery of New York City plans to create the West Park Presbyterian Church Social Justice Fund endowment of up to $30 million using proceeds from a potential sale of West Park Presbyterian Church, contingent on permission to raze the landmarked building. The sale could increase Presbytery funding for social programs by 350%, with the endowment providing up to $900,000 annually for food aid, housing, immigrant services, and educational programs. The 1890 Romanesque Revival building has been scaffolded nearly 25 years due to structural instability, with repair estimates as high as $50 million. Opponents and preservation advocates have mounted campaigns, and the congregation has applied to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for demolition hardship approval; developer Alchemy Properties proposes a mixed-use replacement including a 10,000-square-foot worship and community space.
Read at Gothamist
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