Landmarks Signals Support for Fort Greene Church Tower Build

"The meeting followed a contentious public hearing on December 5, when more than 80 people testified for and against the project. Forty-six speakers supported the proposal, largely citing the need for new housing and arguing the design respected the church, the neighboring Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower, and the historic district. Thirty-three speakers opposed it, saying the tower was out of scale, obstructed views of the iconic clock tower, diminished the church's architecture, and amounted to facadism."

"At the January meeting, which was held after commissioners voted to have their discussion at a separate hearing following the lengthy testimony in December, the development team responded to the public's concerns saying that the church is in poor condition and that restoring it without a substantial enlargement would not be financially feasible. They said stabilization and restoration would cost tens of millions of dollars and yield relatively few residential units if confined to the existing structure."

Most commissioners conditionally supported converting Hanson Place Central United Methodist Church into the base of a 27‑story residential tower while calling for design revisions to better preserve the church’s identity and its relationship to the Brooklyn Academy of Music Historic District. A December 5 public hearing drew over 80 speakers divided between housing needs and preservation concerns, with supporters citing design respect and opponents warning of scale, obstructed views, and facadism. The development team said the church is deteriorating and that stabilization and restoration alone would cost tens of millions and produce few units, arguing enlargement is needed for financial feasibility.

Read at Brownstoner