by Abigail Gruskin, June 10
“Neither side is letting up in a battle over the West-Park Presbyterian Church, an Upper West Side landmark deemed exemplary of its kind only twelve years ago. If the local congregation gets its way, the building, which has suffered safety-related Department of Buildings violations, as well as aesthetic damages, will be sold and demolished. Community members and some politicians are fighting to keep the historic building upright…
Council Member Gale Brewer, for one, has committed herself to help fundraise for the building — again. Over a decade since initially fighting for the building’s landmark designation, Brewer now has renewed her campaign, calling for a nonprofit group to assume ownership of the church so as to more easily reap financial contributions from the community, led by elected officials.
“We already have lots of pledges to purchase the building,” Brewer said. “I don’t think this is hard.”
Other members of the public reiterated statements expressed in an earlier CB7 meeting on the topic, underscoring the unique feel and history of the building. The church is “a sublime space,” said Jody Sperling, a choreographer and Upper West Side resident. “It cannot be replaced.”
