One Last Look Inside the Strong Place Church
The Strong Place Church, shown at right in a photo from 1930, has been gradually damaged by water and time over recent years, despite being of great concern to Cobble Hill preservationists. Now the structure is slated for an extensive residential conversion by developers James Plotkin and David Yerushalmi along with Manhattan-based Baxt Ingui Architects….
The Strong Place Church, shown at right in a photo from 1930, has been gradually damaged by water and time over recent years, despite being of great concern to Cobble Hill preservationists. Now the structure is slated for an extensive residential conversion by developers James Plotkin and David Yerushalmi along with Manhattan-based Baxt Ingui Architects. “We could not be more pleased” said C. Murray Adams, President of the Cobble Hill Association. “One of most important churches in the Cobble Hill Historic District has been saved from almost certain destruction by thoughtful, careful adaptive re-use.” We’re all for adaptive re-use but are a little worried by the photos on the architects’ website. There’s nothing to suggest they have any experience actually salvaging and re-using building parts (to the contrary, the apartment shown on their site is downright cheesy), but an email we received said that there will be an attempt to re-use salvageable details. Regardless, the owners are being good sports and holding an open house on Sunday from 1 to 4 for architectural history buffs to get one last look at the interior. Admission is free.
Strong Place Church [NYPL]
Home Page [Baxt Ingui Architects]
Does anyone have updated comments on how this project is doing now? Thanks.
I walked by there a few weeks ago and was in total shock. The roof was gone and the interior was completely gutted. Where is everything? I don’t anticipate anything being integrated back into the final design. On the plus side, I appreciate the shape being kept. Rather that than some pre-fab brick thing with rows of FEDDERS AC units embedded in the façade.
scarano did the arches.. with the signature mezzanines all over the place. although from what i’ve seen they came out pretty sweet.
anyone heard of the arches at cobble hill. seems like a similar job. who did that?
Let me just add my two cents to the above comments. We were lucky enough to hire Baxt/Ingui as the architects for the renovation of our brownstone. What drew us to them were Ben’s and Mike’s incredible experience and sensitivity to preservation issues.
For example, we installed CAC, and many AC contractors insisted that we needed to install soffets to accommodate the ductwork. Ingui knew that was not the case and forced the contractors to design a soffet-less system, thus preserving the integrity of the interior.
As long as the developers dont cheap out, Strong Place will be a great addition to the community.
some of the townhouses shown on their site are gorgeous though…
There doesn’t appear to be any plans on the architect’s website for this particular project. I would have to agree with Brownstoner, though, the pics they have up don’t instill confidence. I would love to see some pictures of historic conversions that didn’t look like they were in boca raton, but am prepared to be presently surprised.
The Strong Place Daycare is no longer using the building. I don’t know the specifics, but I imagine it wasn’t safe anymore, given the state of the building presently.
I am confused…does the architect website discuss the plans for the church renovation? Also, is the Strong Place Daycare still using the building?
I am familiar with both Michael Ingui’s work and Ben Baxt’s work and can tell you that the neighborhood should feel lucky to have them as the architects. They have completed some of the best restorative projects in Brooklyn Heights and Cobble Hill and the fact that you do not know who they are is concerning. Please take the time to call the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission yourself before publishing the word Cheesy. Call the Cobble Hill Association. Call the Brooklyn Hieghts Association. Theyare well known to those in the preservation community and to those who enjoy modern insertions.
OK – I am a contractor who works with them so I know them well and am biased.
Trust me when I say that we are in good hands!