Green Church Goes Educational
Those despairing over the demolition of Bay Ridge’s Green Church might feel a tad better with the latest news about the site: rather than a 70-unit condo building, a school will be built there, reports the Brooklyn Paper. Earlier this month, a “For sale or lease” sign had been affixed to the property, at Fourth…
Those despairing over the demolition of Bay Ridge’s Green Church might feel a tad better with the latest news about the site: rather than a 70-unit condo building, a school will be built there, reports the Brooklyn Paper. Earlier this month, a “For sale or lease” sign had been affixed to the property, at Fourth and Ovington Avenues, offering “School, Medical, Not-for-Profit or Residential,” as possibilities. Seems the School Construction Authority, which was considering nabbing a couple of other properties through eminent domain, took notice. They are “planning to purchase the former site of the emerald-hued Bay Ridge United Methodist Church to construct a kindergarten- through eighth-grade school that could seat between 600 and 700 students, according to Dena Libner, a spokeswoman for Councilman Vince Gentile (DBay Ridge).” Developer Abe Betesh bought the land for $9.75 million, then apparently decided to sell when the condos were a no-go; the article doesn’t say how much the School Construction Authority would pay Betesh.
Green Church to Become a School [Brooklyn Paper]
I stumbled upon “Bay Ridge Green Church demolished” while searching for information about the Jeanne d’Arc statue that sat in the stained-glassed entry of my alma mater, Bay Ridge High School. I left Brooklyn over 30 years ago, yet when I saw “green church”, I knew exactly what the site was referring to. I was extremely upset to see that this extraordinary church had been demolished. It was one of the good memories I had of Brooklyn, known as “The Borough of Churches”, and I felt as if a part of my history had been ripped from me. I was fortunate enough to see that church every day of high school, and even as a teen, I marveled at its uniqueness and great beauty. The reason other countries have buildings that are hundreds or thousands of years old is because a treasure like this would have been preserved, but in this country, we just knock down our beautiful old buildings. I actually shed a few tears over this building’s demolition. Now we are supposed to feel better because a school is going to be erected on this site? I feel worse! The building could have been saved and a magnificient school opened in the original church. I am deeply saddened.
I used to live on the small (private) street that ran behind the church (off 72nd). I’ve been out of Bay Ridge for 12 years and I’m just catching up.
What a shame that the church was demolished. Now, if someone tells me my old house on Bennett Court was demolished, I’d been even more upset.
Out of character for the nabe? No. No more than any other church in Bay Ridge. Those big evergreen trees could have used some pruning, though.
sorry Lisa, just saw Mr. B’s post about ‘attacks and insults’
Hope you didn’t take mine as such 🙂
Plus, I think you wrote that to rile me today 🙂
Bayridgegirl: That’s too bad. It was a good building. The shell shows not just a fine exterior but a handsome interior volume as well — perfect for a school.
The neighbors should insist on some first-class architecture here. Too bad C.B.J Snyder isn’t still around. He did some of New York’s best schools around 1900 — when eclecticism was still in favor.
I don’t know Bay Ridge. Would people be willing to push for an architectural competition? The results will be Modern, but they may be good Modern.
true–while a school might be less distasteful than condos to some, the demolition probably hurts just as much.
NOP….
there’s nothing to save. It was demolished.
“Those despairing over the demolishing of Bay Ridge’s Green Church might feel a tad better with the latest news about the site: rather than a 70-unit condo building, a school will be built there”
Lisa, since I like you, I’m not going to comment on your wording or use of words in the above sentence.
I have been despairing over the demolition of the ‘Green’ Church and I DO NOT feel any better, a wee bit better or a TAD better knowing that a school will be built on this site.
Whether a condo, a school, a hospital, another church etc. gets built on this site DOES NOT justify the destruction of an architecturally significant structure in the community.
“this one can be turned into part of a school”
No it can’t. It was demolished last month.
They should save the old shell and turn into the auditorium or gym. If churches can be turned into condos (as they are elsewhere in Brooklyn), this one can be turned into part of a school.