Sale and Demolition Planned for 4th Avenue's Church of the Redeemer
Neighbors have been trying to save Boerum Hill’s Church of the Redeemer since the summer of 2012, when the diocese announced its plans to demolish the Gothic Revival structure at 24 4th Avenue. Unfortunately, it seems like the site is destined for high-rise condos. The church is moving forward with plans to sell the property…
Neighbors have been trying to save Boerum Hill’s Church of the Redeemer since the summer of 2012, when the diocese announced its plans to demolish the Gothic Revival structure at 24 4th Avenue. Unfortunately, it seems like the site is destined for high-rise condos. The church is moving forward with plans to sell the property for $17,000,000, according to Carolynn DiFiore Balmelle of the East Pacific Street Block Association.
Halstead will market the large property, she said, which allows up to 70,000 buildable square feet. (We saw a preliminary flier for the property, although there’s not yet a listing online.) However, the diocese requires that anyone who develops the land has to set aside 22,000 square feet for the church. They’re looking for a developer to build an eight- to 10-story condo building with possible ground floor retail.
The East Pacific Street Block Association had presented the diocese with an alternative to demolishing the 127-year-old church: A restorer could restore the building at no cost to the church and hand back all the retail space to them. Even though they could charge an annual rent of $400,000 for the space, church officials have resisted restoring the building, because they say it would take $4,000,000 in repairs to get it back to good condition, she said.
Yesterday we reported on a similar deal to demolish a historic theater and replace it with a private residential development that would include space for the church that last owned the building. At least five other churches in Brooklyn are currently being razed or converted to residential apartments — three in Crown Heights and two in Bushwick.
Can 4th Avenue’s Church of the Redeemer Be Saved? [Brownstoner]
Demolition Slated for 4th Ave’s Church of the Redeemer [Brownstoner]
Building of the Day: 24 Fourth Avenue [Brownstoner]
Photo by Nicholas Strini for PropertyShark
Is there any update on the Church of the Redeemer? I have a personal interest in this church as many of the windows and other artwork were created and made by an ancestor of mine. I have been in touch with the Diocese and am hopeful they will contact me as to what will happen to the artwork/windows etc within the church. I would love to see it stay with the renovation, or be used by another religious building in the Brooklyn area. If anyone knows what the update is on the building, please let me know. Thank you. I live in Iowa, so it’s hard for me to stay in touch.
A commercial real estate broker has approached me with a client who is interested in restoring the entire building at no cost to the Diocese. He is also willing to turn over all the retail space back to the Diocese. The restorer/developer is very serious and is very passionate about British Architecture which is why it upsets him that this 160 year old building is in danger of demolition. He currently owns a church which he is fully restoring; it will be rental apartments. We understand that this may not be a church but we want to preserve the building. In the past, we have had schools that would be interested in renting a portion of the building.