Green Church: Will LPC Be The Deus Ex Machina?
The situation is getting quite desperate at the United Methodist Church, aka the Green Church, on 4th Avenue in Bay Ridge. The congregation has forsaken the turn of the century structure and is reportedly already in contract with a developer for $12.5 million—or about $200,000 per congregant. When the deal closes, the developer plans to…
The situation is getting quite desperate at the United Methodist Church, aka the Green Church, on 4th Avenue in Bay Ridge. The congregation has forsaken the turn of the century structure and is reportedly already in contract with a developer for $12.5 million—or about $200,000 per congregant. When the deal closes, the developer plans to tear down the entire structure, which, Forgotten NY points out, is notable for being the only serpentine stone facade in New York City. Here’s how we wish the whole thing had played out: The congregation (which has dwindled to about 60 souls) could have put an easement on the church, sold it to a developer to rehab and preserve, donated the proceeds to a worthy religious cause of its choosing and then started spending Sunday mornings at a different church. Barring divine intervention, the only way the destruction can be averted at this point is if the Landmarks Preservation Commission steps up to the plate pronto. For some reason, LPC hasn’t exactly been tripping over itself to help out though. The group Save the Green Church is holding a meeting tonight at 7 o’clock at 7027 Ridge Crest Terrace to marshal a last-ditch effort. For more information, contact SaveTheGreenChurch AT yahoo DOT com.
Save Bay Ridge United Methodist Church [Forgotten NY] GMAP
Congregation Wants To Sell Soul to Devil-oper [Brownstoner]
Did not intend to be anonymous. I have been away from this site for so long, I forgot how post.
Another possible “act of god” could come from the direction of the New York State Supreme Court judge who has the task of approving the sale. The church is likely subject to the NYS Religious Corporations statute, which means it would then be subject to the rules governing non profits on the sale of substantially all of its assets. I am a little hazy on the process (having not done one of these in over ten years), but, the entire deal, benefits to congregation and community, and planned uses for the proceeds by the congregation would be subject to scrutiny. The Save the Green Church group may want to get themselves a lawyer and have their voices heard during that process.
Good luck trying to get better pictures – they wouldn’t let me in with a camera. Emerick has “NO TRESSPASSING” posted all over the lot. It’s obvious the seller (not necessarily the congregation) is leery of promoting any impression that the church may be of historic and aesthetic value. It’s downright insidious.
Who gets all the money from the sale?
No, we’re saying they should have sold it for a lot less to a developer who would preserve the existsing structure.
What am I missing here? Why would the developer rehab and preserve a church for 12 plus million dollars? Are you saying that the developer would “condo” the church? It is too bad that the church is going to be demolished but it is also very sad that there is no need for it anymore. Are we looking for a Norman Rockwell nostolgic world where we pretend people go to church but don’t? A congregation of 60 can’t maintain and heat such a structure. I went to Notre Dame in Montreal where I couldn’t get in until I paid an entrance fee. “People don’t go to church anymore” when I expressed surprise.
I meant “owns”.
Forgive my ignorance, but I don’t understand how the buying of churches work. Who “ownes” the church building? It is one individual or the congregants? And if it is the congregation, who gets to be one of them? The regular Sunday churchgoers or the ones who attend semi-regularly but donate a standard amount? And once the church is sold, who gets the money? I never went to church so I am curious as to how a tax-exempt building gets to profit from capitalism.
Take hundreds of photos, the one above stinks. Email the photos to your politicians, how about Shuman, he likes to
show his face for good causes.
It was after the Astor Hotel, a grand piece of architecture, was knocked down that Jackie Kennedy= Onassis, became the champion of lost buildings. Brooklyn needs a saviour of lost buildings.
The photos must be better to convince others to help, plus you can put togethter a book: The Lost Churches of Brooklyn. Just go to FG see what’s coming down. I know of too many serrt heart deals in the nabe. Someone, I know who, but someone bought a huge RC landmark years ago for virtually nothing. I would ask the church to seriously look at its books and wonder why such a property went for so little and why the secondary owner sold it for so much. Kickbacks? Anyway, the first owner after the RC just opened up the hatches in the roof for two years. Rain, snow, coming through the roof and beams for two years can show damage a landmark
Shall I go on, no need you have it.
Oh Progress,what deeds are done in your name.