A Reprieve for Historic Brownsville Church
In a surprise move, it appears that the Catholic Diocese has decided to spare the Lady of Loreto church from the wrecking ball. While the church has yet to issue a formal statement, The Daily News reported on Friday that a compromise has been reached that would avoid demolition. The decision comes after months of…
In a surprise move, it appears that the Catholic Diocese has decided to spare the Lady of Loreto church from the wrecking ball. While the church has yet to issue a formal statement, The Daily News reported on Friday that a compromise has been reached that would avoid demolition. The decision comes after months of negotiations with a preservationist group comprised largely of Italian Americans that sought to save a piece of its cultural heritage that has fallen into disuse as the neighborhood has transformed over recent decades to a largely black community. The Catholic Church had been planning to tear down the turn of the century structure to make way for 88 units of affordable housing. Under the new preservation plan, the church will be preserved, possibly as some kind of community center, and 50 or so affordable apartments would be built. “It’s a toned-down plan but at least we have saved the church,” said Charles Piazza, who’s led the preservation fight. “There are a lot of conversations taking place but there have been no decisions,” said Msgr. Kieran Harrington, a Brooklyn Diocese spokesman.
Brownsville Community Saves Church from Demolition [NY Daily News]
Lady of Loreto’s Most Desperate Hour [Brownstoner]
Fight to Preserve Ocean Hill Church [Brownstoner]
Photo from Loretochurch.com
I understand people’s apprehension about seeing a church being used for a non-religious purpose, but I think that churches (and religious buildings in general) are so strongly tied to their communities with their soup kitchens, thrift stores, outreach programs, daycare/senior centers, etc. that it is GREAT that this church can be reused as a community center (the current plan). The “preservationist” group was led by former Italian-American parishioners/community members as is often stated, but they also reached out to a good local developer (Northeast Brooklyn Housing and Development Corp.), a good Brooklyn-based architect (Micahel Ivanhoe McCaw), and Brownsville historical societies. They felt strongly that the church that was paid for and built by their ancestors for the community should be continued to be used by the current community, and that the Diocese did not have the sole right to tear it down. The only shame is that NEBHDCO’s plan is far better – with 100 units of affordable housing – than the Diocese’s plan, which only calls for 50 units.
What, your inability to express your opinion without a sexually offensive comment is not only insulting to me as a woman, but is offensive to anyone else who comes here to read opinions on topics of the day. Benson is able to express himself, and disagree with me without going there, as is every other poster on this site, except you. I find you low class and vulgar, and anything of worth you may have to say is lost in your successful effort to be, basically, a pig. (with apologies to the porcine community) And on a thread about a church, no less. Good going.
Totally un-churched here, but a great admirer of church, mosque and temple architecture.
You don’t have to be a congregant — or religious — to appreciate buildings like Lady of Loreto and absorb them in your day-to-day life, even if it’s only by walking by.
Had a nice moment one Sunday not too long ago. Was walking home and passed a local church just as the bells were ringing and worshippers poured into the street. Until then, I didn’t realize that at that hour every Sunday Park Avenue filled with my neighbors strolling home.
Suddenly, this barren slice of Manhattan took on the character of Vienna’s Ringstrasse long ago, when people “promenaded” as part of civic life. Nice.
In it’s new configuration, Lady of Loreto will continue to give life to its surrounding streets. Congratulations to both the preservationists and the Catholic Diocese.
“Having said that, there is something depressing to me about Church preservation from a purely architectural perspective, disconnected from worship.”
Donatella;
Exactly my feeling. I see that other denominations have no problem with selling their houses of worship to develoeprs for other purposes. In Cobble Hill, for instance, there are a number of (formerly) Protestant churches that have been converted into housing. If they wish to do so, that’s there business, but I find it utterly depressing.
I may be wrong, but my sense is that Catholics have a visceral reaction against seeing one of their (former) churches used for other purposes.
The real shame is that there are not worshipers, black or white in that beautiful church. It is the story of many of the churches in Brooklyn. A sharp drop off in church attendance among Catholics (and shifting demographics) has left many of Brooklyn’s Catholic churches underused. They require a huge amount of money to maintain. What is sad is that so many of these beautiful churches were paid for by poor people – in this case Italians, — who gave big chunks of their income to build them.
Regarding Black Catholics, I belong to Queen of All Saints which is a Catholic Church in Fort Greene which has a largely black congregation. The Christian connection of American blacks with Southern roots has traditionally been to Protestant churches. But one thing you see at QAS is that there is a great school connected to the parish and with that many great services, which may have attracted new parishioners. I don’t know how many of these parishioners started as Catholics or Protestants. This congregation is very activist and does a tremendous amount for the neighborhood.
Having said that, there is something depressing to me about Church preservation from a purely architectural perspective, disconnected from worship. What is better, a beautiful empty church or a passionate congregation in a store front? I went to Sacre cour in Montreal, the gorgeous cathedral and I had to pay admission. Wow. A Museum. How depressing. But I hope they keep this church and get a lot of worshippers from the community.
“Sorry what, but I didn’t take Jon’s phrasing to mean that black people brought the church or the neighborhood down.”
I wasn’t ASKING you about your opinion Morris!!!!!!!
” I’m as astute as the next person in reading between the lines, and when it’s there, I’m all over it.”
Not with his sack in your mouth.
“It’s not racist to also notice that the neighborhood is economically depressed. ”
Oh Brownsville is now “economically depressed”?!
” That is just a fact” <—–YOUR OPINON MORRIS!
“I’d probably agree with much of what you had to say, but that’s a whole other topic.”
Don’t bother!
The What (You’re Welcome)
Someday this war is gonna end..
Benson, you may well be correct, but so what? If a little pocket of people want to save their long ago ancestor’s home church, what is so wrong with that? And if it is possible to do so, and repurpose the space for a different community, AND still have room for needed affordable housing, then what’s the harm?
Sorry what, but I didn’t take Jon’s phrasing to mean that black people brought the church or the neighborhood down. I’m as astute as the next person in reading between the lines, and when it’s there, I’m all over it. It was not there, in my opinion. He merely stated that the community had once been Italian, and was now black. It’s not racist to also notice that the neighborhood is economically depressed. That is just a fact. We can talk about how it got that way all day, and I’d probably agree with much of what you had to say, but that’s a whole other topic.
Montrose;
One more thing. For an example of a situation where folks actually put their money where their mouth is, I’ll simply point out the church where I was baptized: Visitation in Red Hook. That parish has long faced a situation wherein the current residents are too poor to support it. The church has long asked folks who have ties to it, and no longer live there to support it. That is what keeps it going.
Montrose;
If you think I’m just speaking for myself, then I pose this challenge: please find one movie, novel or other work of art that deals with the Italian-American experience in Brooklyn and speaks of this church.
There hasn’t been an Italian-American community in Brownsville in what- 40 years? Moreover, it was never a large community compared to the neighborhoods I speak about above. So some busybodies from Long Island are upset because grandma’s church – that they probably haven’t visited in 40 years – is going to get torn down. Once again I say to them: put up or shut up.
If this were just one church I might feel differently. As I previously reported, however, the Diocese is planning to shut down a significant number of churches due to the changing demographics of Brooklyn (there has been a large out-migration of Catholics over the past 20 years). Are these busybodies from Long Island concerned? Not in the least. They just want their grandma’s church preserved for sentimental reasons, and don’t dig into their pockets. Silly.