The New York Post reports that St. Thomas the Apostle Church at West 118th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue has been sold to developers:
LINK. Artimus Construction bought the property along with 2 others from the archdiocese in a $6 million deal which leaves the fate of the unprotected landmark in question. One can probably assume that the adjacent parking lot and the church school next door might just be the other properties being passed off but there are no clues to what will actually come forth in the future. Read about the local failed efforts to landmark the church and view an archival photo of what it once looked like in our past post:
LINK
The purchasers are the developers who put together the attractive-looking townhouses on 119th between FDB and Manhattan Ave, among other projects. I think they'll be respectful, although of course it's worth being wary.
ReplyDeletePLease do not tear down this beauty and historical building.
ReplyDeleteIt can be re-used as housing.. its done all the time in landmarked districts.
I hope the developer do the right thing.
It is easy for the seller to put in a clause that mandates the buyer to not tear it down. The developer could integrate this into modern condos and it would be more of an attraction than plain antiseptic design. Just look at PS 90.
ReplyDeleteIt'd be a shame to lose such a beautiful building, but something tells me it's way too cost-prohibitive to rehab the building into housing. Hopefully Artimus (which its management company branch, K&R Realty owns many of the buildings nearby, including the building Best Yet Market sits in) will develop something beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThat is a cop out.. it is NEVER cost prohibitive when the building is landmarked or in a landmarked district.
Deleteonly when there is FAR to be built on does it suddenly not make sense to re-use.
Makes me want to demand MORE landmarks , not less
Please tell me why the building is not landmarked
DeleteOR
cannot be landmarked now?
Nothing, no matter how "beautiful", can replace that wonderful piece of architecture if it is torn down, and I suspect that is exactly what will happen.
ReplyDeleteSadly, the Catholic Archdiocee is focused on getting top dollar, which means maximum FAR. They never ask for less with the consideration that the building exterior remain.
ReplyDeleteWith regard to the sentiment that the developer has an obligation to keep the structure, I challenge you to consider that the previous owner had that responsibility and failed to meet it.
ReplyDelete^ so that justifies its destruction because the Church allowed it to deteriorate?
DeleteThe fact is the building is still standing.
That should remain for perpetuaty.
Ask yourself, a similiar looking church in Rome or Paris. would we be debating tearing it down? absolutely not. They do not destroy their irreplacable gems like we do.
sad very sad
save it before its too late.
Agreed, Mike. There is NOTHING that they can erect on this site which would add to the beauty of Harlem as this church does; it is a piece of Harlem's finest.
ReplyDeleteI was raised in this church and went to the school also. Yes in Time this would not be a discussion, they would save this piece of history. I hope these developers do the right thing.
ReplyDelete