NYC Presbytery says let us raze UWS church, we'll invest about $30M in social justice

Arya Sundaram

Published Oct 10, 2025

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West Park Presbyterian Church

Arun Venugopal/Gothamist

Arya Sundaram

Published Oct 10, 2025

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The Presbytery of New York City has announced plans to create a new endowment of up to $30 million, the West Park Presbyterian Church Social Justice Fund, using proceeds from the potential sale of the historic West Park Presbyterian Church. But there's a key contingency: It first needs permission to raze the crumbling Upper West Side mainstay.

If approved, the long-sought sale could increase the Presbytery’s funding for social programs across the city by 350%, with the endowment providing as much as $900,000 annually to support food aid, housing, immigrant services and educational programs in underserved neighborhoods, according to church leaders.

The church at 165 W. 86th St. has been a longtime local hub for activism and community service — from fighting anti-Chinese bigotry in the 19th century to serving meals to New Yorkers with AIDS. But the building, which was built in 1890 and is known for its Romanesque Revival-style architecture, has been encased in scaffolding for nearly 25 years due to structural instability.

Opponents of the church's demolition include elected officials, community residents, performing arts groups, and celebrities such as comedian Amy Schumer and actor Mark Ruffalo. The Center at West Park, a nonprofit that has served as the building's prime tenant and manager for the past five years, has also mounted a public campaign to preserve the church and fund repairs.

Representatives from the Center at West Park couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

To move forward with the sale, the congregation has asked the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission to approve a hardship application allowing demolition of the landmarked building. Church leaders three years ago estimated repair costs of as much as $50 million, including $17 million to repair the crumbling facade alone. If granted, New York-based developer Alchemy Properties would build a new mixed-use structure with apartments, retail, and a 10,000-square-foot worship and community space for the congregation. Construction is expected to take just over two years.

“The sale of the building and the creation of the Social Justice Fund is a win-win for the Church and the community,” said Roger Leaf, who chairs the West Park Administrative Commission. “It would provide the congregation with a safe, state-of-the-art space for worship and community activities on the site, as well as funds for outreach programs in some of the city’s most underserved communities.”

Most of the anticipated $25 million to $30 million in proceeds from the building’s sale would go to the Presbytery’s new endowment, funding initiatives such as food pantries, immigrant legal aid, arts and culture, homeless shelters, and historic preservation — to protect landmarked Presbyterian churches.

“As our great city continues to grow, too many New Yorkers are being left behind — struggling with the rising costs of food, child care, health care, and educational support.” said the Rev. Dr. Mary Newbern-Williams, the Presbytery of New York City’s transitional leader. “This new fund will enable our member churches to provide critical help to our most vulnerable neighbors across all five boroughs.”

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Race And Justice Unit

Upper West Side

housing

manhattan