Pre-Civil War-Era Wood Frame Church to Be Demolished for Apartments in Bed Stuy
Unfortunately, the construction boom has reached one of Brooklyn’s most notable structures: The pre-Civil War-era Carpenter Gothic (or New England Gothic) wood frame church at 809 Jefferson Avenue in Bed Stuy. The structure, which appears on an 1854 map and could be as old as the 1840s, is one of Bed Stuy’s oldest buildings. It’s…
Unfortunately, the construction boom has reached one of Brooklyn’s most notable structures: The pre-Civil War-era Carpenter Gothic (or New England Gothic) wood frame church at 809 Jefferson Avenue in Bed Stuy. The structure, which appears on an 1854 map and could be as old as the 1840s, is one of Bed Stuy’s oldest buildings.
It’s in a very old area in the northeast of the neighborhood that at the moment is sleepy and bare and dotted with the occasional mid-19th-century wood frame building. The area is not landmarked, and not likely to be, and we won’t be surprised if in 10 years it’s utterly transformed with Williamsburg-style glassy mid-rise apartment buildings.
Interior demo began in January, and the whole thing will be gone by the end of this month, according to DNAinfo. St. Stephen and St. Martin’s Episcopal Church has been unable to pay for upkeep, and sold the property to Notias Construction, which has promised to build a replacement church, the church’s rector told the paper. The developer plans a 41-unit apartment building with market-rate apartments geared toward people making about $70,000 a year, but has not yet filed a permit application with the DOB. Approved permits for a new two-story church building have been in place since 2002, although it’s not clear if the developer intends to move forward with the same plans and permits.
The property at 807-809 Jefferson Avenue is enormous: a 100-by-175-foot lot. The church measures 30 by 80 feet and takes up a small part of the property. The church could have built apartments on part of the lot and asked the developer to repair and restore the existing building, which both parties told DNAinfo was beyond saving.
Above, the church in November. The steeple has been missing for years.
Apartments to Replace 146-Year-Old Bed Stuy Church [DNAinfo] GMAP
Building of the Day: 809 Jefferson Avenue [Brownstoner]
Walkabout: Betrayed by a Common Hammer [Brownstoner]
Update: Commenter Amzi Hill tells us the church appears on an 1854 map and could be as old as the 1840s. We have updated the story.
The photo above, by Nicholas Strini for PropertyShark, shows the building on January 22, after interior demo had begun and the stained glass windows and pews removed.
Above, the church and part of the big empty lot next to it in November.
Above, an ancient illustration of the new church that was supposed to be erected at 807 Jefferson Avenue by 2003. Below, photos of the church in 2011 by Suzanne Spellen.
I personally think it is sad that this piece of history is being torn down. However, as an earlier commenter said, the church, like many other churches, is using the proceeds of the new developement to build a new church and expand on the empty lot at the corner. That same commenter then said that he/she wanted to start an effort to landmark individual churches in the area. I honestly am not knocking that commenter, but wanted to point out that landmarking would prevent or make it more difficult for churches to finance themselves to expand and serve their community. To me continuation and expansion of the church’s mission in the community outweighs the visual/emotional pleasure I would get from landmarking such beautiful buildings. Just a thought…
” Bed Stuy folks have been doing their bit to preserve what they could, ie and especially their own homes, for a long time. ”
MM no one wanted to come to Bed Stuy! The only reason why we have this nonsense is The Mutant Asset bubble, cheap easy money not accessible to some *ahem* people. This money is fueling Covert Class/Race Warfare where longtime residents cannot afford to live or maintain their house off you go!
You missing my point MM, there’s a connection between Development, Racism, Mutant Asset Bubble and Stupidly! Bed Stuy has been here for years, how come come one wanted to develop it during the Crack Era?! Oh the neighborhood is better because White People are moving in GTFO with that!
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This corner has been an eyesore for years, maybe if some of those “groups’ you speak so fondly of could’ve gotten a loa(s), the outcome would be different!
The What
Someday this war is gonna end…
The landmarks committee meets every 2nd Monday at the CB3 office.
Well then MM, why was the area undeveloped for so many years? Why all the love for Bed Stuy now? Bed Stuy always been here, that lot always been undeveloped.
“There have been active block associations, church associations and civic groups active in the community for many decades. ” Yes MM, they preserved a underserved neighborhood of so many years. I frankly shocked (Not) no one can connect The Mutant Asset Bubble and Gentrification.
Here’s a little story MM, I know someone who owns some Major Property in the best neighborhoods in Brooklyn. This Landlord brought every single building with his own money, You wanna know why? Because he is Black and the Banks was into discrimination! He tell me “if only, if only”. Imagine MM if Black people had the same access to financial resources, that neighborhood that block would be better off and this conversion would be moot.
All this “Love for Brownstones and Bed Stuy” is about Covert Race/Class Warfare, nothing more, nothing less.
The What
Someday this war is gonna end…
“We have a landmark committee here in Bedford Stuyvesant plus several other groups.”
Pre or Post Gentrification?!
The What
Someday this war is gonna end…
Translation: Let’s butt into other people business when their agenda doesn’t fit our view.
The What
Someday this war is gonna end…
We have a landmark committee here in Bedford Stuyvesant plus several other groups.
“Is anyone interested in working with me to landmark individual churches in the area? ”
I think you should mind your business. That’s the problem misdirected energy in things that don’t concern them.
I wonder where all this love for Bed Stuy in the 80’s and 90’s? Oh yeah The Mutant Asset Bubble and Gentrification happened.
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The What
Someday this war is gonna end…
i think you might have misunderstood… an eyesore in that the church doesn’t maintain the sidewalks around the corner .. ever … or haven’t taken responsibility for damaging their neighbors property