In Vinegar Hill, Another Church Biting the Dust
We’re sad to report that Brooklyn is in the process of losing another piece of history, as demolition is set to begin on St. George’s Church at 203 York Street in Vinegar Hill. (Workmen on site confirm that the entire structure is coming down.) The 10,000-square-foot church and adjacent 5,000-square-foot parish hall were purchased from…
We’re sad to report that Brooklyn is in the process of losing another piece of history, as demolition is set to begin on St. George’s Church at 203 York Street in Vinegar Hill. (Workmen on site confirm that the entire structure is coming down.) The 10,000-square-foot church and adjacent 5,000-square-foot parish hall were purchased from the Roman Catholic Diocese on October 24 by the Tocci family, a long-time landowner in the area, for $3,200,000. The Toccis, formerly proprietors of a waste management business, already have an illustrious track record in the neighborhood: they were responsible for tearing down another church, St. Ann’s, at 251 Front Street back in 1992, and paving it over after their own business expansion plans failed. The lot is now, charmingly, lined with corrugated metal and rented out as truck parking. They’ve wasted little time on their latest anti-beautification effort, as a small rear addition on Gold Street has already been reduced to rubble (inset). There’s nothing posted online yet about what plans lie in store for the church site post-demolition but it’s a bit of a tough spot for luxury condos, given its close proximity to the Farragut Houses. According to one investor who’s active in the neighborhood, the property never even came on the market, which isn’t surprising given that the church probably wanted to avoid public criticism for its complicity. Seems like it would have been worth the effort to at least put the property on the market and seek a developer who would be open to adaptive reuse. GMAP P*Shark DOB
What made SoHo attractive to the artists and others who made their homes and studios there thirty years ago, was the vast spaces and the architecture. People realized these old cast iron faced merchants’ buildings were truly beautiful, not to mention historically and architecturally significant, and this part of the city had most of them. As 10:51 notes, Robert Moses was ready to tear them all down. Preservation and adaptive re-use as homes, artist’s studios, dance studios and business spaces brought them to the attention of the world, and unfortunately it then it became the world’s largest strip mall. This would not have happened if the area was full of new econoboxes. Look at the commercial corridor on 6th Ave from 23rd to 30th Street, where all the new buildings have gone up. No one is flocking there because it’s a new center of attractiveness, commerce or culture. It’s bland, boring, and unimaginative.
In terms of vibrancy, streetscapes, and urban vista, I’d take the SoHo mall over the Flower District canyon any day.
10:06 – You are making a different argument. I happen to agree with you about the monied homogenization of Manhattan, and particularly SoHo, but the architectural appeal and sense aesthetic diversity (at least) is of great value to the city regardless. If Robert Moses had had his way, there would have been a highway through SoHo and housing projects everywhere. That’s neither a remedy for nor a preference to mallification.
i’m not bored at all actually! great reading.
not on any side particularly, but pointing out the re-use of SOHO as a protected area actually strengthens Benson’s position.
I have worked in SOHO for many many years and I have thought that it has indeed turned into Disneyland. it now has many stores that you can find anywhere and seems just to be filled with tourists.
it was a very creative area that is now kinda dead to the actual people who live in work in the area. when are lease is up, we are going to move….
Folks;
Keep the fan mail coming in!
I especially like this comment:
“Oh yes, about Venice- have you told the Venetians?”
To which my reply is “What Venetians -arwe there any left??? See this article (note that it is from the left-leaning Guardian!):
http://www.guardian.co.uk/italy/story/0,,1858848,00.html
Note the statistics about the number of residents over 65 years old. Good-bye Venice – Heeeellooooo Disneyland for architects.
Is this what you want for our great city? I say NO!! Build, build, and build some more!!
To those who questioned my comments about environmentalism becoming a religion, I ask that you read it more carefully. I am stating that there is a strain of environmentalism out there that has morphed into a pagan earth-worship. I consider myself an environmentalist, and do think it is our responsibility to be good stewards of the earth. However, I draw the line at folks who would rather preserve a mediocre, non-historical parish church building, in the name of a green zero-sum environmental “religion”, rather than diverting resources into more useful endeavors like teaching poor kids. This world is here to serve humanity, not the other way around.
Ciao, ciao!
Benson
As a resident of DUMBO I have seen this neighborhood rise from the ashes and like it or not development and actual people moving into our once deserted enclave is a huge positive. We can have ten different opinions on what the building should look like architecturally but the bottom line is this isn’t remotely a religous matter. The church was dormant for over 6 years and new families will inevitably take the place of a barren structure.That translates into a more vibrant community, more money being spent, more opportunities for new businesses and jobs etc. Progress and development trumps urban blight.
RC
In Omnipotent Sky Daddy’s house are many condos, with superluxe high-end finishes.
BORING!
“Your posts actually prove that organized religion is actually very much alive in these parts. It exists in the form of current-day environmentalism, which has morphed into earth-worship. ”
Benson- are you really calling us environmentalist types “Wiccans?” Well- thanks, actually. But I must say I do find it strange that someone with your supposed “family and religious values” ((although I wonder how someone who admires Rush Limbaugh would define them)would so casually toss aside the idea that the Earth is a gift of G-d and we are its caretakers, ergo shouldn’t we be doing the best possible job we can? Frankly, if you believe as strongly in G-d as you would have us believe, then protecting the earth is your sacred obligation and that would show far greater respect for Him than you obviously have.
I found your convoluted defense of rip-it-out- build-it-new more the reply of a developer than a strongly religious person. But then again, if you can admire a hypocrite like Limbaugh, you can convince yourself of anything.
Oh yes, about Venice- have you told the Venetians? Its sad (for you, that is) that such beauty is simply wasted on you. Now, where’s my broomstick? Us Druish types gotta go worship the soil or something.
looking forward: the diocese of brooklyn is in the middle of their planning process to merge/close parishes en mass (a la new york, boston, etc.). a church recently closed in williamsburg near grand and union. this is all on their website. anyway, if we use this church as an example, the sensitive reuse of some really old and beautiful churches (or continued religious use as a baptist church, etc.) is not looking good. if a church in your neighborhood becomes slated for closure, contact your community board or a preservation organization. thank you and drive through.