Church Reboot on Clinton Avenue
Another church—just what the neighborhood needed. After years of lying fallow, it appears that the steel frame at 145 Clinton Avenue is finally getting some walls; the job was initially applied for in the early 1990s and the steel frame has been there as long as we can remember. The Celestial Church of Christ, which…
Another church—just what the neighborhood needed. After years of lying fallow, it appears that the steel frame at 145 Clinton Avenue is finally getting some walls; the job was initially applied for in the early 1990s and the steel frame has been there as long as we can remember. The Celestial Church of Christ, which has headquarters facing Waverly Avenue and owns the entire through-lot, is the entity behind the job. It’s really too bad that at a time when there are plenty of dwindling congregations in the area having a difficult time maintaining beautiful old churches that resources are being allocated to building a new structure that’s sure to be an aesthetic bummer. GMAP P*Shark DOB
I see Brownstoner’s point about the beautiful old churches in Brooklyn falling into disrepair and use of land. But, as someone who attends a pretty progressive (and thriving) church, I can’t say that my congregation would mesh very well with theirs. We have female leaders and welcome gay and lesbians into our doors. We would certainly welcome them in as well, but I doubt they would stay long.
That said, I would rather see them take up residence in an old church that is on the selling block than see another church torn down or converted into condos. That would be a better use of land and it would preserve an architectural gem of Brooklyn.
One more thing to ponder: they claim they’re building an “extension” to the already existing building on Waverly to “be used as a church.” Now what do you think? Is this a free standing building OR an extension?
I’ll back rooseveltideas on this, having lived on that street very close to the church for over a year. these church goers were not good neighbors.
Right, I do care about unpaid violations. It’s a sign of irresponsibility and not caring. If you own property you do have responsibilities. Some of the problems we have now, e.g. buildings collapsing on Myrtle this past Father’s Day, stem from individuals not recognizing that. I believe that a property owner does have the right to develop his or her property however there are such things as permits, inspections, etc. that are in place as a protection for the rest of us becuase there are a lot of people who simply don’t give care and/or feel that, as in this case, they are above it all because they are a religious organization.
Right cause you care about the DOB unpaid violations…get outta here.
Oh and I forgot the thousands and thousands of dollars in unpaid violations from the DOB and the ECB.
This has nothing to do about a church or a condo or a coffee bar, etc. It has to do with being a good neighbor. Isn’t that what we’re all looking for in our community? A good neighbor helps the entire community and neighborhood and raises the bar on the quality of life for all.
For those of us who live in this neighborhood and have been fighting the illegal C of O for the building on Waverly, the lack of a permit to assemble on Waverly, the rattling of our windows and thrumming of our walls through hours and hours of drum beating, yelling, etc. every Sunday and/or holiday of choice, the blocking of our street (even during snowstorms causing the plows to go elsewhere)and driveways, the name calling, the garbage and dog feces building up on the sidewalk on Clinton which is never swept OR shoveled leaving a sheet of ice, the loss of value of our homes, the damage done to the property of others I say go to the DOB Website, look it up. This is not the kind of neighbor you want, be it church, condo or coffee house. And now this structure after years and years of exposure to the elements is in some stage of development and within the first week violated specifics of their permit. It has been a total eyesore for close to 20 years without any regard for how this affects the quality of life for anyone and since almost all of the congregants don’t live here why should they care? They walk away after their done worshipping and call it a day.
Yeah, because church is the real problem in Clinton Hill…Brooklyn…or New York for that matter. Especially new churches. Everything doesn’t have to be recycled! If you like old stuff so much, you move in it. Paste it together and be proud.
The whole beginning of this post sucked. It’s cool when it’s a new organic market or a new condo building in Williamsburg, but church…for real? Foolywag. Besides, all the empty churches are going condo anyway…so why not build a church that may actually stay a church.
We don’t like churches because they file noise complaints when we try to sell “quaint” goods across the street every weekend at 200% markups.