Struggling to Preserve Historic Fort Greene Church
A 149-year-old Presbyterian church on Lafayette Avenue and South Oxford Street in Fort Greene is crumbling from old age and scrambling to raise enough money to save itself. Despite a $35,000 grant from the Landmarks Conservancy and a $425,000 windfall from the sale of a vacant lot on Cumberland Street, the Church is still short…
A 149-year-old Presbyterian church on Lafayette Avenue and South Oxford Street in Fort Greene is crumbling from old age and scrambling to raise enough money to save itself. Despite a $35,000 grant from the Landmarks Conservancy and a $425,000 windfall from the sale of a vacant lot on Cumberland Street, the Church is still short of the $720,000 project estimate for redoing the brownstone facade.”Are we going to knock this place down and just build co-ops?” Rev. David Dyson asked. “Or, for a church that has a viable ministry and congregation as we do, are we going to do everything we can to save this building?
Crumbling Church Up Against Wall [NY Daily News]
The LAPC Story [LAPC Brooklyn]
This chuch is a historic landmark for many a good reason, including it’s place in American history as a stop on the underground railroad. The FGA is as involved as it can be in trying to raise money for the church, but unfortunately the FGA is an underfunded organization as well (that happens to meet at the church.) Inside this church is one of the most beautiful buidings in Brooklyn. Please come out to one of the FGA meetings if you live anywhere in Brooklyn. There are always great speakers on topics of importance to everybody. The last featured topic was on how to avoid being a victim of identity theft. Go to http://www.historicfortgreene.org to learn more about the neighborhood and the upcoming meetings, which happen once a month.
I live across the street from the church and have a great view of it. It’s a beautiful place. I’ve never been inside but from the outside there are definitely some problems, ie plywood in windows where (stained?) glass was removed. I hope that in their repairs they take down the ugly chainlink fence.
But one idea is…why don’t they get the Ft. Greene Assoc. to help with this? They got the MTA to open the G train exit at So. Portland, maybe they can activate the community. I had no idea they were so hard up for cash. If more people knew, maybe more people would help …
The article seems to imply that they have taken out a loan, and are going to start repairs. So it sounds like Dyson’s co-ops question is more rhetorical than factual. The specter of co-ops is a good way to raise money, though.
What might have been. Back in 2000, LAPC thought they might be able to solve their capital woes by renting out the large back room of the church to Twyla Tharp. Turns out that Tharp, though, like most choreographers, isn’t really a management type and the deal fell through.
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1083/is_8_75/ai_76751650
P.S. I also wholeheartedly endorse the LAPC as a model city/community church–hope they can raise the money to keep it up.
I sing in the LAPC choir, and the woman I sit next to is in charge of the campaign to raise money for the repair, so I will ask her for some details. If you go inside the church and look up, though, much of the damage will be evident.
Any info on St Augustine, on 6th Ave? There has been scaffolding up without any work.
This church is a hub of community activity from the 5-day a week playgroup to the Saturday dance school to the Audrey Lourde Center. Rev. Dyson is a great guy and very active in the community. He’s always willing to play host to community events.
I sincerely hope they can raise the money, doesn’t seem like they have too much further to go. I agree with Shahn that they should do it in stages. Couple of bake sales and they could be golden : )
I am a bit confused though – is the facade really made of brownstone?
That lot only sold for $425,000? I think I actually bid more than that for it. Maybe that is net after broker fees. I had hoped to build a brownstone there if I had won the bid. That was atleast a year ago. Can’t the church do the work in stages? It seems they have been able to raise money in stages from a few sources.