» West Park Presbyterian Church

Chair Sarah Carroll noted at the July 19th meeting that there will be presentations by outside experts after Labor Day. Following inquiry and clarifications the Commissioners will then take a vote. The clarifications include an independent report comissioned by the LPC. Those findings are imminent and we will update this page when a new public meeting/hearing is announced.

“The church retains an exceptionally high level of integrity of setting, design, materials, craftsmanship feeling and association on both the exterior and interior”

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Resource Evaluation

Tuesday, December 13th, time TBD, West Park Presbyterian Church Hardship claim tentatively continues, WITH PUBLIC TESTIMONY.

Tuesday, June 7th, 6:30pm: CB7 Full Board Meeting Vote on West Park Hardship Application. READ RESOLUTION HERE.

WATCH: A Hard Look at “Hardship”: West Park Presbyterian Church and a Rarely Used Landmarks Exception

Landmarks Commission West Park Presbyterian Church Individual Landmark Designation Report

Daytonian in Manhattan's Social History of West Park Presbyterian Church, 165 West 86th Street

Read LW! Testimony regarding West-Park’s Hardship Application before Community Board 7’s Preservation Committee.

Read about this building in CITY LAND, UNTAPPED CITIES and GOTHAMIST.

West Park Presbyterian Social Superlatives

West-Park Presbyterian Church has long been a beacon of liberal activisim for the neighborhood and New York City at large. West-Park was the:

– First church in New York City to support Gay Marriage

– The original home of the West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing (WSFSSH)

– First home to Joseph Papp’s Shakespeare Festival

– The original home of God’s Love We Deliver and the West Side Food Pantry

Fall in love with West-Park with these photos taken just prior to designation:

0.1 Cornerstone 1853
0.2 Cornerstone 1889
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5 Interior view looking north east toward altar
6 Interior view looking back at the narthex and balcony
7 Interior view of Chancel and Tiffany stained glass
8 Detail view of the Tiffany Window
9 Detail view of Rose window at the south side of the balcony
10 Detail view of leaded glass windows under balcony at south side of the sanctuaryjpg
11 Leaded glass windows over chaoir balcony at west side of the sanctuary
12 Detail of liturgical furnishings
13 Original wall colors at balcony
14 Fragments of original stencil and wall colors
15 Narthex entrance doors
16 Rear wall of Eidlitz component
17 View of chapel in Eidletz component of the building
18 view of chapel from altar area
19 View of chapel organ console
20 Memorial plaque 1841
0 Archival Phtograph courtesy of the NY Historical Society 1880
21 Memorial plaque 1 1864
22 Memorial plaque WWII

Image Caption Key

FREE ZOOM EVENT:

A Hard Look at “Hardship”: West Park Presbyterian Church and a Rarely Used Landmarks Exception

Wednesday, May 25, 2022 starting at 6pm (this event WILL be recorded)

Co-Hosts

We will address:

– The concept of hardship, recent cases citywide, and specifically on the UWS, and the Landmarks Preservation Commission’s history with hardship applications.

– The premise of West Park Presbyterian’s application, the accomplishments of its congregation, the significance of its building, condition of the building.

– Adaptive reuse of religious properties and, specifically West Park itself.