Epic Showdown: Celebrities and Parishioners in Upper West Side Church Battle
In a compelling turn of events, a historic 135-year-old Romanesque Revival-style church on Manhattan’s Upper West Side has become the center of a heated preservation debate. With celebrities like Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, and Matt Dillon advocating for its preservation as a performing arts venue, they find themselves at odds with a dwindling congregation that envisions converting the potential $50 million deal into ongoing community service funding.
Caught in the Spotlight
The West Park Presbyterian Church is more than a quaint structure; it’s a symbol of artistic and cultural significance. While Matt Dillon expressed concerns over losing a piece of Upper West Side heritage, Debby Hirshman spearheaded the celebrity campaign, emphasizing social justice values as the backbone of the advocacy. “[The actors] are doing this out of the same values of social justice that the church has,” Hirshman declared.
A Tangible Dream or Costly Burden?
However, behind the church’s iconic façade lies a burdened reality. Faced with enormous renovation costs and a congregation unable to sustain its debt, the church’s leadership proposes a sale as a way to breathe life back into its community outreach programs. The $200,000 loans tied to its upkeep illustrate the challenges of maintaining a landmark with limited parishioners.
Celebrities Rally for Preservation
In a wave of surprise support, Ruffalo and other celebrities, drawn by the building’s artistic potential, held fundraising events to rally against its demolition. According to Debby Hirshman, “Ruffalo couldn’t allow this sanctuary to be demolished.” As actors staged live readings to generate funds, they highlighted a narrative that intertwined art, history, and community spirit.
The Landmarks Commission’s Pivotal Decision
The upcoming decision by the Landmarks Preservation Commission looms large. This authority must grapple with previous landmark designations that have limited the congregation’s flexibility. Rev. Chris Shelton poignantly captured the sentiment with his song, “The church is a people,” emphasizing the human element beyond stone and mortar.
A Rare Reversal in Sight?
As the commission prepares to make its decision, the statistics are clear: only 13 properties have been de-designated as landmarks in over half a century. It’s a tightly-knit drama unfolding, one that leaves residents and observers holding their breath. If the designation remains, the church may continue its struggle—a struggle symbolized by falling stones impacting West 86th Street and lives impacted by Razor Thin resources.
A Broader Community Aspiration
If approved, the sale stands to transform aspiration into action. The congregation plans to channel proceeds into a social justice fund, promising an annual $900,000 injection into community services for the needy. This figure represents not just dollars but untold potentials for a struggling community in dire need of empowerment.
In the end, will art and heritage outweigh the congregation’s call for financial relief? Who wins when landmark aspirations clash head-on with tangible community needs? It’s a narrative still unfolding, with New York City as its ever-watchful stage. According to Gothamist, the preservation fate of West Park Presbyterian remains poised on a knife-edge of legacy versus community service.
