Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Workers are dismantling the interior of Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church



Reps for developer Douglas Steiner filed permits in late April to demolish the now-vacant parcel of Mary Help of Christians that includes the church, school and rectory, as we first reported.

Steiner has plans to convert the property into a residential complex

And workers have been on the scene this morning tossing/carting various items from the church on East 12th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue.

Ruth, a neighbor, reports that workers are "tossing out stacks of hymnals or prayer books. Also bookshelves, computer, books, furniture."



A little later, the workers were spotted removing parts of the former church's pews...







On May 23, local preservationists called for a complete archaeological evaluation of the grounds below Mary Help of Christians Church on East 12th Street. The site was once home to a cemetery, and the groups are concerned that some burial plots may remain.

The church opened in 1917.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Permits filed to demolish Mary Help of Christians church, school and rectory

Preservationists call for archeological review of former cemetery at Mary Help of Christians site

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Now that the church will be demolished we can all focus our energy on what will be built on this huge EV lot. Will there be more corporate retailers and bank at street level? How many stories and will this be a stepped back structure or a 12 story wall of glass and steel?

nygrump said...

I hope its the most luxurious building EVER!!!!

BJ said...

Anyone who moves in there is going to bebin for it. Church demolition + ancient burial site = Major ghost issues.

Anonymous said...

Seriously, if the Church is just throwing out its contents instead of redistributing them, giving them away, or selling them, THEY don't care any more, and neither do I.