Last week we reported on the ongoing prep work to demolish the former Mary Help of Christians school and rectory. The church on East 12th Street, which opened in 1917, remains free of the demolition bondage as of last night.
As previously reported, East Village community and preservation groups were hoping that the historic church that developer Douglas Steiner plans to develop can be spared... the groups learned that a large cemetery was formerly found on this site, and called for a complete archaeological evaluation of the site before any work proceeded.
And what became of that request following the press conference on May 23?
"We did hear back from the Landmark Preservation Commission that they abdicated all responsibility to even require an archeological survey," said Andrew Berman, executive director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation. "So Steiner may end up digging up bodies, and the public may never know."
As far as next steps with trying to preserve the church, Berman said that their options are limited.
"Thus far common sense, decency, reasonable alternatives, and appeals to the Landmarks Preservation Commission to do their job have not stopped Steiner from moving ahead with his cemetery-condos plan," he said.
Steiner bought the property last fall for an unspecified residential complex.
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
Scaffolding arrives for demolition of Mary Help of Christians
10 comments:
" The Commissioners are appointed by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of the City Council, for three-year terms. The Chairman and the Vice-Chairman are designated by the Mayor."
That's the answer to your implied question, dear EVG. We have lost so many beautiful historical buildings (eg. 35 Cooper Square), which have been razed with the utmost arrogance by developer$. NYC has become the realtors' playground. Elections have consequences.
No worries, I am sure whatever replaces it will contain at least one fro-you shop, a pizzeria, bar/restaurant and a coffee purveyor. Who needs a gorgeous old church when we can have those rarities instead?
In God We Trust, i.e God=money.
"The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is the demand for their real happiness. To call on them to give up their illusions about their condition is to call on them to give up a condition that requires illusions."
The Church sold the property clearly wanting the money to contribute to its other expenses it has. This hopefully will build a residency (any approved designs out there)in a town needing more living spaces. This complex will pay property taxes the church did not. Never understood the dislike for the wealthy we tax them and they do not suck up social services can't understand the belly moans.
@ Anon. 3:41 - then you clearly do not understand either this neighborhood or the reason for the existence of this blog. If you are so thrilled to live amongst the wealthy, why aren't you on the Upper East Side or out in the Hamptons?
@ Gojira - You are a mindreader! Just now I summoned up the spirit of the great Carnac the Magnificent to trace the IP address of Anon. 3:41. Would you believe that Carnac divined that it's registered to someone named Douglas Steiner with a mailing address out in East Hampton? Is that a coincidence or what!
Hey Doug, I got one word for you:
Poltergeist!
When a Man stops believing in God he doesn’t then believe in nothing, he believes anything.
In other words — you hard-shelled materialists were all balanced on the very edge of belief – of belief in almost anything.
Gojira I have long lived in the neighborhood from individual choice not rent control or a twenty year leased stablized apartment considerations UES does not interest me never in thirty years has it and I last saw the Hamptons early eighties too much traffic to get there. Living among the wealthy occurs in St Bart. I'm afraid not the East Village there is room for all here the wealthy as you say neither thrill me nor cause me to mindlessly hate them. I lack envy to other peoples life or life styles. The blog exist to read same as the Economist or National Review for that matter.
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