[EVG file photo]
On Friday, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York relegated 16 churches to profane use — the first step toward a property sale. On that list: the former Church of the Nativity at 44 Second Ave. between Second Street and Third Street.
[Image via @NativityNYC]
The church closed in July 2015 as part of a massive consolidation reportedly due to changing demographics and a shortage of priests available to say mass. The Church of the Nativity merged with Most Holy Redeemer Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.
Archdiocese officials allow 10 days for parishioners to appeal the decree of a closed church. (As one Nativity activist noted, the Archdiocese made the announcement on a Friday before a long holiday weekend, which cut into the time to prepare an appeal.)
The Friends of Nativity have proposed a Dorothy Day Shrine and retreat center with services for the homeless at 44 Second Ave. Read more about that proposal here. (The space in front of the now-closed church has been a spot for the homeless of late.)
There has been speculation that the block from the church to Second Street will eventually yield to a luxury retail-residential complex...
[EVG file photo]
Developer Douglas Steiner bought the Mary Help of Christians property, including the church, school and rectory, from the Archdiocese for $41 million in 2012 to create his Steiner East Village on Avenue A between 11th Street and 12th Street.
The first Nativity church, located at 48 Second Ave., was built in 1832. This building was demolished in 1970 after a fire. It was rebuilt by parishioners at 44 Second Ave.
Previously on EV Grieve:
As the Church of the Nativity closes for good tonight, take a look at the original structure
Parishioners fight to save the Church of the Nativity on 2nd Avenue
15 comments:
Interesting how The Church has no qualms about shutting down predominantly Hispanic Churches.
Right now it's all about money and how the community will manage the redevelopment. We need, god I don't believe I'm saying this, we need our politicians to let the avarice developers know that the EV community comes first. That we are not going to let this property become a victim of the disease of luxury that is spreading from Houston up 2nd Ave. POWER TO THE PEOPLE. POWER TO THE PEOPLE!
Believe me, anything a real estate developer plans to do to this church will be profane, and the activities of any future residents are guaranteed to be sordid.
Too bad the church did not sell the property to an organization that took care of the lost and down and out. Oh wait I guess they would be selling back to themselves.
I regret not checking out the interior of this building while I could. Does any have pictures by chance?
From the almighty to the almighty dollar.
I was never a fan of this Modernist church - especially now that it's empty and attracting blight. The congregation's been moved. It's done. Let's focus on supporting the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer.
There's so much money to be picked up now because of the real estate bubble we're in, its a systematic picking off of "undervalued" or available properties. Quality of life has, as we know, nothing to do with anything in these situations. Such is life in New York City.
Does anyone goes to church anymore?
Also people tend to pray to G-d only when they need or want something. Most don't pray to ask how G-d is or just to say hi or if G-d needs anything.
As for saving money on the closing of this church, is the Catholic Church really saving money by doing so? Churches don't pay taxes. Just shows you that the CC is nothing but another money-making corporate entity using G-d and religion to keep pocketing money in their already deep pockets from their parishioners using guilt and manipulation.
"Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. -Luke 12:15
"None can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve G-d and money"- Matthew 6:24
And what did the 2nd Commandment (according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church) say again?
Are the properties surrounding the church for sale also? Lasalle and the corner building on 3rd st
I'm going to miss that brutalist church and it's caged Mary.
@5:36pm: Plenty of people still go to church, as you would find out if you ever went into a church on a Sunday morning.
The city needs to step up and buy some properties like these -- 100% affordable with income restrictions, it would provide much needed lower middle class and working class housing, and the city could still profit on the sellout and reinvest that into schools and parks and sanitation. Anonymous for council member!!!
Hey Catholic Church a couple of things:
1. Why don't you make your sixteen fucking properties available to the city for affordable housing?
2. You lack priests? Okay, then allow priests to be with women. No young guy is gonna pass up sex, sorry.
3. What are you gonna do with the money you will rake in selling these properties? Will it go to the poor, the needy, the arts?
At 3:01, Anonymous said:
I was never a fan of this Modernist church - especially now that it's empty and attracting blight. The congregation's been moved. It's done. Let's focus on supporting the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer.
This was a Brutalist church, and while it's purposely ugly, I have to confess I am a fan of "the new brutalism," as it's called. There are several buildings left that I see almost daily, including Kips Bay Towers, a huge two-building complex in the mid-30s on the east side.
You gonna argue with I.M. Pei? I wasn't aware he had designed Kips Bay Towers, although I was aware he designed NYU Silver Towers, the iconic development on West Houston Street near Laguardia Place.
And as the Times article above states, "Brutalism Is Back." From the dead, as it were.
Buildings in this style at least had some soul, grit and imperfections compared to the vacuum sealed steel and glass being built in every neighborhood these days.
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