Stripped to the studs: former church on 4th Street sees full gutting

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

The gutting of the former Iglesia Bautista Emmanuel at 256 E. Fourth St. between Avenue B and Avenue C appears complete.

We peeked at the interior the other day and didn't see much left. 

"It's all gone, all the windows, everything on the inside, it's completely empty," a worker on the scene said.

As we previously reported, the city has a partial demolition permit on file. A few parts of the existing building will remain in place, as the four-story structure will receive two additional floors to accommodate six condos. 

Project architect Stephen Conte told the Post in March that the original facade could not be saved, as decades of water damage rendered the already-thin front walls unsafe. Other elements of the previous houses of worship here were also deemed unsalvageable. 

The plywood rendering lists a spring 2026 completion date.

Village Preservation continues to call for expanded landmark protections in the East Village, including swaths of Avenue B and Avenue C (more info here). Despite similar designations in other neighborhoods, the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission has ignored the proposal. 

Our post from Feb. 10 has more info on this building's history.