[Updated 9-26] Demo crews will remove part of the school wall at 420 E. 12th St.

Demolition crews rolled into the Mary Help of Christians parking lot on Avenue A at East 11th Street late this afternoon...

Workers on the scene said that they would be taking out part of the upper wall of the East Side Community High School. The wall, adjacent to Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church, was found to be separating from the rest of the structure yesterday.

A worker said that they wouldn't know the extent of the damage until they "get up in there."

We haven't heard an official comment just yet from East Side Principal Mark Federman. The address is also home to the Girls Prep Lower East Side Middle School.

Updated:

A few more photos from late afternoon by Kimberly Fritschy via Facebook...

Updated: 8:19 p.m.

Updated 9/26:

According to this notice from the Department of Education posted outside the school ...

[EVG reader Steven Matthews]

The structural defect "will require the immediate demolition and subsequent rebuilding of that wall."

They expect the demolition work to take "several weeks," and there will likely be evening hours as well.

A few vendors return to the Mary Help of Christians flea market

As you may recall, signs went up on Labor Day weekend announcing that the flea market in the Mary Help of Christians lot was ending its run ... and moving to the Immaculate Conception Church on East 14th Street and First Avenue in October.

However, as you may have noticed here on Avenue A at East 11th Street, a few vendors were around last weekend... and some more are back today...

[Photo by Shawn Chittle]

Looking at the Church of Saint Emeric on East 13th Street

Catholic churches are coming and going these days in the East Village. Parishioners held the last mass this past Sunday at Mary Help of Christians on East 12th Street. (The Villager has a nice farewell feature in this week's issue.)

The Catholic Archdiocese is selling the church property, which includes the Don Bosco Salesians rectory adjacent to the church and the church's former school on East 11th Street. No official word just yet on the new owner.

Meanwhile, renovations continue at St. Brigid's on Avenue B at East Eighth Street.

And then there the Church of Saint Emeric. As The Villager first reported in June, St. Emeric’s, built in 1950 at 740 E. 13th St. at Avenue D, will close and merge with St. Brigid's.

Per The Villager, Father Lorenzo Ato, priest in charge at St. Emeric for the past four years, will be the pastor of the new parish and has already moved into the Brigid's rectory.

Joseph Zwilling, archdiocese spokesperson, said there weren't any immediate plans for the St. Emeric’s church building or the two-story parochial school built in 1952 next door on East 12th Street and Avenue D.

In any event, I figured this was a good time to visit St. Emeric's ... located down a rather lonely stretch of East 13th Street, which dead ends at the Con Ed power plant. The church sits next to the Manhattan Pumping Station that's currently being refurbished ...

... and across the street from the Con Ed power plant...

On the morning that I walked by here, there were a handful of men huddled atop the sidewalk bridge sleeping...

... and here's a look from the East 12th Street side...

The church building itself is fairly unremarkable (I haven't been inside) and the chunk of real estate is in an unglamorous spot — surrounded by the Con Ed plant, pumping station and public housing. Not sure what would work here outside of some utilitarian purpose or nonprofit use. In other words, no dorms or condos.

But!

Things being what they are these days in Manhattan, I could see some enterprising restaurateur open an eatery and offer an East-River-to-table small plates Tasting Menu for thrill-seekers who desire a real "gritty" East Village meal (don't worry — the eel with be flown in fresh daily from Nihonbashi) ... or a developer launch a boutique hotel with Super Charged Weekend Packages for travelers who yearn what it's like to work at a power plant. Other authentic "street" touches include the housekeeping staff who push their supplies in imitation C-Town grocery carts (for sale in the gift shop for $1,695) and the bar that sells craft beers in brown paper bags.

Yeah, anyway — this is the Church of Saint Emeric

'We would love the community to join us as we say goodbye'

Last weekend, a neighbor of Mary Help of Christians on East 12th Street said that the church was having its final mass last Sunday. That was incorrect information. Parishioner Josephine left us a message saying that the last mass will be celebrated there today at 11:30.

Per Josephine: "We would love the community to join us as we say goodbye."

The church will be making way for some sort of yet-specified new development.

Previously.

Looking at the Immaculate Conception Church

The flea market at the Mary Help of Christians' lot ended its run Sunday on Avenue A at East 11th Street. The flea market will be moving over to the Immaculate Conception Church on East 14th Street and First Avenue in October, first noted by The Villager.

The church was renovated a few years back ...

We figure that vendors/shoppers will enter the church's courtyard via this entrance on East 14th Street...

Have you ever been back in here? It's a lovely spot... quite peaceful, really, considering what a horror show the intersection of East 14th Street and First Avenue can be.

We're assuming the vendors will be in this space...

Bonus photo of the exterior of everyone's favorite East Village helical-slide-showcasing duplex penthouse next door...

Anyway, it's a smaller space than Mary Help of Christians... not sure how it can handle the usual sprawl. They'll likely be fewer vendors. Not sure if it will – or can — have the same vibe... We'll see.

A few people shared thoughts on all this the other day on our post... Early sentiment seems to be: Better than nothing. What do you think about the new location for the flea market?

Mary Help of Christians lot, 9:36 a.m., Sept. 3

The flea market ended for good yesterday here.

Last mass for Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church today

Several residents passed along word that today will mark the last mass for Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church on East 12th Street ... the church will be making way for some sort of yet-specified new development. In May 2007, The New York Times reported that the Roman Catholic church would close as part of a realignment by the Archdiocese of New York. However, the church remained open for mass on Sundays... there is one Spanish-language mass now at 11:30 a.m.

I'm unaware of any ceremonies to mark the closure. In May 2007, parishioners carried a statue of Mary from the church to lead a procession around the block, as The Villager noted.

This is also the last weekend for the flea market in the church's lot.

Previously.

Last look at the corner of Avenue A and East 11th Street

As noted earlier today... this is the last weekend for the Mary Help of Christians flea market on Avenue A at East 11th Street ... Some sort of housing is expected to take over this space.

Here are a few photos via Bobby Williams...

The Mary Help of Christians flea market closes for good this weekend

As you can see from the sign, this is the last weekend for the Mary Help of Christians flea market on Avenue A at East 11th Street... not a surprise — residents and vendors have been talking about this date for months.

We've been following the saga of the Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church and its inevitable, unfortunate, closure to make way for a new development these past five years.

Multiple neighbors/parishioners have said that the church, school and adjacent property have been sold to a developer to make way for some type of housing.

The flea market will be moving over to the Immaculate Conception Church on East 14th Street and First Avenue in October, first noted by The Villager.

I actually missed this article last week, in which Lincoln Anderson talked with Catholic Archdiocese of New York spokesperson Joseph Zwilling.

“There’s no secret that it’s on the market.” Zwilling said he believed what’s being offered is the entire site, including the parking lot, but wasn’t absolutely sure if that’s the case.

I'll have more on all this later.

Previously.

Rain delay

Avenue A and East 11th Street during this morning's rain shower...

Residents say that Mary Help of Christians and the flea market will close for good on Sept. 1

For the past four or so years, we've been following the saga of the Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church and its inevitable, unfortunate, closure to make way for a new development.

Multiple neighbors/parishioners are now saying that the church, school and adjacent property have been sold to a developer to make way for "condos and luxury apartments."

Nearby residents say all this will be effective Sept. 1 ... so if the residents are correct... this means that you have about four weeks left to enjoy the flea market here along Avenue A between East 11th Street and 12th Street...

..which has been open during the week since late July...

While there isn't any official confirmation just yet, rumors of development here have been swirling since 2008, when The Real Deal reported that two-thirds of the playground space along Avenue A had been sold in an all-cash deal for $10.4 million. That deal never materialized.

There is still a Spanish-language mass at the church every Sunday morning at 11:30.

The church opened in 1917.

For further reading:
The Church Ladies (The New York Times)

Developing: Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church has been sold

It looks as if the end is finally here for Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church on East 12th Street near Avenue A.

Rumors of development here have been swirling since 2008, when The Real Deal reported that two-thirds of the playground space along Avenue A had been sold in an all-cash deal for $10.4 million. That deal never materialized.

Some four years later, the Church and adjacent school are still standing. In the past 24 hours, we've heard from multiple people that the church has been sold.

According to one parishioner:

Sadly, this does not seem to be a false alarm. Hearing consistent reports that the church and school property have been sold, but absolutely no info on developer's identity or plans.

The parishioners are still praying for a miracle as they say the rosary every evening at the church. I'm sure they would appreciate community support.

There is still a Spanish-language mass at the church every Sunday morning at 11:30. And there's always still hope...

Meanwhile, this is roughly the area of development that we're talking about... the church, adjacent school and rectory, and playground where vendors set up for the weekend flea markets... (the three buildings on the southwest corner of 12th Street and Avenue A aren't owned by the Archdiocese...)

[Via Off the Grid]

The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation and other community groups submitted a request to the Landmarks Preservation Commission asking them to landmark the church. The LPC denied the request. (Read about that here.)

The church opened in 1917.

We'll post more information this weekend as it becomes available.

A Good Friday look at Mary Help of Christians

Mary Help of Christians on East 12th Street near Avenue A opened in 1917... and the ornate Roman Catholic church closed in 2007, as the Times reported. It was part of a realignment by the Archdiocese of New York.

Rumors of development here have been swirling since 2008, when The Real Deal reported that two-thirds of the playground space along Avenue A had been sold in an all-cash deal for $10.4 million.

Some four years later, the Church and adjacent school are still standing. But for how long? We heard from a longtime parishioner back in November, who said: "There are rumors that the church and school property are being sold by the Spring ... I'm afraid that NYU is buying it and going to build dorms." (Reps from NYU and the Archdiocese didn't respond to emails requesting comment.)

There is still a Spanish-language mass at the church every Sunday morning at 11:30. (The sign also mentions an English-language mass, but a church volunteer told me that they did away with that about 16 months ago.)

I went to mass there a few months back. There were perhaps 50 people there, an equal mix of older parishioners and young families with toddlers.

Last week, Off the Grid interviewed Janet Bonica, a parishioner who was born and raised in the East Village.

Here was her reaction to the church closing in 2007:

Our very foundation was pulled out from under us. We were always told that being a Catholic was more than just going to Sunday Mass; it was being a part of a parish community. We had a vibrant, active community, and it was taken away from us.

If Mary Help of Christians Church is demolished, I don’t think I will ever be able to go past that property again.

There are no words to describe the loss I feel. It is as deep as losing a beloved family member and, tied to the loss of the church, is the loss of our beloved Salesians of St. John Bosco. I cannot help but feel that we lost our church because it is sitting on a valuable parcel of real estate.

Indeed. Just look at the aerial view (via Off the Grid)... think what a developer could/would do with this prime real estate... the church, adjacent school and rectory, and playground where vendors set up for the weekend flea markets... (the three buildings on the southeast corner of 12th Street and Avenue A aren't owned by the Archdiocese...)

The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation and other community groups submitted a request to the Landmarks Preservation Commission asking them to landmark the church. The LPC denied the request. (Read about that here.) Janet Bonica said that she has written to Mayor Bloomberg and Cardinal Egan to no avail. She said they have even written the Vatican. As she told Off the Grid, "Obviously nothing helped."

[The Mary Help of Christians rectory]

The church in 1920 via the NYPL Digital Gallery ...